Contributions
1,129 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAsylum SeekersThe Home Office currently employs about 1,280 asylum decision-makers and will double the number of caseworkers to help to clear the asylum backlog by the end of next year.…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersI am afraid that I must disagree with the noble Lord. It is clear that one of the major pull factors for people crossing the channel is that they hope to work in Britain. Legally…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersThe 1951 convention describes the categories of people who might seek protection from their native country, and, as a result, they are entitled to make a claim for asylum. There…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersI am sorry to hear that the noble Lord has yet to receive an answer. I will chase it and endeavour to get a response to him as soon as I can.17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersMy noble friend is correct. I do not have to hand the figures on the wait for BNO applications from Hong Kong, which I think was the thrust of her question. I will find that out…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersAs the noble Lord will be aware, in the Rwanda decision, the High Court considered the application of Article 31 of the refugee convention. I commend the High Court’s reasoning to…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersCertainly the inspection of detention facilities will continue. I am not aware of any change in policy in relation to the particular category of detainees that the noble Lord…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersYes. Any such revised guidance will take into account input from a whole range of stakeholders, no doubt including those of the type mentioned by the noble Baroness.17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersYes, I do. The Prime Minister was clear in his remarks on 13 December that it is a key priority of the Government to address the unlawful crossings of the channel, to tackle…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum SeekersMy Lords, the latest immigration statistics published by the Home Office show that 143,377 people were waiting for an initial decision on their asylum claim as of September 2022,…17 Jan 2023HANSARDImmigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2023Yes, I should have made that clear. Indeed, it is the wider EEA, not just the EU, so it includes all the EFTA countries. I thank the noble Lord; that is an important…17 Jan 2023HANSARDImmigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2023My Lords, the order, laid before the House on 7 December 2022, is required to enact one very minor change to the legislation which sets out the form and manner by which leave to…17 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationI will consider that proposition, take it back to the department and write to the noble Lord.16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationSince April 2022, when the policy was changed, the department has not noticed that any particular authorities have been backward in coming forward in relation to assisting the…16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationClearly, there was such a commitment. I do not wish to reveal any great secrets, but it is a very high priority for the department and I anticipate that good news will be making…16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationClearly, the coalition policy to allow private providers of accommodation to perform that service is working well, and the Government have no intention of revising that policy.16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationClearly, the arrangements made for asylum seekers within the French Republic are a matter for the French Government. I understand that arrangements are made in accordance with…16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationI disagree with the noble Baroness that there is any want of compassion. Clearly, the asylum system in this country is struggling with very large numbers of people who have come…16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationCertainly, when a refugee is assigned to a local authority area, there is a payment to the local authority in relation to that person to defray the costs of the accommodation for…16 Jan 2023HANSARDAsylum Seekers: Local Authority AccommodationMy Lords, all local authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales became asylum dispersal areas in April 2022, ensuring that pressures are equitably shared across the United…16 Jan 2023