Contributions
2,600 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDImmigration Detention: Brook House InquiryI agree with the noble Baroness that that was totally unacceptable, and the inquiry was obviously right to highlight it a something that needs urgent attention. As regards whether…11 Jan 2024HANSARDImmigration Detention: Brook House InquiryMy Lords, the noble Baroness will be aware that the supplier has changed; as of 2020, Serco now looks after this particular situation. I would also say that the vast majority of…11 Jan 2024HANSARDImmigration Detention: Brook House InquiryI thank my noble friend for that; I agree with him. I would also point out that Stephen Shaw, as I mentioned earlier, wrote a report, which he updated in 2018, on welfare in…11 Jan 2024HANSARDImmigration Detention: Brook House InquiryI will stick to the question at hand, and will happily provide some statistics on the number of people in immigration detention as of 30 September last year. That number was…11 Jan 2024HANSARDImmigration Detention: Brook House InquiryThat is not what I said; I said that the Government are considering the report. The cross-government working group, chaired by the director of detention services at the Home…11 Jan 2024HANSARDImmigration Detention: Brook House InquiryMy Lords, the new contract with Serco to run the Gatwick IRC commenced in May 2020 and runs for an eight-year period. The contract provides increased staffing levels, improved use…11 Jan 2024HANSARDTackling SpikingI thank my noble friend for her question. She is absolutely correct, of course. As I have already said, we all have a part to play in tackling spiking and it is vital that we do…19 Dec 2023HANSARDTackling SpikingThe noble Lord makes an extremely important and welcome point. It is a fact that young men are less likely to record incidents of this sort of thing, for what reason I do not…19 Dec 2023HANSARDTackling SpikingMy Lords, I thank both noble Lords for their comments. They are right: everybody deserves to feel safe when they are out enjoying Britain’s thriving night scene, especially over…19 Dec 2023HANSARDPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes A, B, C, D and H and New Code I) Order 2023That the draft Orders laid before the House on 16 and 19 October be approved. Relevant document: 5th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (special attention…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKMy Lords, the fact is that if people are not eligible under ARAP, they should not be coming on small boats and claiming asylum. Why would you forgo a legal and safe route to…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKAs the noble and gallant Lord will be aware, ARAP is intended to relocate and support those who worked for and alongside UK Armed Forces. No applicant is ruled in automatically…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKThe noble Lord is quite right. I did not say that we do not give a running commentary; I said that the information is operational and changes on a regular basis. The Minister for…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKThe noble Baroness is right that that policy has been suspended for the time being. I do not have the number of visas issued but, as of the end of September 2023, the total number…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKThe noble Lord asserts that all are eligible, but that is not necessarily the case. The eligibility criteria are published on GOV.UK; they are reasonably precise and, in the case…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKI entirely agree with my noble friend that we have a moral obligation to deliver for these people. As he will be aware, this situation is about making sure that there are flights…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKMy Lords, I have not read that article. My right honourable friend James Heappey noted in the other place that it would have been more difficult to bring these people back to the…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKThe Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in the other place committed to bringing back 2,800 ARAP-eligible people by the end of this year, and we are well on track to achieve that. The…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKMy Lords, Afghans in third countries, including Pakistan, who are eligible for resettlement to the UK continue to be supported by the UK Government, and flights from Pakistan to…18 Dec 2023HANSARDPakistan: Afghans Eligible for Resettlement in UKI cannot say that unequivocally, no. As I have just said, it is on a case-by-case basis. In principle, of course that is the case, but with the caveat that it depends on the case…18 Dec 2023