To ask His Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of Cameroon about the case of journalist Tsi Conrad; and what response they received.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of Cameroon about the case of journalist Tsi Conrad; and what response they received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with counterparts in Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire on the proposed cost of living tariff suspensions on fresh bananas and their potential impact on those countries' exports to the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with counterparts in Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire on the proposed cost of living tariff suspensions on fresh bananas and their potential impact on those countries' exports to the UK.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on banana producers and rural livelihoods in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon of suspending the Most Favoured Nation tariff on fresh bananas, following their consultation on goods for potential tariff suspensions.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on banana producers and rural livelihoods in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon of suspending the Most Favoured Nation tariff on fresh bananas, following their consultation on goods for potential tariff suspensions.

My Lords, I reinforce the point about the devastating impact on refugee students of the introduction of the visa brake. I am really pleased to hear the assurances from my noble friend the Minister that the brake is only temporary and that there will now be an opportunity for sponsorship from universities. I declare an interest as provost of Worcester College, Oxford. Can my noble friend give an assurance that clever refugee students from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Cameroon will be able to come to the UK, study and return to their countries as future leaders?

My Lords, I reinforce the point about the devastating impact on refugee students of the introduction of the visa brake. I am really pleased to hear the assurances from my noble friend the Minister that the brake is only temporary and that there will now be an opportunity for sponsorship from universities. I declare an interest as provost of Worcester College, Oxford. Can my noble friend give an assurance that clever refugee students from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Cameroon will be able to come to the UK, study and return to their countries as future leaders?

That is really important. My noble friend will know that one of the great things the UK has is soft power through the university sector. People will go back to their countries from United Kingdom universities to be business and political leaders. The brake is in place now, but we are looking at how we design the scheme to ensure that we have safe and legal routes from next year for the type of sponsorship that my noble friend mentions. Further discussion will be undertaken by the Home Secretary very shortly, and I would welcome any contribution he wants to make to that.

That is really important. My noble friend will know that one of the great things the UK has is soft power through the university sector. People will go back to their countries from United Kingdom universities to be business and political leaders. The brake is in place now, but we are looking at how we design the scheme to ensure that we have safe and legal routes from next year for the type of sponsorship that my noble friend mentions. Further discussion will be undertaken by the Home Secretary very shortly, and I would welcome any contribution he wants to make to that.

My Lords, given the interpretation that British courts and tribunals have put on the UN and European conventions in recent years, I assume that the entire population of places such as Sudan and Somalia would qualify for asylum and be granted it if they could get their feet on to British soil. Would the Government not prefer to tackle this legal problem, get our asylum rules back to common sense and consider putting a cap on the total numbers that our public services and society can absorb before opening up more safe and legal routes for people to come from these and other countries?

My Lords, given the interpretation that British courts and tribunals have put on the UN and European conventions in recent years, I assume that the entire population of places such as Sudan and Somalia would qualify for asylum and be granted it if they could get their feet on to British soil. Would the Government not prefer to tackle this legal problem, get our asylum rules back to common sense and consider putting a cap on the total numbers that our public services and society can absorb before opening up more safe and legal routes for people to come from these and other countries?

The noble Lord makes an important point. He will know that I repeated a Statement from the Home Secretary last November on controlling the very issues he mentions. As announced in the King’s gracious Speech earlier this year, there will be an immigration Bill to put into effect some of the issues covered in that Statement on asylum. I suggest that the noble Lord will have a great contribution to make in ensuring that that Bill leaves both Houses of Parliament in a form that meets the objectives he has set out and the Government’s objectives to have safe and legal routes at the same time as putting some control into the system in an effective way. We are cognisant of European human rights issues and are reflecting on them as part of the legislative programme.

The noble Lord makes an important point. He will know that I repeated a Statement from the Home Secretary last November on controlling the very issues he mentions. As announced in the King’s gracious Speech earlier this year, there will be an immigration Bill to put into effect some of the issues covered in that Statement on asylum. I suggest that the noble Lord will have a great contribution to make in ensuring that that Bill leaves both Houses of Parliament in a form that meets the objectives he has set out and the Government’s objectives to have safe and legal routes at the same time as putting some control into the system in an effective way. We are cognisant of European human rights issues and are reflecting on them as part of the legislative programme.

My Lords, if I may broaden the scope of the Question, given that the recent conflict has not led to any evident improvement

in the situation facing ordinary Iranians, what assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the availability of safe and legal routes for Iranian nationals? I am thinking in particular of members of Iran’s persecuted and vulnerable religious minorities, including Christian converts, Bahá’ís, Sunni and Sufi Muslims.

My Lords, if I may broaden the scope of the Question, given that the recent conflict has not led to any evident improvement

in the situation facing ordinary Iranians, what assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the availability of safe and legal routes for Iranian nationals? I am thinking in particular of members of Iran’s persecuted and vulnerable religious minorities, including Christian converts, Bahá’ís, Sunni and Sufi Muslims.

The right reverend Prelate puts his finger on an important point. The scheme that I have outlined to the House is one that the Government are currently developing. We intend to announce further details of the scheme, and we have given a date for when it will be operational. I am happy to receive representations from the right reverend Prelate and his colleagues on how we implement that scheme for countries outside the four that are in the original Question from my noble friend.

The right reverend Prelate puts his finger on an important point. The scheme that I have outlined to the House is one that the Government are currently developing. We intend to announce further details of the scheme, and we have given a date for when it will be operational. I am happy to receive representations from the right reverend Prelate and his colleagues on how we implement that scheme for countries outside the four that are in the original Question from my noble friend.

My Lords, I hear what the Minister said about setting temporary bars for students from certain countries. However, in relation to the students who belong to the families of Afghan interpreters who are stranded in Pakistan, is there a special provision for the children of the interpreters who worked with our forces in very difficult circumstances?

My Lords, I hear what the Minister said about setting temporary bars for students from certain countries. However, in relation to the students who belong to the families of Afghan interpreters who are stranded in Pakistan, is there a special provision for the children of the interpreters who worked with our forces in very difficult circumstances?

Again, the Government will look at all cases on an individual basis. I am aware of the issue, but I am not aware in relation to where the Government currently examine that aspect of policy. If the noble Lord will allow me, I will write to him on the specific issue of interpreters in Pakistan. Where there are legitimate claims for asylum, they will be considered under existing policies and, with the changes we are proposing, under future policy as well.

Again, the Government will look at all cases on an individual basis. I am aware of the issue, but I am not aware in relation to where the Government currently examine that aspect of policy. If the noble Lord will allow me, I will write to him on the specific issue of interpreters in Pakistan. Where there are legitimate claims for asylum, they will be considered under existing policies and, with the changes we are proposing, under future policy as well.

I strongly support what the Government are trying to do here. The Minister will be aware of my long-standing interest in Sudan, and I agree with what he said. There are many Sudanese students who have contributed a great deal to our society and, every time I go to Sudan, I meet many people who have been to our universities and are now in positions of considerable authority in Sudan. If students come here on the safe refugee route, the key point is that they should be returned to their home country if that country then enters a period of stability at the end of their course.

I strongly support what the Government are trying to do here. The Minister will be aware of my long-standing interest in Sudan, and I agree with what he said. There are many Sudanese students who have contributed a great deal to our society and, every time I go to Sudan, I meet many people who have been to our universities and are now in positions of considerable authority in Sudan. If students come here on the safe refugee route, the key point is that they should be returned to their home country if that country then enters a period of stability at the end of their course.

On all those aspects, the intention is to allow individuals to benefit from the safe and legal route that gives them the opportunity to study, work or bring a required skill to the United Kingdom. However, it is also important that we do not have a brain drain, or individuals leaving but not returning to their countries when possible. The noble Lords’ points are extremely important. In the scheme we are designing, we are trying to ensure that there are sponsors who have responsibility for the individuals who come to this country and that, ultimately, they return to their home countries to use the benefits they have learned in the United Kingdom to improve their home countries.

On all those aspects, the intention is to allow individuals to benefit from the safe and legal route that gives them the opportunity to study, work or bring a required skill to the United Kingdom. However, it is also important that we do not have a brain drain, or individuals leaving but not returning to their countries when possible. The noble Lords’ points are extremely important. In the scheme we are designing, we are trying to ensure that there are sponsors who have responsibility for the individuals who come to this country and that, ultimately, they return to their home countries to use the benefits they have learned in the United Kingdom to improve their home countries.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent progress they have made towards developing safe refugee routes for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent progress they have made towards developing safe refugee routes for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

My Lords, the Government committed to three new safe and legal routes in the Restoring Order and Control Statement. The Home Secretary announced that the refugee study route will be open this autumn, with arrivals in autumn 2027. Officials are working closely with stakeholders to design the new routes to ensure that they are both safe and controlled, and further information will be set out in due course.

My Lords, the Government committed to three new safe and legal routes in the Restoring Order and Control Statement. The Home Secretary announced that the refugee study route will be open this autumn, with arrivals in autumn 2027. Officials are working closely with stakeholders to design the new routes to ensure that they are both safe and controlled, and further information will be set out in due course.

My Lords, I am delighted to hear that there is progress and that the Government are determined that the scheme should be in operation by the next academic year. However, I ask my noble friend for his assurance that those students who might be able to take up the offer being provided by the Government, and who meet the criteria and have scholarships, will know that they will be able to take up the places by 2027. Further, is the Home Office consulting with UUK to ensure that universities are not overburdened by whatever scheme is put in place?

My Lords, I am delighted to hear that there is progress and that the Government are determined that the scheme should be in operation by the next academic year. However, I ask my noble friend for his assurance that those students who might be able to take up the offer being provided by the Government, and who meet the criteria and have scholarships, will know that they will be able to take up the places by 2027. Further, is the Home Office consulting with UUK to ensure that universities are not overburdened by whatever scheme is put in place?

We intend to set out details of the scheme very shortly, which will, hopefully, provide clarity on what the Government are intending to do with the safe and legal routes. As my noble friend said, it is also important that the universities themselves are involved in, and at least have some discussion with the Government on, the implementation and design of the scheme. I will feed that back to colleagues who are dealing with this directly.

We intend to set out details of the scheme very shortly, which will, hopefully, provide clarity on what the Government are intending to do with the safe and legal routes. As my noble friend said, it is also important that the universities themselves are involved in, and at least have some discussion with the Government on, the implementation and design of the scheme. I will feed that back to colleagues who are dealing with this directly.

My Lords, I declare an interest that I am supported by RAMP. What advice would the Minister give to Afra Elmahdi, a cancer specialist from war-torn Sudan who has secured a master’s place to do cancer science research at Oxford University? That post, that job, that relationship, has ended. What message would the Minister send to her? She seeks to be able to diagnose cancer more swiftly in a country that is torn apart by civil war.

My Lords, I declare an interest that I am supported by RAMP. What advice would the Minister give to Afra Elmahdi, a cancer specialist from war-torn Sudan who has secured a master’s place to do cancer science research at Oxford University? That post, that job, that relationship, has ended. What message would the Minister send to her? She seeks to be able to diagnose cancer more swiftly in a country that is torn apart by civil war.

As I as have said, the Government are examining safe and legal routes. However, at the moment, we have temporarily suspended the issuing of visas to those from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. We have done that because there has been an increase of over 470% from 2021 levels, and over a third of asylum seekers have previously entered the UK on a visa. We are trying to put safe and legal routes in place. We will look at that scheme, and the noble Lord and others will be able to facilitate that scheme, with effect from autumn next year.

As I as have said, the Government are examining safe and legal routes. However, at the moment, we have temporarily suspended the issuing of visas to those from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. We have done that because there has been an increase of over 470% from 2021 levels, and over a third of asylum seekers have previously entered the UK on a visa. We are trying to put safe and legal routes in place. We will look at that scheme, and the noble Lord and others will be able to facilitate that scheme, with effect from autumn next year.

My Lords, the Government have recently announced that they will allow communities to sponsor refugees on new asylum routes. Given that we had 93,525 people claiming asylum in the United Kingdom in the year ending March 2026, can the Minister tell the House how the Government can be contemplating increasing this number even further?

My Lords, the Government have recently announced that they will allow communities to sponsor refugees on new asylum routes. Given that we had 93,525 people claiming asylum in the United Kingdom in the year ending March 2026, can the Minister tell the House how the Government can be contemplating increasing this number even further?