Every parliamentary written question tabled by Daisy Cooper this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–32 of 32 · Home Office
What the average processing time is for new-born out of country passport applications.
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate costThe published processing guidance for children by country of application is identical for all persons applying from that country who are under 16 years old.
What steps she is taking to notify eligible Ukrainians on the Ukrainian Permission Extension scheme.
To promote and raise awareness of the Ukraine Permission Extention scheme, the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), alongside trusted partners, have run 9 community outreach events in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. The department also engaged directly with stakeholders who have close links to the Ukrainian diaspora in the UK.This is supported by online guidance published on Gov.uk.We continue to explore further engagement opportunities where applicable.
Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing DBS checks that are portable for an individual applicant rather than an organisation.
A DBS certificate is sent directly to the applicant only. Where an individual applies for another role within the same workforce which is eligible and requires the same type of DBS check, they may use their existing certificate if the employer is content to accept it. In this context, it is the employer’s decision whether to use an existing certificate or to request a new one.The DBS Update Service, launched in June 2013, supports the portability of an individual’s certificate by ensuring the information is up to date. Once an individual joins the Update Service, they are able to keep their certificate up to date by giving employers permission to check if anything has changed on their certificate, as long as the role is in the same workforce and eligible for the same level of check as the existing certificate.The Update service allows existing and new employers to undertake instant online checking of DBS certificates with the individual’s consent, thus saving time and money. The applicant would only need to obtain a new certificate in cases where there has been a change in recorded information, or in cases where they need to apply for a different type of criminal record check. The Update Service is free to use for volunteers and costs £16 a year for paid employees.
What the average processing time is for passports for children born outside the UK.
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate costWhere no further information is required, His Majesty's Passport Office advises that British passport applications from the UK will normally take around three weeks. This includes applications for children, whether they were born in the UK or overseas.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14690 on Fire and Rescue Services: Standards, what progress was made in establishing national standards for Fire and Rescue services at the first meeting of the Ministerial Advisory Group held in December.
The inaugural meeting of the ministerial advisory group for fire and rescue service reform was the first in a series of meetings that will take place quarterly. One of the group’s key aims is delivery of the manifesto commitment to work with all stakeholders in the fire and rescue sector to inform policy, including the establishment of national standards. This will form a core part of our work programme, alongside the Government’s other priorities for meaningful reform of the sector.This will build on the work that the Fire Standards Board has already taken forward in publishing 19 different standards for the sector. These cover a range of topics relating to operational management, leadership and ethics.
With reference to Home Office case reference MPAM/1253692/25, what steps is taking to expedite the resolution of a technical error on her Department's systems which is preventing the processing of skilled workers visas.
The issue raised relates to an individual case and the enrolment of data to the Home Office. It does not relate to a systemic issue with our I.T systems. We are taking steps to resolve the issues surrounding the individual case and will respond with further details directly to the Honourable Member.
Whether it is her Department’s policy to notify successful applicants that they have been issued with an eVisa.
All applicants issued with an eVisa as evidence of their immigration status receive a written notification, either via email or post, once their immigration application has been successful, and their immigration permission granted. This notification confirms that the person has been issued an eVisa as evidence of their immigration status. It also includes information on what an eVisa is, and how to access and use it.Immigration status holders who are not making an application but who take action to create a UKVI account to access their existing eVisa receive a notification via email once they complete the UKVI account creation process, confirming they can access their eVisa.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) older people and (b) people with legacy visas are not (i) disadvantaged and (ii) prevented from accessing services by the eVisa system.
The Home Office is committed to ensuring everyone, including the elderly, those who hold legacy documents and the most vulnerable, are properly supported as we transform our immigration system. I have recently met with Age UK and other stakeholders to discuss how we can ensure support is reaching those who need it. People can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited access to their account, so that they can assist with creating a UKVI account, completing details to access an eVisa, and with any immigration application. Where a person is unable to manage their own affairs due to, for example, age or disability, a ‘proxy’, who is authorised, can create and manage the account on behalf of the person. People can also contact the UK Visas and Immigration Resolution Centre (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk) for support via email and webchat, and telephone. They can also support people through the online process by helping them to access or recover their account, update their personal details and assisting them with technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, verify the person’s status through alternative means. For those inside the UK our Assisted Digital service is available to provide support by phone and email to those who need help with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account. Access needs can include any disability that requires support to use online services, a lack of device or a lack of internet access. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/assisted-digital-help-online-application. We are also developing services to make the relevant immigration status information available automatically through system to system checks with other government departments and the NHS. On 18 September 2024, we announced that the Government is providing up to £4m in dedicated grant funding to a UK wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver valuable support to those who need it, during the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas. The list of organisations is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evisa-community-support-for-vulnerable-people. We encourage holders of legacy paper documents, including passports that contain an ink stamp or vignette sticker (for those with Indefinite Leave to Enter or Indefinite Leave to Remain), to transition to an eVisa given the benefits this offers. They can do this by making a free ‘No Time Limit’ application via: GOV.UK - The best place to find government services and information (homeoffice.gov.uk). However, Legacy document holders can prove their rights as they do today using their physical documents where these are permitted. This includes for proving the right to rent, or for travel to the UK.
What steps her Department is taking to support older people without internet access to (a) apply for and (b) access eVisas.
The Home Office is committed to ensuring everyone, including the elderly, those who hold legacy documents and the most vulnerable, are properly supported as we transform our immigration system. I have recently met with Age UK and other stakeholders to discuss how we can ensure support is reaching those who need it. People can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited access to their account, so that they can assist with creating a UKVI account, completing details to access an eVisa, and with any immigration application. Where a person is unable to manage their own affairs due to, for example, age or disability, a ‘proxy’, who is authorised, can create and manage the account on behalf of the person. People can also contact the UK Visas and Immigration Resolution Centre (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk) for support via email and webchat, and telephone. They can also support people through the online process by helping them to access or recover their account, update their personal details and assisting them with technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, verify the person’s status through alternative means. For those inside the UK our Assisted Digital service is available to provide support by phone and email to those who need help with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account. Access needs can include any disability that requires support to use online services, a lack of device or a lack of internet access. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/assisted-digital-help-online-application. We are also developing services to make the relevant immigration status information available automatically through system to system checks with other government departments and the NHS. On 18 September 2024, we announced that the Government is providing up to £4m in dedicated grant funding to a UK wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver valuable support to those who need it, during the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas. The list of organisations is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evisa-community-support-for-vulnerable-people. We encourage holders of legacy paper documents, including passports that contain an ink stamp or vignette sticker (for those with Indefinite Leave to Enter or Indefinite Leave to Remain), to transition to an eVisa given the benefits this offers. They can do this by making a free ‘No Time Limit’ application via: GOV.UK - The best place to find government services and information (homeoffice.gov.uk). However, Legacy document holders can prove their rights as they do today using their physical documents where these are permitted. This includes for proving the right to rent, or for travel to the UK.
What steps she has taken to work with stakeholders in the Fire and Rescue services to establish national standards.
The Home Office funds the independent Fire Standards Board (FSB) to develop and maintain a comprehensive set of professional standards for fire and rescue services in England.The FSB has published 19 national standards for fire and rescue services covering a range of topics from emergency response driving to leading and developing people and a code of ethics.The Home Office will continue to work with stakeholders to build on the work of the FSB in the context of the Government’s fire and rescue service reform agenda. As part of this agenda in December I will chair the first meeting of a Ministerial Advisory Group, with representation from across the fire and rescue sector.
Whether airlines who will have responsibility for checking electronic travel authorisations (ETA) for EU nationals from 2 April 2025 will also have the ability to check (a) EU identity cards and (b) EU passports in order to verify those with settled status are exempt from the requirement to hold an ETA.
If their passengers hold an ETA and are seeking to travel to the UK using the passport they used to apply for their ETA, airlines will receive automated messaging confirming the existence of a permission to travel.If their passengers hold an eVisa and are seeking to travel on a passport registered on their Home Office account, airlines will receive automated messaging confirming the existence of a permission to travel.EU, EEA and Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) should register their passport and national identity card (if held) onto their Home Office account. This will ensure airlines receive the correct automated messaging if they seek to travel with either document.It is important that all individuals with an eVisa (including those with status under the EUSS) keep their travel documents up to date and registered onto their Home Office account.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing emergency travel documents for surrogate babies of British nationals born in Ukraine.
His Majesty’s Passport Office provides significant support to the commissioning parents of surrogate babies.Where there are safety concerns, HM Passport Office works in conjunction with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to prioritise the processing of applications. Once a passport application has been made FCDO can consider issuing an Emergency Travel Document on a case by case basis where its existing exceptional circumstance criteria is met and checks have been satisfactorily completed.