Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,941–1,960 of 2,391 · this parliament
How many and what proportion of irregular migrants arriving by small boat possessed (a) a passport and (b) another form of identification in each year since 2018.
The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.
How many female migrants have reported sexual assault in Manston Immigration Centre in each of the last ten years.
There have been no reported sexual assaults at Manston Reception Centre since it opened in April 2022.
Whether her Department developed plans to use roll-on/roll-off ferries to bring irregular migrants to the UK from France in 2022.
We cannot comment on proposals developed under a previous Government. This Government has no interest in reviving any such plans.
If he will make an assessment of the benefits of a review of the cost effectiveness of the care home vaccine mandate during COVID.
There are no plans to carry out such an assessment.
How many civil servants receive private healthcare through work schemes by Department.
The Civil Service does not offer or subsidise private healthcare provision or insurance.
How many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children under 18 absconded and did not return last year.
The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.
What information her Department holds on refugees visiting their country of origin whilst still resident in the UK.
Where an individual has been granted refugee status in the UK, they are not expected to leave the UK to visit their country of origin. Where an individual returns to their country of origin, this will usually indicate voluntary re-availment (of the protection of that country) and may lead to revocation of protection status under the Immigration Rules.
How many times the number of irregular migrants processed at Western Jet Foil did not match the number processed at Manston Immigration Centre since February 2022.
All people arriving at Western JetFoil are controlled and tracked through the immigration system, irrespective of the processing facility used.The majority of are processed further at Manston Immigration Centre but certain vulnerable cohorts, such as Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children who are processed at the Kent Intake Unit (KIU), are processed elsewhere including in circumstances (e.g. medical emergency) where immediate onward processing at Manston is neither practical nor desirable.The frequency of occurrence of this minority cohort of arrivals, and the manual trawl of records that would be required to confirm numbers, is such that the information would only be available at a disproportionate cost.
For what services related to irregular migration work is undertaken by (a) contracted companies and (b) staff of her Department.
The amount of work required to break down every element of activity related to irregular migration carried out by (a) Home Office officials, (b) other public bodies, and (c) external contractors could only be carried out for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
If she will make an estimate of the number of migrants processed at Manston Immigration Centre without biometric system support since February 2022.
All persons processed at Manston Reception Centre have their biometric data recorded as part of initial reception processes. This has been the case since Manston opened in April 2022. On occasion, there have been cases where the biometric data was captured in another detention setting after individuals have left Manston. Due to the large number of records that would have to be individually checked to confirm when and where biometrics were taken, the information being sought could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
What the procurement references are of current contracts related to the housing of irregular migrants.
Asylum seekers requiring accommodation under sections 4, 95 or 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are accommodated under the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC). The procurement references for these contracts can be found on Contracts Finder - GOV.UK.
Pursuant to the Answer of 2 December to Question 15294 on Undocumented Migrants: Public Opinion, if she will publish a breakdown of (a) companies contracted by the Department for polling on irregular migration and (b) the cost to the public purse of this polling.
A polling contract is currently in place with Savanta Group Limited. This two-year contract commenced in August 2023 and is available online on Contracts Finder. Spend on irregular migration polling cannot be provided. The department polls on a range of policy areas and spend on irregular migration cannot be disaggregated from total spend. We have no plans to publish all polling results on irregular migration. However, the department does regularly publish a range of statistics, research and evaluation on migration, which is available on gov.uk.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a consultation process with local residents before (a) a hotel and (b) other accommodation is used to house irregular migrants.
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and subsistence support whilst their application for asylum is being considered.The Home Office liaises with statutory partners, including local authorities directly and via Regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMP) on matters relating to its asylum accommodation footprint. SMPs are Local Government led partnerships funded by, but independent of, the Home Office, whose role is to coordinate and support delivery of national programmes in asylum and refugee schemes as well as agreed regional and devolved migration priorities.
Pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 15393 on Undocumented Migrants: Hotels, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a breakdown of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 27 November to question UIN 15076.
Pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 15704 on Jobcentres and Universal Credit: Telephone Services, what the costs were to her Department of translation and interpretation for each language code since 2021.
Further to our previous answer to Question 15704, we are unable to provide a full response to this follow up question. Following consultation with the supplier we consider the release of the specific costing information requested would prejudice commercial interests.
Pursuant to the Answer of 2 December to Question 15294 on Undocumented Migrants: Public Opinion, if she will publish all polling results the Department holds on public opinion regarding irregular migration.
A polling contract is currently in place with Savanta Group Limited. This two-year contract commenced in August 2023 and is available online on Contracts Finder. Spend on irregular migration polling cannot be provided. The department polls on a range of policy areas and spend on irregular migration cannot be disaggregated from total spend. We have no plans to publish all polling results on irregular migration. However, the department does regularly publish a range of statistics, research and evaluation on migration, which is available on gov.uk.
What biometric system failures there were at UK borders in 2023.
We are creating a streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the border each year, and will enhance the security of the UK.There are a number of biometric systems that are deployed at the border, primarily to ensure security, but also to facilitate a smooth flow of passengers. Examples include facial recognition performed at eGates, as well as finger-print checking by Border Force officers where a passenger is processed manually.The majority of the checks are performed utilising the Immigration & Asylum Biometric System (IABS) and, during 2023, there were no critical incidents logged against that service.There were a number of lower priority incidents, all of which were resolved within required timescales and appropriate business contingency measures were put in place to ensure that border security was not compromised. The specific contingency measures vary according by biometric system but, for example, where a Biometric Recording (BRS) machine is being used and it has lost connectivity to IABS, the data captured will be stored locally until it is reconnected to IABS.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to question 16316 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Energy if he will publish data on each Department's energy use, broken down by energy source.
Defra publishes data on Government departments' overall and direct emissions within the Greening Government Commitments framework.
If she will take steps to ensure that Bovaer is not used within the school supply chain.
The Food Standards Agency has advised milk from cows given Bovaer, an authorised feed additive that is used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone a rigorous safety assessment and is approved for use in Great Britain.The School Food Standards defines the foods and drinks that must be provided, those which are restricted, and those which must not be provided. Beyond this, schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and how they source their food.
How many of her Department's staff have transferred from Work Coach roles to roles assisting irregular migrants with benefits claims.
Irregular migrants cannot access public funds benefits. To access public funds benefits, individuals are required to hold an immigration status which does not prevent them from accessing public funds, which irregular migrants will not hold. Since irregular migrants do not have access to benefits, DWP staff are unable to support irregular migrants with benefit claims.