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I certainly agree with the hon. Lady about the need to ensure that the UK shared prosperity fund works for all parts of our United Kingdom, and we will certainly work with the Scottish Government and other devolved Administrations on the preparation for that and in advance of the spending review.
I certainly agree with the hon. Lady about the need to ensure that the UK shared prosperity fund works for all parts of our United Kingdom, and we will certainly work with the Scottish Government and other devolved Administrations on the preparation for that and in advance of the spending review.
First, may I say that my thoughts are with those affected by the Clutha helicopter crash? The fatal accident inquiry is starting in Glasgow today.
The UK Government’s shared prosperity fund is still something of a mystery box. We do not know how much will be in it, who is going to administer it or what its priorities will be. Will the Secretary of State commit today that the Scottish Government will get to control the fund and that Scotland will not get one penny less than we would have received under EU funding?
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library copies of any correspondence with Ministers of the Scottish Government since the passing of the Immigration Act 2016 relating to that Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library copies of any correspondence with Ministers of the Scottish Government since the passing of the Immigration Act 2016 relating to that Act.
The Immigration Act 2016 received Royal Assent on 12th May 2016. Provisions in the Act that create a mechanism to transfer responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children from one local authority to another in England came into force on 31st May. Announcements about implementation of the other provisions mentioned and extensions to other parts of the UK will be made in due course once discussions with the Devolved Administrations have taken place. There has been no correspondence with Ministers of the Scottish Government relating to the Immigration Act 2016 since the Act received Royal Assent.
Our immigration system is designed to work for the whole of the United Kingdom. Applying different rules would lead to migrants applying in one part of the UK and then moving to another, as happened—as the Scottish Government’s own research shows—with the “fresh talent” scheme.
Our immigration system is designed to work for the whole of the United Kingdom. Applying different rules would lead to migrants applying in one part of the UK and then moving to another, as happened—as the Scottish Government’s own research shows—with the “fresh talent” scheme.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying different immigration rules to Scotland and other constituent parts of the UK.
Experience of the “fresh talent” scheme indicated that only 44% of applicants had remained in Scotland at the end of their two years’ leave on the scheme. We asked the Migration Advisory Committee to look at whether differentials would work in terms of the overall salary thresholds, but it advised that that would not be appropriate and, indeed, that it would lead to the setting of higher salary thresholds in Scotland as contrasted with the rest of the UK, therefore not achieving the objective for which I think the hon. Gentleman is trying to argue.
Experience of the “fresh talent” scheme indicated that only 44% of applicants had remained in Scotland at the end of their two years’ leave on the scheme. We asked the Migration Advisory Committee to look at whether differentials would work in terms of the overall salary thresholds, but it advised that that would not be appropriate and, indeed, that it would lead to the setting of higher salary thresholds in Scotland as contrasted with the rest of the UK, therefore not achieving the objective for which I think the hon. Gentleman is trying to argue.
That is the scheme that the Government abolished. I thank the Minister, but that was an inadequate answer, quite frankly. I draw his attention to the fact that Australia and Canada have introduced substate immigration rules to ensure that migrants are encouraged to live where they are most needed. Will the Government look seriously at how this can be implemented in the UK, as the Justice Secretary has suggested today in Scotland?
I do not agree with the hon. and learned Lady’s analysis. The shortage occupation list recognises the different skills shortages that may need to be addressed in Scotland. Under the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government have new powers to make Scotland a more attractive place to come to, live in and work in, in order to boost the tax take and grow the population. I encourage the Scottish Government to use those powers.
I do not agree with the hon. and learned Lady’s analysis. The shortage occupation list recognises the different skills shortages that may need to be addressed in Scotland. Under the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government have new powers to make Scotland a more attractive place to come to, live in and work in, in order to boost the tax take and grow the population. I encourage the Scottish Government to use those powers.
Scotland needs different immigration rules because it faces very different demographic challenges from those in London and the south-east, yet the needs of London and the south-east determine British immigration policy. Why will not the Government exclude Scotland from the net migration target and work with the Scottish Government to pursue policies that are tailored for Scotland’s needs?
I did not say what the hon. and learned Lady suggested. We always welcome the opportunity to continue discussions with the Scottish Government on these issues, recognising that immigration remains a reserved matter. We will look carefully at the Scottish Affairs Committee’s report and respond to it shortly. We are very clear that there needs to be a policy for immigration across the UK, and that is what this Government will continue to adopt.
I did not say what the hon. and learned Lady suggested. We always welcome the opportunity to continue discussions with the Scottish Government on these issues, recognising that immigration remains a reserved matter. We will look carefully at the Scottish Affairs Committee’s report and respond to it shortly. We are very clear that there needs to be a policy for immigration across the UK, and that is what this Government will continue to adopt.
As the Minister very well knows, immigration is still a reserved matter. I am interested to hear that he accepts the principle that different rules can apply to different parts of the UK by highlighting differences in the shortage occupation list. Having accepted that principle, why will he not work with the Scottish Government to pursue other policies that are designed to meet the specific demographic challenges that Scotland faces?
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying different immigration rules to Scotland and other constituent parts of the UK.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying different immigration rules to Scotland and other constituent parts of the UK.
Our immigration system is designed to work for the whole of the United Kingdom. Applying different rules would lead to migrants applying in one part of the UK and then moving to another, as happened—as the Scottish Government’s own research shows—with the “fresh talent” scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the application from Mr Hamde Abu Rahma to visit Scotland was rejected; and if she will instigate a review of that decision.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the application from Mr Hamde Abu Rahma to visit Scotland was rejected; and if she will instigate a review of that decision.
In order to safeguard an individual’s personal information and comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 the Home Office is limited in what information it can provide when the request is made by someone who is not the applicant. The Home Office is therefore unable to provide the information requested.
All applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the Immigration Rules.
Urgent question on the impending deportation of the Brain family from Dingwall.
Urgent question on the impending deportation of the Brain family from Dingwall.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Compass asylum accommodation contract with Serco for the region of Scotland and Northern Ireland, how many faults were reported or identified from Compass inspections for each contractual pay period in the years 2014-15 and 2015-16; and...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Compass asylum accommodation contract with Serco for the region of Scotland and Northern Ireland, how many faults were reported or identified from Compass inspections for each contractual pay period in the years 2014-15 and 2015-16; and...
Providers are contractually required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation to comply with the Housing Act 2004 and the Decent Homes Standard. Providers are monitored closely to ensure accommodation meets these standards and the contracts include measures to ensure any issues are quickly addressed. These performance standards are defined in the contract and are managed using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including those which measure whether an individual property is compliant with contractual obligations following an inspection and also the number of service users effected if a fault is not repaired within the contract timescales.
The Home Office does not centrally record the number of individual faults reported or identified during accommodation inspections, or the number of individual faults not resolved within the agreed timescales. The requested information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to exercise her powers under section 101(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 only with the agreement of Ministers of the Scottish Government, as set out under section 101(7) of that Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to exercise her powers under section 101(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 only with the agreement of Ministers of the Scottish Government, as set out under section 101(7) of that Act.
Asylum seekers are housed across the UK under voluntary agreements between national government and local authorities that have been in place since 2000.The Home Office maintains an active partnership with local governments across the UK, including those in Scotland, and funds Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers. The partnerships consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments to dispersal patterns can be made where appropriate.
Local authorities are consulted before asylum seekers are placed in their area, so that the potential impact on communities and local services is fully considered. We continue to work closely with a wide range of local authorities, including those in Scotland, to increase the number of areas that voluntarily accommodate and support people seeking asylum and protection – every local authority is encouraged to contribute.
There are powers in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to designate areas of the country as “reception zones” if it is believed that a local authority covering the particular area has suitable housing that can used to accommodate destitute asylum seekers. The Home Office has not used these powers, but would consult fully with local authorities and Ministers of the Scottish Government if they were minded to use them.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of people employed in Scotland who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of people employed in Scotland who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.
The Government announced in 2012 that from 6 April 2016 Tier 2 visa holders who apply for settlement in the UK will be required to meet a minimum annual salary requirement of £35,000. PhD level roles and those in recognised shortage will be exempt from the £35,000 threshold.
Data of the number of people employed in specific regions of the United Kingdom is not available. The Home Office holds individual records showing the working location of Tier 2 (General) migrants, but centralised records show the registered address of the Tier 2 Sponsor, which is normally that organisation’s Head Office.
The Home Office published a full impact assessment on the changes to Tier 2 settlement rules when they were laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. This includes the impact on the top ten occupations and is available on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers were granted, continued on, or were reinstated onto support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in Scotland after lodging an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Asylum Support) in (a) 2012-13, (b)...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers were granted, continued on, or were reinstated onto support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in Scotland after lodging an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Asylum Support) in (a) 2012-13, (b)...
This information is not recorded centrally and is not readily available. It could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers have been supported in Scotland under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for (a) up to two years, (b) more than two years and (c) more than four years.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers have been supported in Scotland under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for (a) up to two years, (b) more than two years and (c) more than four years.
The table below shows the number of failed asylum seekers that have been supported under section 4 for the requested periods. This data defines refused asylum seekers as those who have been found to not require international protection and have received a final decision on their application.
Time on Support Count
Under 2 Years 52
Under 4 Years 26
Over 4 Years 2
Total = 80
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers with dependants have been supported in Scotland under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for (a) up to two years, (b) more than two years and (c) more than four years.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers with dependants have been supported in Scotland under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for (a) up to two years, (b) more than two years and (c) more than four years.
The table below shows the number of failed asylum seekers that have been supported under section 95 for the requested periods. This data defines refused asylum seekers as those who have been found to not require international protection and have received a final decision on their application.
Time on Support Count
Under 2 Years 251
Under 4 Years 120
Over 4 Years 13
Total = 384
Motion that this House has considered e-petitions 114003 and 114907 relating to the exclusion of Donald Trump from the UK. Agreed to on question. Sitting adjourned without Question put.
Motion that this House has considered e-petitions 114003 and 114907 relating to the exclusion of Donald Trump from the UK. Agreed to on question. Sitting adjourned without Question put.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the residential tenancy provisions of the Immigration Bill would come into force in Scotland if enacted.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the residential tenancy provisions of the Immigration Bill would come into force in Scotland if enacted.
The Prime Minister made clear in his immigration speech of 21 May that the Government intends to roll out the Right to Rent scheme across the whole of the UK. The roll out is being taken forward in a phased manner. Having started in a part of the West Midlands, the next phase will extend the scheme across the rest of England as of 1 February 2016. The Government intends to roll out the scheme to the rest of the UK thereafter as part of the final phase. In relation to the provisions that relate to the private rented sector in the Immigration Bill 2015-16, the Bill also enables for these provisions to be enacted across Scotland at a later date.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on students in Orkney and Shetland of reducing the accredited English language courses available to students in the highlands and islands of Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on students in Orkney and Shetland of reducing the accredited English language courses available to students in the highlands and islands of Scotland.
The Home Office has not reduced accredited English language courses in the highlands and islands of Scotland, including Orkney & Shetland.
Following a procurement exercise, the Home Office has reduced the number of test centres in the UK that are able to provide Secure English Language Testing for immigration purposes, but this should not affect the availability of English language courses in Scotland or in any other part of the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Qualifications Authority on accreditation of its English for Speakers of other Languages qualifications.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Qualifications Authority on accreditation of its English for Speakers of other Languages qualifications.
Home Office officials held discussions with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in 2013 when the former English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) option for settlement and nationality was replaced with a general requirement for intermediate level English.
On 27th June 2014, the Home Office wrote to the SQA detailing of the tender exercise for Secure English Language Testing (SELT) which included details of an open industry day on 18th July 2014 which any interested party was welcome to attend. SQA did not attend. On 23rd July 2014, the Home Office emailed SQA to invite a representative to a further stakeholder forum on 6th August 2014 but, despite several further attempts to make contact, SQA did not respond and did not attend the forum.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many spousal visa applications in which the sponsoring partner resided in Scotland have been (a) submitted and (b) refused in each year since 2012.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many spousal visa applications in which the sponsoring partner resided in Scotland have been (a) submitted and (b) refused in each year since 2012.
Information relating to the residence of sponsors is not available from centrally collated statistical databases, and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost by examination of tens of thousands of individual case files.