The government announced in 2018 that it would not be taking forward Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. The Inquiry and subsequent police investigations were comprehensive. More than 300 people gave evidence to the Inquiry, and over 40 people were convicted during the three major investigations. The media landscape has changed significantly since Part 1 of the Inquiry. Reopening the Inquiry would cost millions, and we believe it is no longer appropriate, proportionate, or in the public interest to do so. There have been extensive reforms to policing practices, as well as significant changes to press self-regulation.

The following link lists the expected processing times for EU Settlement Scheme applications, based on current performance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-application-processing-times/eu-settlement-scheme-pilot-current-expected-processing-times-for-applications.

Our aim is to process all applications to the Scheme as expeditiously as possible. The majority of applications are concluded within 5 working days. However, it is likely to take longer in the following instances:

• Further information is required from an applicant;
• If the applicant is applying as a minor and or the application is not linked to an adult;
• If the applicant has submitted a paper application;
• If the applicant has a relevant criminal record;
• If the applicant is a non-EEA or non-Swiss citizen and are applying based on a relationship not relied on in a previous application to the Home Office.

Overall, the total number of applications that have been concluded, as of 30 September 2019, was more than 1.5 million (1,524,500). Of these, 61% were granted settled status, 38% were granted pre-settled status.

The Government’s priority remains to leave the European Union with a deal.

In the event that we leave the EU without a deal, the EU Settlement Scheme will continue to operate for EU citizens resident here by exit. They would be able to be joined in the UK under the scheme, by 29 March 2022, by existing close family members (spouses, partners, children, parents and grandparents), where the relationship existed by exit (or where a child was born overseas after this date) and continued to exist when the family member applied.

Details of the policy on citizens’ rights in a no deal Brexit were published on 6 December 2018 and are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/policy-paper-on-citizens-rights-in-the-event-of-a-no-deal-brexit.

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 170, which would implement the relevant changes to the EU Settlement Scheme in the event of a no deal Brexit, was laid before Parliament on 24 October 2019 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-170-24-october-2019.

In circumstances where the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union without a deal, EU citizens who move to the UK and wish to stay beyond 31 December 2020 will need to apply for European temporary leave to remain.

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have criminal convictions in the UK or abroad. We will carry out criminality and security checks on all applications including checks against UK police databases as well as Home Office watch-lists.

The Government does not plan to undertake a public consultation on the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme, the proposed arrangements for which were set out on 4 September 2019 and are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-immigration-after-free-movement-ends-if-theres-no-deal.

However, the overall policy and approach have been discussed with internal and external stakeholders, such as groups representing employers, EU citizens in the UK, Consulates and community organisations, and account has been taken of those discussions.

The Government does not plan to undertake a public consultation on the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme, the proposed arrangements for which were set out on 4 September 2019 and are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-immigration-after-free-movement-ends-if-theres-no-deal.

However, the overall policy and approach have been discussed with internal and external stakeholders, such as groups representing employers, EU citizens in the UK, Consulates and community organisations, and account has been taken of those discussions.

A date has not yet been fixed for the next Yemen Quad meeting, but we continue to work closely with our Quad partners (US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) on Yemen, and with other international partners. On 26 September, the UK co-hosted a political event at the UN General Assembly to coordinate the international community’s support for the UN-led peace process and endorse the UN Special Envoy’s plan to begin wider political discussion.

We thank all donors who have provided funding to the UN’s 2019 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, who provided approximately $800 million between them in September.

We continue to encourage all donors to rapidly release their remaining pledges and consider providing further funding to this year’s UN appeal.

We await the release of the UN’s 2020 Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview and accompanying Humanitarian Response Plan, which will inform our decisions on how we provide our funding next year.

We monitor the conflict in Yemen closely and are concerned about reports of increased violence in parts of Yemen and in Najran, Saudi Arabia. All parties must engage constructively and in good faith to overcome obstacles and find a political solution to end the conflict. We continue to call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to exercise restraint, comply fully with International Humanitarian Law and engage constructively with the peace process led by the UN Special Envoy, which is the only way to end the cycle of violence.

Responsibility for the implementation of financial sanctions transferred from the Bank of England to Her Majesty’s Treasury in 2007. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM Treasury, ensures that financial sanctions are properly understood and implemented in the UK. It is for holders of assets subject to sanctions to ensure that they are frozen under the regulations.

The Yemen sanctions regime imposes an asset freeze against five individuals. Details of the Yemen regime, including the designated persons, can be publicly accessed on GOV.UK at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-yemen.

OFSI undertakes an Annual Review of frozen assets in the UK, requiring all persons or institutions that hold or control frozen assets in the UK to report to OFSI. As of 28 September 2018, the value of frozen funds associated with designated persons on the Yemen regime was some £3,500,000 (see OFSI Annual Review 2018 – 2019, available at: https://gov.uk/ofsi.) HM Treasury does not provide a breakdown of the value of frozen assets held by certain individuals or entities, nor does it provide detailed information of frozen assets associated with specific designated persons.

Responsibility for the implementation of financial sanctions transferred from the Bank of England to Her Majesty’s Treasury in 2007. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM Treasury, ensures that financial sanctions are properly understood and implemented in the UK. It is for holders of assets subject to sanctions to ensure that they are frozen under the regulations.

The Yemen sanctions regime imposes an asset freeze against five individuals. Details of the Yemen regime, including the designated persons, can be publicly accessed on GOV.UK at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-yemen.

OFSI undertakes an Annual Review of frozen assets in the UK, requiring all persons or institutions that hold or control frozen assets in the UK to report to OFSI. As of 28 September 2018, the value of frozen funds associated with designated persons on the Yemen regime was some £3,500,000 (see OFSI Annual Review 2018 – 2019, available at: https://gov.uk/ofsi.) HM Treasury does not provide a breakdown of the value of frozen assets held by certain individuals or entities, nor does it provide detailed information of frozen assets associated with specific designated persons.

Sanctions against Yemen were imposed by the UN (under UN Security Council Resolution 2140) in 2014 following an escalation in violence in Yemen, including attacks against military and security facilities. Specific designation criteria set out by that resolution can be applied when there is evidence of individuals or entities engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. Five individuals are currently designated under this regime and are subject to asset freezes and travel bans. The UK implements these sanctions as part of its international legal obligations.

We are following the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan.

The UN’s 2019 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan is 69.5% funded so far this year.

We thank all donors who have provided funding, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, who provided approximately $800 million between them in September.

We continue to encourage all donors to rapidly release their remaining pledges and consider providing further funding.

​A new appointment will be made in due course. The United Kingdom has a strong relationship with the US which is based on many decades of close cooperation and partnership, and that will remain the case.