Tag: Stella Creasy

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to provide (a) humanitarian visas, (b) facilitated refugee family reunion and (c) other safe legal routes for migrants to enter the UK.

James Brokenshire

There is no provision in our Immigration Rules for someone to be given a visa to travel to the UK to seek asylum or humanitarian protection and we have no plans to change this.

However, we recognise that families may become fragmented because of the nature of conflict and persecution and the speed and manner in which those seeking asylum often flee their country of origin. Those granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, are able to sponsor their pre-flight family members to join them under the family reunion policy.

We also operate three discretionary resettlement schemes for recognised refugees for whom resettlement is the most appropriate answer. We operate these schemes in partnership with the UNHCR: Gateway; Mandate; and the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme.

We are also making a significant contribution to support refugees and their families in other ways. The UK has contributed over £1 billion in humanitarian aid in response to the Syrian crisis and we intend to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees displaced to neighbouring countries over the lifetime of this Parliament under the VPR scheme.

Migrants wishing to enter the UK for other reasons such as work or study can apply for a visa for that purpose. They will need to meet the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rule under which they apply in order to qualify for a visa. Details about the criteria and how to apply are available on gov.uk.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations have been made by whom in her Department to the Indian government on the extradition of the person charged with the rape and murder of Michelle Samaraweera in 2009.

James Brokenshire

An arrest was made in this case in India in July 2011 following an extradition request from the UK. Since then, the case has been before the Indian courts.

The Home Office continues to monitor the case through the British High Commission in New Delhi. However, the United Kingdom has no involvement in the Indian court process.

A further hearing is due to take place in India on 21 April 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of refugees and migrants living in Calais in each month of 2015; and how many refugees and migrants have had contact with the command and control centre the Government has established in Calais in each month of 2015.

James Brokenshire

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.

The new joint command and control centre established in Calais enhances security operations through improved co-ordination between law enforcement agencies from the UK and France. Migrants do not routinely have direct contact with this centre.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications there were for a declaration of parentage under section 55A of the Family Law Act 1986 to the (a) high, (b) magistrates and (c) county courts in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage

This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the requirements of the community sponsorship route to Britain for refugees are; and when she plans to establish that route.

James Brokenshire

As set out in the Home Secretary’s Conference speech, we will compile a register of people and organisations who can provide accommodation to those who come to UK as refugees and develop a community based sponsorship scheme, learning from schemes operated in countries like Australia and Canada to allow individuals, charities, faith groups, churches and businesses to support refugees directly.

The Government will develop the options in discussion with interested parties, including faith groups and NGOs. It is important that we take the time to develop an effective scheme which best meets the needs of the vulnerable individuals resettled in the UK. The Government will provide Parliament with further detail in due course, following these discussions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passenger interviews were undertaken with people of each (a) ethnicity, (b) religion and (c) nationality by UK Border Agency officials at each UK airport in the last five years; and whether each of those passengers was permitted to continue their journey after that interview.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Data on the number of interviews carried out at port is not available centrally. However, there is information already in the public domain on those who are subject to an intervention at the border and refused entry ie not permitted.

This information can found via the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/list-of-tables

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the number of employees who receive payment of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges through their employer; and in what industries such employees work.

Nick Boles

The Government has not made a recent estimate of the number of employees who receive payment of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges through their employer.

The Government launched a call for evidence in this area which closed on 10^th November. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will analyse responses and make public the key findings in due course.

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.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings he has had with (a) the Low Pay Commission, (b) Which? and (c) members of the Trade Union Congress to discuss the payment and administration of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges on the income of employees.

Nick Boles

The Government’s Call for Evidence into tips, gratuities, cover and service charges closed on 10 November 2015. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received formal or informal evidence from the named bodies. Where any clarification is required or the Government wishes to seek further information, we will request further discussions with these bodies, where appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what records her Department holds of (a) children currently in Europe who potentially qualify for resettlement to the UK under the Dublin III convention and (b) children currently in Europe who potentially qualify for resettlement to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 who do not have a family member in the UK; and what the (i) dates are and (ii) source is from which such records were received since 1 January 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Dublin Regulation is the mechanism to transfer individuals to other Member States for consideration of their asylum claim, rather than a mechanism for resettlement. The number of unaccompanied children in the process of seeking asylum in other Member States is a matter for individual Member States. However, our secondees in France, Greece and Italy are working to identify and assess eligible cases, and transfers are underway.