The Home Office does not hold the data requested in a reportable format and it would require a manual search of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

The Home Office does not hold the data requested in a reportable format and it would require a manual search of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Refugee Integration Loans were introduced in 2007 following a public consultation and is intended to help people with the costs of integrating into UK society. They are funded by the Home Office who make the initial decisions on applications. They are then administered and recouped by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Refugee integration loans are interest-free loans with favourable repayment terms for individuals who are over 18 and meet the following eligibility criteria:

• a refugee
• you have humanitarian protection
• a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection

Individuals are currently able to borrow between £100 and £500. Between £100 to £780 can be borrowed if submitting a joint application with a partner.

The Home Office does not hold data for the value of refugee integration repayments made since January 2007 in a reportable format and it would require a manual search of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

The information requested in relation to Question 197940 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.

The loans ensure that those refugees with the greatest integration needs are able to get financial assistance to obtain specific items or activities that will help address those needs. As the payments take the form of a loan, money recovered can be recycled to ensure a continuous fund for new refugees.

The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates the number of adult asylum seekers leaving accommodation providing under Section 98. We have a statutory duty to provide support and accommodation to destitute asylum seekers while their claim for asylum is being considered. The Home Office does not hold or detain asylum seekers in hotels or any other asylum accommodation. Individuals are free to leave if they wish and the Home Office has no power to detain those who wish to leave.

The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates the number of adult asylum seekers leaving accommodation providing under Section 98. We have a statutory duty to provide support and accommodation to destitute asylum seekers while their claim for asylum is being considered. The Home Office does not hold or detain asylum seekers in hotels or any other asylum accommodation. Individuals are free to leave if they wish and the Home Office has no power to detain those who wish to leave.

The United Kingdom has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and other support whilst their application for asylum is being considered as set out in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The Act also sets out the need to meet essential living needs. The support package provided usually consists of accommodation and a weekly cash allowance to meet other essential living needs such as food, toiletries, travel and clothing. The support rate for those in contingency accommodation is intended to cover essential living items that are not met by the accommodation provider such as clothing, non-prescription medicine and travel.

The Asylum Accommodation service providers identify suitable accommodation and ensure that it conforms to the accommodation standards and provision set out in Schedule 2 of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC).

The Statement of Requirements, available via the link below, sets out the full details of our contractual obligations:

http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf.

Those accommodated on the barge in Portland will already be in the asylum system, having been through initial screening and checks. They will have had their fingerprints and identities recorded by the Home Office as part of robust security checks prior to going aboard.

Those being accommodated are likely to come from various countries, and already in the asylum system, having been through initial screening and checks. They will be non-detained. It will be managed by a specialist and experienced provider, which has a strong track record of providing this kind of accommodation. We will continue to work closely with the councils, communities, and key local partners to manage any impact in Dorset. If someone is late returning from a visit off the vessel, they will be contacted to ascertain their whereabouts.

The provision of an accommodation barge at Portland Port will provide the capacity for a maximum of 506 asylum seekers. The vessel will contain multiple occupancy rooms that are an appropriate size for the number of occupants in the appropriate space standard. The vessel will always remain in line with marine industry safety regulations and meet all statutory requirements.

There will be adequate accommodation, catering, laundry, facilities to support their well-being and transport to and from the Port into the local community. The site at Portland and is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible, in order to minimise the impact on the local community. Legal representatives will be allowed, though any entry into and or movement through the port is controlled by the security provider.

We will assess individual’s suitability to reside at Portland, appropriate procedures will be in place to prevent the spread of infectious disease, which is being considered by the Multi Agency Forum health subgroup.

All information regarding the Bibby Stockholm vessel in Portland can be found on the asylum accommodation factsheet found here: Portland_Factsheet_050423.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Those individuals will be non-detained, provided with adequate accommodation, catering, laundry, facilities to support their well-being and transport.

The Border Force and Immigration Enforcement Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded under strict eligibility criteria. Staff who retired before the 1^st January 2022 are unfortunately not eligible. The 1^st January 2022 date was chosen to coincide with the receipt of the Royal Warrant of Appointment in June 2021. Seasonal Workforce staff members who are currently employed by Border Force or Immigration Enforcement, following less than a 12-month break with permanent service in Border Force or Immigration Enforcement, will be eligible.

It is not His Majesty’s Passport Office practice to discuss individual cases in the public domain.

The UK Health Security Agency began testing of Evusheld in March 2022, which was completed in May 2022. The decision not to procure Evusheld at this time for prevention through emergency routes is based on independent clinical advice by the multi-agency RAPID C-19 and a national expert policy working group. The decision is based on a range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro analysis and emerging observational studies. RAPID C-19 monitors activity in clinical trials for emerging evidence and where treatments are proven to be clinically effective, enables access for National Health Service patients. The Chief Medical Officer for England is content that the correct process for providing clinical advice has been followed and it should now be referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for further evaluation. The Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce has published this analysis of evidence, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rapid-c-19-oversight-group-report-to-chief-medical-officer-review-of-evusheld

A letter was issued to patient groups on 5 September on the evidence and expert analysis for the decision, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-on-evusheld-as-a-coronavirus-covid-19-treatment-letter-to-patient-groups

Leaving the EU without a deal remains the default option on 31 October. As a responsible government, we have been preparing for all EU exit eventualities, including the possibility of no deal, for over two years. In light of the extension that has now been agreed, departments are making sensible decisions about the timing and pace at which some of this work is progressing, but we will continue to prepare for all exit scenarios. When necessary we will continue to update our advice on gov.uk/euexit on how businesses and citizens should prepare.

HM Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion to prepare for our withdrawal from the EU since 2016, including over £2bn for the 19-20 financial year. This funding will help departments to manage pressures arising from exit preparations, as well as ensuring that the UK is prepared to seize the opportunities available when we leave the EU. The Treasury has also made arrangements to ensure that departments and the Devolved Administrations can fund measures to address civil contingencies in a no deal scenario.