The Bishop of Bristol received the following written answer on 6th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Bristol asked His Majesty’s Government whether the changes to the qualification period for indefinite leave to remain apply to people who are already living and working in the United Kingdom or whether the changes will apply to new visa applicants only.
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The Bishop of Southwark spoke at the second reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill on 2nd June 2025, pointing out the need for resources involved in managing the immigration and asylum system, and the potential effects of further hard line approaches to immigration enforcement:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, the diocese in which I serve covers one of the most diverse parts of the country. Indeed, arguably, south London is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the world. This diversity is often represented in our churches, which have benefited, as has the rest of the country, from the great human fact of migration. It would be good to hear some recognition of this in government and Home Office statements.
It is worth stressing that the vast majority of migrants to this country come here properly under the Immigration Rules, and thus there is no proper sense in which their arrival and settlement can be described as uncontrolled. The Government of the day may, for good reasons of public policy, wish to alter the rules or introduce fresh primary legislation, but that does not mean that a system and process is not in place, that applications are not assessed and fees paid, and that the results do not match what Parliament has sanctioned.
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The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on facilitating community integration on 15 May 2025, following a government statement on the UK immigration system:
The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, the White Paper rightly recognises the role that successful integration plays in enabling people to realise their full potential and increasing community cohesion. It particularly highlights the importance of language learning. Yet this, though important, is not the sole factor that influences the extent to which someone is successfully integrated in society. Successful integration is multifaceted. It requires, for example, the provision of adequate housing, employment opportunities, social networks and the ability to navigate services. A more holistic approach to integration is needed—one that extends beyond the development of language skills. What consideration are the Government giving to introducing more expansive measures to facilitate successful integration?
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The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 12th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what is their timeline for the full implementation of the ATLAS caseworking system; and whether they expect it to be fully operational in 2025.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about immigration casework”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 25 November (HL2389), in which he says that the Home Office review into immigration detention will not assess all areas of the Brook House Inquiry, whether they intend to review the recommendations in another review or assessment, and what would the timescale be for this work.
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On 3rd December 2024, the Bishop of London asked a question on safeguarding practices for enforced return of asylum seekers whose claims have been found ineligible:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I welcome the action that the Government are taking to get on top of the asylum backlog and to process claims formerly deemed as inadmissible. I appreciate, therefore, that more individuals may be found ineligible for asylum and may need to return. Therefore, are the Government going to review the current safeguarding policies in place for enforced return and, if so, how?
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about safeguarding in asylum processing”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 25th November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 14 October (HL Deb cols 17GC–20GC), when they intend to publish the terms of reference for the Home Office review into immigration detention, including Rule 34 and 35 of the detention centre rules.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about immigration detention review”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 19th November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government how many asylum liaison officers are currently in post in the Home Office, and whether there are any plans for further recruitment to support newly recognised refugees through the move-on process.
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The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the minimum income threshold for applications for a (1) spousal, and (2) family, visa.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about minimum income threshold for spousal and family visas”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 2nd September 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about (1) the delay in introducing eVisas, and (2) the requirement that, notwithstanding this delay, those with biometric residence cards must apply for a replacement eVisa by 31 December.
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab, FCDO): The Home Office continues to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including ILPA and the 3million, as we roll out eVisas and are grateful for their feedback.
eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025, a change that will enhance the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.
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