Tag: Tim Farron

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the September 2015 report from the Gold Command leaders appointed following the Joint Ministerial Declaration on UK/French Cooperation issued on 20 August 2015.

James Brokenshire

This a joint report, designed to update UK and French Ministers on a range of issues including action to tackle criminal networks behind trafficking and people smuggling. It will incorporate sensitive operational information from UK and French law enforcement agencies and as such it will not be appropriate to be published by the UK or France.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if (a) she and (b) other Ministers in her Department plan to attend the joint conference between the EU and African partners in Valletta, Malta, on 11 November 2015, on migration.

James Brokenshire

The Valletta Summit on Migration will take place on 11-12 November in Malta. It will bring together the EU and Member States, partners from West, North and East Africa and international organisations to enhance cooperation on migration and to better address the dangerous and illegal crossings in the central Mediterranean.

Our attendance will reflect the importance of this vital opportunity to build a partnership with Africa on these crucial issues. The Home Secretary is closely engaged on preparations for the Summit, as are the Prime Minister and other key Cabinet colleagues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the joint ministerial declaration on UK/French co-operation in tackling ongoing illegal migration in northern France and across Europe, issued on 20 August 2015, how many of the security audit recommendations made by a British and French specialised team on 10 August 2015 have been fully implemented.

James Brokenshire

The Joint Security Audit which was undertaken with the French Authorities in August identified priority risk areas from migrant activity and work is continuing at pace to complete priority physical measures. These include fencing of shuttle platforms at the Eurotunnel site and the freight approach road as well as anti-intrusion measures in-and-around the Channel Tunnel itself. A number of these measures have been completed and the remainder will be completed in the coming weeks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the provisions of the Housing Bill on the supply of affordable housing for rent in each of the next five years; and if he will publish the data on which that assessment is based.

Brandon Lewis

The Government will continue to assess the impacts of the Housing and Planning Bill as it progresses through Parliament. We will publish our assessments on Parliament’s website at:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/housingandplanning/documents.html.

These will be updated as further assessments are undertaken.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 13 of the joint ministerial declaration on UK/French cooperation in tackling ongoing illegal migration in Northern France and across Europe, issued on 20 August 2015, when she plans to publish the study of other Channel and appropriate North Sea ports that could be used by criminal gangs exploiting migrants, referred to in that declaration.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office has no intentions to publish the study of Channel and North Sea ports that is referenced in the Joint Ministerial Declaration of 20 August. Publishing such a report could reveal security vulnerabilities that might be exploited by criminals groups that seek to transfer illegal migrants and contraband material into the UK via clandestine means.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of accommodation and support available to vulnerable migrants in Calais; and what steps she is taking to ensure such migrants are appropriately cared for.

James Brokenshire

The provision of humanitarian assistance for people on French soil is a matter for the French authorities. However, both Governments are committed to identifying and helping those people who are especially vulnerable or potential victims of trafficking. This is why the Home Secretary and French Interior Minister agreed in the UK-France Joint Declaration in August 2015 to set up a project to increase observation in the camps to identify those people; to provide medical help and protection where required; to put in place a system to transfer them to places of safety; and to ensure they are offered the appropriate advice and support from the French system. The project will assist with our commitment to tackle the organised criminal gangs who facilitate human trafficking, and we are working together with French law enforcement partners to identify and target these gangs to prevent this occurring in the first place. The UK has contributed almost £550,000 towards this project as part of the Joint Fund announced in September 2014. The 2015 Joint Declaration also commits the UK to a further financial contribution of £3.6 million per year for two years to support the French Government in a range of activities to reduce the numbers of migrants in Calais and the incentives for them to stay there.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential (a) economic and (b) health effects of the provisions of the Housing and Planning Bill on people who receive housing benefit and who are subject to the benefit cap in each of the next five years.

Brandon Lewis

The Government will continue to assess the impacts of the Housing and Planning Bill as it progresses through Parliament. We will publish our assessments on Parliament’s website at:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/housingandplanning/documents.html.

These will be updated as further assessments are undertaken.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to attract high-skilled migrants and international students to the UK.

James Brokenshire

The Government is very clear that the UK is open for business. The UK benefits from immigration, but not uncontrolled immigration. We will continue with the immigration reforms we have pursued since 2010 to reduce net migration and deliver an effective immigration system that works in the national interest. Reducing net migration is compatible with continuing to attract the brightest and best to come here to study and work. We continue to welcome skilled workers filling gaps in our labour market, we have introduced new routes for the exceptionally talented and graduate entrepreneurs, and there is no limit on the number of international students coming to study at our world class universities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the potential effects of the provisions of the Housing and Planning Bill on the total amount of spending on housing benefit in each of the next five years.

Brandon Lewis

The Government will continue to assess the impacts of the Housing and Planning Bill as it progresses through Parliament. We will publish our assessments on Parliament’s website at

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/housingandplanning/documents.html.

These will be updated as further assessments are undertaken.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect the security and privacy of citizens’ online activity.

Mr John Hayes

The public and Parliament deserve legislation that provides adequate protection for both their privacy and their security. That is why the Government intends to publish a Bill in the Autumn for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Parliament, responding to the recommendations of three independent reviews in this area: those conducted by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, the Royal United Services Institute, and the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, David Anderson QC.