The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of extending visa-free access to the UK to Nigerian citizens.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The UK keeps its visa system under regular review. There are currently no plans to change the visa requirements for Nigerian citizens.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2016-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the EU Commission proposal to introduce a European electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA), and (2) the implications of the introduction of a European ESTA for UK citizens and businesses following the UK’s departure from the EU; and what representations they have made to the Commission and to EU member states regarding that proposal.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The UK welcomes proposals to increase scrutiny of, and further secure, the EU’s external Schengen border. A brief update on the Commission’s plans to publish draft legislation for an Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System was provided at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 13 October, which was attended by the Home Secretary. We will examine the proposals in more detail once publication has taken place. The status of UK citizens under any such system will depend upon the nature of the detailed proposals and the outcome of the UK’s negotiations to exit the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2015-11-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) how many refugees are currently around Calais waiting for an opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom, and (2) how many of those refugees are (a) accompanied, and (b) unaccompanied, children; what assessment they have made of the problems that the onset of winter might cause those refugees; and what additional measures they will take to help to address those problems.
Lord Bates
The management of the migrant camps in Calais is the responsibility of the French Government. The French Government has recently stated that there are approximately 6,000 migrants living in makeshift camps in the Calais area. The UK Government does not routinely assess the numbers of migrants in Calais or hold a breakdown of the ages of migrants.
The UK Government is working to decrease the opportunities available for migrants to enter the UK illegally by investing tens of millions of pounds to bolster security infrastructure in Calais as part of a major programme of work in close collaboration with the French Government to improve security in the area. Alongside this, the French Government has opened up thousands of new places in its asylum system encouraging migrants to claim asylum in France and not travel to the UK.
The French Government is responsible for the care of migrants in Calais, including support over the winter. However, both governments are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. The UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015 committed the UK to providing £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (or €750,000) to fund the France Terre d’Asile Project to identify those in the camps who are especially vulnerable and at risk of trafficking and exploitation, and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to honour the humanitarian commitments set out in paragraphs 17 and 18 of the 20 August 2015 Anglo-French agreement Managing Migratory Flows in Calais: Joint Ministerial Declaration on UK/French Co-operation.
Lord Bates
The UK Government is not providing funding to support the migrant camps in Dunkirk or Calais. Instead, and in line with the joint approach of the UK and France as set out in the Joint Declaration of 20 August, the UK has committed to providing £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. This is so that migrants can be helped to enter the French asylum system in a safe, systematic and humane manner. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects of the demolition of structures in the South Hebron Hills on 2 February 2016 on (a) future compliance with UN resolutions and (b) the peace process; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The UK position on demolitions is clear: demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; are harmful to the peace process; and are, in all but the most exceptional of cases, contrary to international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention is clear that the destruction of any real or personal property in Occupied Territory is not justified unless it is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wasserman on 2016-02-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place to regulate the activities of individuals who offer support services to victims of crime.
Lord Faulks
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) currently funds a range of support services for victims of crime.
Where appropriate, grant agreements require organisations to adhere to the Victims’ Code and the EU Victims’ Directive when providing services for victims and MoJ has the right to terminate grant funding to those who do not comply with these, or other relevant requirements of the grant agreement .
Where organisations funded either by MoJ or PCCs are registered charities, they will also be subject to regulation by the Charity Commission.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2016 to Question 27517, how many foreign nationals living in the UK have been prosecuted for a fraudulent child benefit claim for a child living in the EU.
Justin Tomlinson
The Information requested is not available. As DWP does not administer child benefit, we do not legally have any powers to investigate alleged fraudulent claims.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Field on 2016-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Crime Agency’s National Referral Mechanism Statistics – End of year summary 2015, for what reasons only 89 of the 1104 potential victims of trafficking who presented in the Metropolitan Police Force area in 2015 were referred by that force to the National Referral Mechanism; and what process was followed for the remaining 1015 potential victims.
Karen Bradley
Of the 1,104 potential victims referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2015 that presented in the Metropolitan Police Force area, 68 were EU nationals. The countries of origin of these EU nationals were: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and the UK. Information on the region of origin and location of recruitment of potential victims is not available.
All 1,104 potential victims who presented in the Metropolitan Police Force Area in 2015 were referred to the NRM by a first responder organisation. A breakdown of referrals is available from published NRM statistics on the National Crime Agency website and can be found here: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics. Breakdowns of data about the London boroughs where potential victims presented are not available.
The Salvation Army and its subcontractors provide support in different locations within England and Wales for adult potential victims given a positive reasonable grounds decision. Following a reflection and recovery period, victims are assisted to move on within the UK or voluntarily return to their home country. The Home Office does not hold data on what happens to individuals once they leave the service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.
David Mundell
I am frequently in Scotland for a range of meetings, events and official engagements. Details of meetings with external organisations are published in quarterly returns which are available at gov.uk.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Stevens on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prison healthcare appointments were scheduled in each prison in the last 12 months.
Nicola Blackwood
The information is not held in the format requested.