The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 6 tabled · 6 answered

Written questions by Hillier.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Meg Hillier this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.

Department:All (6)Department for Work and Pensions (2)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2)Home Office (1)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (1)

Showing 16 of 6 · this parliament

26 Mar 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

Whether there has been a significant change in the number of applications for leave to remain under the ECAA Turkish Business person visa route in the last six months; and if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of this change.

Reply

Leave granted under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) allows people, largely Turkish nationals, to work or establish businesses in the UK.The Home Office does not publish information on ECAA applications and also does not publish information specifically relating to grants of Indefinite Leave to Remain under the ECAA route.However, from the immigration statistics published for the calendar year ending December 2025, it was noted that the published data on grants of Settlement under the Work Permit holder category largely relates to persons granted leave under the ECAA route. The published statistics for the year ending December 2025 show that there were 6,367 Settlement grants for Work Permit holders, an increase of 72% on the previous 12 months.

23 Feb 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take steps to support Isabel Rose in Hong Kong.

Reply

I recognise how distressing it must be for Ms Rose, who has been unable to leave Hong Kong since 2024, and who has now been found guilty of the charges against her. We have provided consular assistance since Ms Rose's initial arrest, signposted her to local support groups, and officers from the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong attended her court hearing on 3 March. We will continue to provide assistance to her and her family while she awaits sentencing in July. We are in touch with the Hong Kong authorities.

29 Jan 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
Asked

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the status of Karim Ennarah's case.

Reply

The UK regularly raises human rights and civil society issues with the Egyptian authorities. We are aware of Mr Karim Ennarah's case, and our Ambassador in Egypt met Mr Ennarah and his wife in October last year. We are committed to supporting human rights defenders, who play a vital role and should be able to work freely in Egypt, consistent with rights guaranteed under the Egyptian Constitution.

29 Jan 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

What estimate her Department has made of the cost of ending the two child benefit cap.

Reply

No estimates have been published. While we cannot currently commit to changing the two child policy, tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. This is why the Child Poverty Taskforce will look at all available levers to reduce child poverty, including social security reforms, before publishing a strategy.

28 Jan 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
Asked

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the fixed disregard rate for the New Style Employment and Support Allowance.

Reply

The current disregard was set in 1999. We have no current plans to change it, but I will be interested in any proposals my hon friend brings forward.

6 Jan 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
Asked

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps to encourage insurance companies to insure buildings with a PAS 9980 assessment of (a) low and (b) medium tolerable that do not require remediation.

Reply

Building owners are responsible for ensuring that buildings have appropriate buildings insurance in place.The government encourages insurance companies to provide suitable, fairly-priced insurance for all blocks of flats, whatever the conclusion of the Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls.Insurers make commercial decisions about the price and terms of cover they offer following their assessment of the relevant risks. Government is determined that insurance companies treat customers fairly and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value. The FCA has been clear it will be monitoring firms and, where necessary, it will take action.My officials would be happy to speak to the insurance industry about any building brought to our attention, which is unable to obtain any buildings insurance cover.For buildings that do require remediation, the Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility, led by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and reinsurance broker McGill and Partners, may reduce high premiums for some of the most affected multi-occupancy buildings with fire safety issues.

Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.