Tag: Baroness Hamwee

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2015-11-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times the joint central and local government working group referred to in paragraph 3.3 of their response to the consultation on reforming support for failed asylum seekers and other illegal migrants has met, and whether they will publish the minutes of that group’s meetings.

Lord Bates

The working group has so far met on two occasions, on 10 September and 6 October. Formal minutes of these meetings were not taken. It is anticipated that a further meeting of the working group will be held shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-10-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether torture by a member of a significant violent non-state group would be regarded for the purposes of assessing adults at risk in immigration detention as torture by a non-state actor.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The definition of torture adopted for the “adults at risk in immigration detention” policy is in line with that set out in the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) although, for the purposes of the policy, it has been extended to cover serious harm inflicted by terrorist groups exploiting instability or civil war to hold territory.

The Government adopted this definition as it most accurately reflects the need to protect those who are most likely to be adversely affected by detention – that is, those who have been harmed by the state, or by an organisation exercising similar control, and for whom detention is most likely to be redolent of the harm they have suffered.

In order to be consistent, the same definition was applied to the reporting system in rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 under which doctors working in immigration removal centres are required to report concerns that a detainee may have been the victim of torture. This has no effect on the requirement also in rule 35 for such doctors to report where a detainee’s health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued detention or the conditions of detention.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2015-11-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 25 November (HL3549), how many of the family reunion visas scheduled were granted on the basis of exceptional compelling compassionate circumstances outside the Immigration Rules, broken down by country and year.

Lord Bates

The number of applications for Family Reunion Visas that were subsequently issued Outside of the Immigration Rules can be found in the table below.

It is not possible to give a breakdown by country or nationality.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2015-12-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the report by James Ewins of his review of the overseas domestic workers visa, and their response to it, before the Immigration Bill 2015 receives its second reading in this House.

Lord Bates

Mr Ewins’s report has been submitted to the Home Office and will be published shortly. The Government will announce its response to the report in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-04-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce the outcome of their review of their policy of returning to Afghanistan Afghan military interpreters who have sought asylum in the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The policy on considering asylum claims is not under review. We carefully consider all asylum claims made in the UK, including those made by former interpreters with our armed forces in Afghanistan, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention. Those who demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution are normally granted protection and are not expected to return to their country.

Those who are found not to be in need of international protection are refused but have a right of appeal to the independent courts. Once all appeal rights are exhausted, they are required to leave the UK, failing which their removal will be enforced.

Separate schemes have existed since 2013 to assist interpreters previously employed by the UK Armed Forces. These apply only to those who have remained in Afghanistan and, in recognition of their unique and exceptional service or the danger interpreters may face because of their work, can lead to relocation to the UK if certain criteria are met.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that the role Barnardo’s has played at Cedars family accommodation centre is replicated in Tinsley House by a similar organisation.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The Home Office has now launched a tender exercise in line with Government procurement policy to provide welfare services to families while they are accommodated at the new pre-departure accommodation.

The services to be provided through the new contract will replicate those currently carried out by Barnardo’s at Cedars. The contract will focus on maintaining the current high quality of provision. The tender process will assess the experience and capability of bidding organisations to ensure that the most suitable organisation is selected.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what training staff at Tinsley House have received to ensure that they are able to work with children.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The training requirements for Home Office, custodial service provider and NHS England staff at Tinsley House pre-departure accommodation are equivalent to those for Cedars.

As set out in Detention Services Order 19/2012 ‘Detention and Escorting Safeguarding Children policy’, updated in May 2016, all staff working with children receive suitable training, which must be at least equivalent to Tier 1 of the Home Office ‘Keeping Children Safe’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that children subject to immigration control are not separated from their family or guardian during the process unless there are safeguarding or welfare concerns.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

For immigration purposes children may only be separated from their parents where it is necessary and proportionate to do so and after having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the children’s welfare.

Decisions on family separations are taken in line with published guidance in the Home Office Enforcement Instructions and Guidance at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-actions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether pre-departure accommodation at Tinsley House will be equipped for families with children and will provide facilities for children to a similar level as those at Cedars family accommodation centre; and when Tinsley House will be ready for use.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

Tinsley House is currently under going refurbishment. This includes the facilities identified for the new pre-departure accommodation. The apartment based facilities will be similar to those provided at Cedars family accommodation centre.

These facilities will include a children’s play area in the family reception area; a domestic kitchen to allow families to cook for themselves; and improvements to the outside courtyard and the separate entrance to the proposed pre departure accommodation.

The important assistance to families preparing to return to their home country, provided at Cedars, will remain in place at the new pre-departure accommodation. Cedars will remain open to enable a managed transition to the new location to take place, and Barnardo’s will continue to provide welfare support at Cedars. The timetable for the opening of pre-departure accommodation at Tinsley House is still being finalised.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hamwee on 2016-09-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to put in place a specialist escort team to deal exclusively with family returns.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

Specialist family escort teams were introduced in 2014 and are part of the family returns removal process.