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  • Christian Matheson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Christian Matheson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2016 to Question 45595, how much her Department spent from the public purse on advertising and promoting the previously proposed points-based immigration system for non-EU nationals in the latest period for which figures are available.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    We have spent no money promoting a proposed points-based immigration system for non-EU nationals.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been transferred from other EU member states to the UK under the Dublin regulations in each year from 2010 to 2016; and how many cases resulting from such applications have been completed in each of those years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    We will always fully consider cases passed to us under the Dublin Regulation, and have made significant progress in improving and speeding up the existing processes via Dublin especially since the beginning of the year.

    Any request to unite family members under the Dublin Regulation is carefully considered. Where someone seeking asylum elsewhere in the EU can demonstrate they have close family members legally in the UK, we will take responsibility for that claim. At present we do not publish data on cases covered by the Dublin Regulation.

    The latest release of published data on asylum can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-august-2016

  • Stella Creasy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Stella Creasy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish (a) how much spending has been committed from the public purse, and on what, (b) the outcomes proposed and (c) the outcomes achieved to date as part of the joint intervention fund agreement of September 2014 with the French government to combat illegal migration between 2015 to 2020.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The September 2014 Joint Declaration committed the UK to a £12 million contribution to upgrade port infrastructure across the juxtaposed ports in northern France and to ensure effective measures are taken to protect vulnerable persons such as victims of trafficking.

    The migrant situation has developed significantly since the September 2014 Declaration and further investment has followed, in line with the Government’s aim to reinforce border security. We continue to work closely with the French authorities at both political and operational levels on a package of measures to further bolster security at ports in northern France. This includes not only physical and personnel security measures but also wider work to tackle criminal gangs involved in people trafficking. The UK has also part funded a project, run by a French non-governmental organisation to identify and direct vulnerable people to protection, support and advice within France.

    The investment in security by the UK, the closer coordination of our law enforcement response and the significant investment in police resources by the French Government has led to a significant improvement in the situation at the ports in northern France. The UK and France regularly review security at the ports to ensure the new measures are maintained and remain effective.

    Furthermore, at the UK-France summit in Amiens on 3 March, the Home Secretary announced that the UK will contribute £17 million to joint work with France to ease migrant pressures in the Calais region and further strengthen the UK border. Most recently, the Home Secretary and French Interior Minister reiterated at their meeting on 30 August that both Governments are committed to working side by side on a range of issues in northern France.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time is for cases handled by the Complex Casework Directorate.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The information requested on average processing time for cases handled by Complex Casework is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Mary Glindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mary Glindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what response his Department plans to make to the reports published on 9 September by (a) the Office for National Statistics and (b) Public Health England on drug-related deaths; and if he will make a statement.

    Nicola Blackwood

    The Government is concerned by the increase in the number of drug-related deaths registered since 2013, particularly among ageing heroin users.

    Effective drug treatment helps prevent drug-related deaths. The Government provides local authorities with funding to provide drug treatment through the Public Health Grant, and the Public Health Outcomes Framework includes an indicator measuring drug-related deaths. Last year the Government amended the Medicines Regulations to enable more people to have access to naloxone which reverses the effects of heroin overdoses. Many ageing drug users also have health problems that can and should be treated by the National Health Service.

    Public Health England (PHE) and the Local Government Association convened an expert group to investigate the causes of the rise in drug-related deaths and how to prevent future premature deaths. The inquiry report was published on 9 September and a copy is attached. PHE will develop a further programme of work to prevent drug-related deaths in response to the inquiry report’s recommendations.

    The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has set up a working group to investigate and better understand drug-related drugs at the United Kingdom level, and we will respond in due course to any recommendations.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have had housing support terminated following a failed asylum claim in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, (b) Liverpool, (c) Merseyside and (d) England in each year since 2010.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Information on numbers of cases who have had support terminated broken down by reason for cessation and by area of the UK, is unavailable and could be produced only at a disproportionate cost.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to (a) support the Yemen economy and (b) ensure that there is an adequate supply of food and oil imports.

    Rory Stewart

    We are deeply concerned about the economic crisis in Yemen and are working closely with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, United Nations, Government of Yemen and other key countries to look at measures to stabilise the Yemeni economy.

    We are also providing £1.4 million to support the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) to facilitate the flow of commercial shipping, which is crucial to ensuring adequate supplies of food and fuel.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps she has taken to raise the profile of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

    Rory Stewart

    Despite being one of the most serious and complex humanitarian crises in the world, Yemen is the world’s most serious forgotten crisis. The Secretary of State is co-hosting an international event on the Yemen crisis at the UN General Assembly on 21 September to shine a spotlight on the crisis and call for a step change in humanitarian delivery on the ground.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will increase investment in decentralised renewable energy to benefit the world’s poorest people.

    James Wharton

    The UK Government is playing a leading role in improving energy access in developing countries, including through our Energy Africa campaign which is working with solar firms to help them access the finance they need to expand their businesses, create jobs and help reach millions of people in Africa without electricity access.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much humanitarian funding the Government gave to Yemen in 2015-16; and how much the Government plans to give to that country in 2016-17.

    Rory Stewart

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 15 September to Question number 45832.