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At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 7 October, Stephen asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit.
The uplift, introduced as part of the package of measures to support people during the coronavirus pandemic, is currently set to end in April, despite there being no end in sight for the pandemic. A coalition of 50 organisations including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation recently called on the Chancellor to continue this uplift.
In a Backbench Business debate on the Palestinian territories on Friday 23 September, Stephen urged the UK to take more decisive action about illegal settlement building and potential annexation
Although immediate plans for annexation are currently suspended, they might still take place.
Stephen said: "I welcome the stand that the Government have taken against annexation, but simply stating that we do not approve of it is not enough.”
In a debate on the Overseas Operations Bill on Wednesday 23 September, Stephen expressed deep concern that torture was not excluded in the remit of the Bill, which aims to introduce a presumption against prosecution for British soldiers serving abroad.
Stephen is the Chair for the APPG for Extraordinary Rendition, which aims to stop governments ever again participating in rendition leading to torture.
Stephen said: “Torture offences must be excluded from the Overseas Operations Bill, as Ministers initially suggested, along with sexual offences which have already been excluded.”
The bill passed at second reading by 332 to 77. Labour abstained but will aim to amend the bill at committee stage to reflect such concerns.
(Victoria Jones/PA)
Stephen has joined students who were wrongly accused of cheating in their English Language Tests in delivering a letter to Boris Johnson. The students represent thousands of others who have been fighting for six years to prove their innocence.
The 200 students are some of about 34,000 accused by the Home Office of cheating in the English language tests they needed to pass in order to secure their visas. More than 1,000 students have been removed from the UK as a result of the accusation, and many were arrested and detained by immigration enforcement officers, but large numbers say they were wrongly accused.
Undercover filming by the BBC six years ago revealed cheating in two Home Office approved test centres, but campaigners say the Home Office was wrong to conclude that the vast majority of students who took the test in dozens of other centres all over the country had also cheated.
Acting on evidence from the private company that provided the tests, the Home Office concluded that 34,000 of the 58,458 students who had taken the test between 2011 and 2014 had definitely cheated, that a further 22,600 had “questionable results”, and that only 2,000 had definitely not cheated. Campaigners have questioned whether it is plausible that such a large proportion of students sitting a Home Office-approved test could have cheated.
After delivering the letter to Downing Street, Stephen said that it was “implausible” that more than 90% of those who took the Home Office test were involved in cheating. “It’s since become quite clear that many of those students probably most of them, were completely innocent of the charge that was made against them,” he said. “They have been in limbo in the five or six years ever since, they’re not allowed to study, they’re not allowed to work. Their money has gone, often their family’s life savings were invested in getting them a decent British education that’s been completely lost. I am appalled by the terrible hardship that has been inflicted on them by a false allegation that the British government simply accepted.”
Earlier this week, Stephen spoke at the launch of the one year evaluation of Breaking the Chains – a partnership project by Newham-based charity Shpresa and the Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit (MiCLU).
Life for those seeking asylum in this country is difficult. But, since the outbreak of Covid-19, navigating the hostile environment has never been more challenging. Breaking the Chains aims to improve the legal representation available to Albanian speaking young people seeking asylum. It also seeks to amplify their voices as they share the difficulties they face here in the UK.
At the evaluation launch, the young people supported by Shpresa and MiCLU shared their experiences through artwork, spoken word and poetry. In one poem, Shpresa was referred to as “a refuge where we can just be young people.” Their stories communicated in a powerful way that the young people supported by Shpresa and MiCLU are desperate to live fulfilling lives in the UK. However, they are currently stuck at home, with nothing to do but wait for the Home Office to decide their future.
There were also contributions from academics and lawyers. They reported that, since Breaking the Chains began in March 2019, the project has made considerable progress in providing Albanian asylum seekers with the legal advice they need. It was found that Albanian young people in particular have trouble seeking refuge in the UK. For example, in 2016, out of the 229 applicants, only two were recognised as refugees. However, there has been an improvement in the past year with a 9% success rate of young Albanians seeking asylum. There is no denying this improvement occurred alongside the work of Breaking the Chains.
Speaking at the event, Stephen said: “I am grateful to the young people for sharing their honest experiences – in excellent English – and explaining the struggles of the legal system.
I continue to champion Shpresa and MiCLU in their efforts to support and empower vulnerable asylum seekers consistently throughout and prior to the pandemic.
It is vital that the Government takes urgent action to live up to its moral and legal obligations to asylum seekers. It cannot continue to remain complacent on this issue and must put an immediate end to systematic discrimination of Albanian children and young people in the asylum system.”
Stephen has joined experts and frontline practitioners from the charity, Action for Children, to launch a report revealing how many families have found themselves struggling virtually overnight during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action for Children’s latest research uncovers how the pandemic has worsened household finances for many families. Through their Coronavirus Emergency Fund, the charity has supported over 10,000 children and young people living in more than 4,800 families around the UK during the outbreak, spending over £500,000 on essentials such as food, domestic bills and educational resources.
Over a third of households seeking support from the charity’s Emergency Fund have experienced financial pressures as a result of the increased costs associated with having had the whole family at home full-time, while two-fifths had to ask for help to afford food.
Stephen heard from key workers on the frontline about their experiences of helping children, young people and families throughout the pandemic, and pledged to support Action for Children’s efforts to ensure low-income families with children are protected from the financial impacts of coronavirus.
Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: “The impact that the coronavirus outbreak has had on low-income families with children is a huge concern, and one that will be amplified by winter and the prospect of a second wave.
“I am grateful for the support offered by charities like Action for Children, helping many families with the basics throughout the crisis and preventing children from being scarred by the pandemic.
“But it is clear that we need to do more to improve the financial assistance available to families facing difficulties, both now and in the longer-term, and I support action to make sure that help is available where it is needed.”
Earlier today, Stephen joined the Learning and Work Institute to discuss the end of the furlough scheme.
ONS employment data for July, indicates that three million workers were still receiving support from the Job Retention Scheme. Despite the headline figures for unemployment not altering dramatically, there are clear indicators that once the furlough scheme ends, unemployment could rise significantly.
In his contribution, Stephen highlighted the immediate need for the Chancellor to address this large economic challenge. Although supportive of the Kickstart Scheme, Stephen called on Minsiters to do more by ensuring there are “opportunity guarantees” for young people.
Speaking about the government’s response, Stephen said “It takes months for schemes to get into their stride once they are launched. We need an order of magnitude step-up from what [schemes have] come before and we need them to be established soon.”
The Learning and Work Institute Report “When furlough has to stop – next steps to avert long-term unemployment” can be found here.
At the Department for Work and Pensions Questions on Monday 14 September, Stephen Timms questioned Minister for Welfare Delivery, Will Quince, about Universal Credit and foodbank demand.
The question came after the National Audit Office told the Work and Pensions Select Committee that the "sophisticated analysis" of the Trussell Trust has "established an association" between the roll-out of Universal Credit and rising foodbank demand.
Stephen said afterwards: ‘I hope now that the Government will commission research, as the National Audit Office has recommended, into the impact of universal credit on food bank demand.’
Last week MPs debated the personal role and involvement of the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education in the summer’s exams fiasco.
A motion was passed calling for the publication of all documents relating to the awarding of A level grades this year, following the cancellation of exams due to the pandemic. A-level students were initially awarded grades by Ofqual, which were calculated using an algorithm that took into account the past performance of individual schools. It was soon discovered that the system was deeply flawed and a credible appeals process had not been put in place. Ofqual have since admitted it was a “fundamental mistake” to release these grades and said tweaks to the algorithm would not have helped.
Stephen wrote to the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, last month asking the Government to return to teacher assessment grades. He therefore welcomed the U-turn announced the following week. Students were subsequently allocated Centre Assessed Grades - 40% of which were higher. However, by this point many had lost their place at the University they had chosen. At the Opposition Day Debate, Kate Green, the shadow Education Secretary, said “It is a sign of the Prime Minister and Education Secretary’s serial incompetence that they are now running scared from transparency and scrutiny. Having failed young people and their families once with their shambolic handling of exams, they have now failed to be honest and transparent about their mistakes so that we can ensure they are not repeated.”
Speaking after the vote, Stephen said: “Whilst allocating results for exams which have not been sat was always going to be difficult, the Government had plenty of time to prepare for results day. The Prime Minister must take responsibility for the mistakes that were made and establish a clear plan to ensure A level students are not in this same position next year. No student should be worse off because of Government failure.”
Families in rented accommodation are still facing an uncertain future after it was announced that a ban on evictions will not be extended beyond the middle of the this month.
A nationwide ban was ban on evictions was introduced at the start of lockdown. It was due to end on 23 August, but the Government announced an extension two days before it came to an end.
This last-minute decision created turmoil for families who have had to twice prepare for upcoming evictions. Some will have taken out a loan to afford a deposit for a new tenancy, whilst others will have been forced to relocate to an entirely new area, uprooting their lives and leaving their support network behind.
The eviction ban will now be lifted on 20 September. Crucially, no protective legislation has been announced. The Opposition has called for legal changes to be brought forward to protect renters. These calls have been ignored and the Government Deputy Chief Whip has confirmed there will be no Parliamentary time next week for MPs to debate the evictions ban.
Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Housing Secretary, said “The Government’s chaotic handling of the evictions crisis has thrown renters and landlords into confusion. Labour has been saying for months that the Government needs a credible plan to prevent a dramatic rise in homelessness when the ban on evictions is lifted. As things stand, we are facing the same cliff edge next week that the Government narrowly avoided at the end of August.”
Back in March, the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said “…no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home.” However, Shelter now estimates that 230,000 renters are at risk of a Covid-19 eviction. 174,000 tenants have already been threatened with eviction by their landlord.
Stephen said “The Government must stick to their promise that no one would be forced out of their homes due to the pandemic. They must introduce urgent legal changes before the lifting of the eviction ban next week. Should they fail to do so, I am concerned that we will see increased levels of homelessness in East Ham and beyond.”
At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, Stephen questioned Home Office Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft about the TOEIC English language testing scandal. It comes a year after the Public Accounts Committee first held a hearing on this matter following a National Audit Office report criticising the Home Office’s response.
Matthew Rycroft, the department’s permanent secretary, said he agreed that the Home Office should have taken a “more vigorous” approach to protecting those wrongly caught up in the process. But when asked by Stephen whether these individuals would have the opportunity to have their cases reviewed, Mr Rycroft said: “The Home Office decided not to set up a set of reviews like that, but as I’ve said there is a legal route open to anyone in that category.”
Stephen commented afterwards: “The English language test scandal is Windrush all over again.
"The permanent secretary appeared to agree with me that there should be a mechanism for innocent students to clear their names. But the only route is through the courts. The costs are immense. Most students who have done it pay £10,000 to £15,000 – and they are not allowed to work.
"I welcome the Home Secretary’s commitment to implement all of the Windrush Lessons Learned recommendations. But the lessons are being ignored in handling the language testing scandal. As in Windrush, there is a complete failure to engage beyond individual cases.
"Learning the lessons from Windrush would mean creating a mechanism for innocent students to clear their names.”
Stephen asked about the government's newly launched ‘Kickstart’ employment scheme for young people in an Urgent Question in the Commons Chamber on Thursday 3rd September.
He asked about the role for charities in the scheme, how disabled young people will be helped to access the scheme, and about data collection to ensure robust evaluation.
Stephen said: 'Tory scrapping of the Future Jobs Fund in 2011 was a terrible blow to young people. In 2012, they published an evaluation proving it did a great job. I'm pleased its coming back (with a different name). This Government needs to make the most of it, as the Labour Government did.'
Stephen has welcomed a u-turn by Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, that A-level and GCSE students in East Ham will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm.
Headteachers across Newham, reported that over 40% of A-level results were downgraded by exams regulator Ofqual, which used a formula based on schools' prior grades.
Speaking about the u-turn, Stephen said “The Government has had months to sort out exams and has now been forced into a screeching U-turn after days of confusion. It has - in short - been a complete shambles.”
Stephen wrote to Gavin Williamson over the weekend urging him to allow pupils to use their centre assessed grades for GCSE and A-level results this year. The letter can be read here.
A new Home Office data release has revealed an exponential increase in applications to have the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition lifted during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the second quarter of 2020 (from April to June) there were 5,665 applications to have the NRPF condition lifted, compared to 914 in the same period last year – an increase of 519.8%. The figure represents an 572% increase on the first quarter of 2020 (843 applications).
This increase reflects reports from charities and sector experts that thousands of No Recourse families are facing destitution during the coronavirus pandemic.
The data release also revealed that it took the Home Office an average of 30 days to decide on these applications – for which the requirement is destitution, imminent risk of destitution, or where there are particularly compelling reasons relating to the welfare of a child - in this period.
The proportion of people successful in their application – 89% - was the highest since records were made available in 2017, reflecting the high numbers in abject poverty.
The data was published after the Rt Hon. Stephen Timms MP raised concerns with the UK Statistics Authority about the lack of meaningful response from the Home Office to MPs’ Parliamentary Questions on the policy. In response, the UK Statistics Authority criticised the Home Office for giving “confusing and unclear” reasons for refusing to reveal how many migrants have the condition.
Daniel Shaw, the Home Office Head of Profession for Statistics for the Home Office recognised in his response that: ‘There is a clear public interest in NRPF with regards to the numbers of individuals where the policy has prevented access to public funds if this subsequently were to give rise to hardship.’
Rt Hon. Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, commented: ‘This data puts into stark relief what we already know – that during the pandemic thousands of families without a safety net are being forced into destitution. This is an exceptional situation which demands an exceptional response. The NRPF condition must be lifted for the duration of the pandemic.’
During the pandemic, those with NRPF - which bars migrants from accessing ‘public funds’ – most mainstream benefits and welfare support - have faced particular hardship. Many are unable to access the Job Retention and Self Employment Schemes: they have been made redundant, have been working in the cash economy, or have significantly reduced hours or income. They are barred from accessing social security, so have no safety net. Many have been forced to disobey public health guidance in to obtain an income. Many are struggling to pay rent and bills, and are force to access foodbanks in order to provide for their families.
Stephen has written to the Minister for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, to ask the Government to reconsider suspending free travel in London for under 18-year olds.
The public have been encouraged to find alternative methods to public transport due to Covid-19. Furthermore, social distancing rules have lowered the capacity of public transport by 15-20% of normal levels. Consequently, Transport for London’s finances have been forced into a precarious position. Fare income, the main source of its revenue, have fallen by 90% during lockdown.
On 14 May, it was announced that Transport for London and the Department for Transport have agreed a £1.6bn lockdown bailout. One of the conditions is to suspend the subsidy which provides free travel for under-18s. The cited reason for this decision is “demand management” due to the social distancing rules.
This policy will disproportionately impact poorer children. Given that over half of children in Newham are living in poverty, this will undoubtedly impact East Ham significantly. Stephen noted that “the Children’s Commissioner for England has already spoken of her fears that this could become “a lost generation” of children, yet the Government are pursuing policies which directly impact the poorest most. Although I understand the necessity for demand management, I believe that alternative policies can be implemented that won’t have a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable in our society. ”
Stephen’s letter calls on the Transport Secretary to examine different policies which could result in the reduced demand objective. You can read the letter here.
In a statement today 21 July, on progress following the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, Stephen questioned Home Secretary Priti Patel about the Toeic English language testing scandal and those forced into destitution by the No Recourse to Public Funds policy.
Stephen commented afterwards: ‘I welcome the Home Secretary’s commitment to act on the recommendations of the Windrush report and review the hostile environment policy. However, I was disappointed by her response to my question. This commitment will be superficial without swift action on policy failures.
In 2014, the Home Office falsely accused thousands of international students of cheating on the ‘Toeic’ English language test. Over 30,000 students had their visas cancelled and were thrown off their courses, with no chance to appeal. Some were detained and deported. They are not permitted to study or work in the UK, and the lives of many have been ruined. The Home Secretary continues to suggest I raise individual cases with ministers. But this is not an issue with individual cases of wrong, but a systemic injustice which needs a policy solution.
Today the Home Secretary also expressed her commitment to open up the Home Office to scrutiny. I agree with her that policy and decision-making must be ‘vigorously examined’. I hope the Home Office will therefore now release the data on No Recourse to Public Funds that I and other MPs have been asking for for months.’
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society is charting the changing relationships between local authorities and faith groups in responding to the impacts of coronavirus through a research project being undertaken by the Faiths & Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London.
During the coronavirus pandemic, local authorities seem to have turned to – and indeed relied on – churches and faith groups in new ways. In some cases this builds upon pre-existing relationships. In others it perhaps reflects a new openness to collaboration, in contrast to previous hesitance to work with faith groups.
Photograph: Lakmini Shah
Chair of the All-Party Group for Faith and Society, Stephen Timms MP said: “Since 2012, the APPG has been encouraging collaboration between local councils and faith groups, and working to overcome the mistrust which can sometimes mark their relationships. And now, with the crisis engulfing everyone, it finally seems to be happening. Faith groups have a key role at the heart of communities up and down the country, and the pandemic seems to be highlighting just how significant a contribution they make to our society.
“Many Councils have turned to churches, and to other faith groups, to help, particularly to provide food to people who would otherwise go without. The anecdotal evidence suggests these partnerships have suddenly become very widespread and are playing a crucial role in getting vital help to families. This report will shine a light on them.”
Professor Chris Baker, Director of the Faith and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London said: “It is likely that our society will look very different in the future and faith groups will have a critical role which is why this piece of research is so important.
“We hope to provide a set of recommendations that will inform the development of new collaborations – whilst enhancing the effectiveness of existing ones – reflecting the importance of these relationships in the months and years to come.”
The study will be led by Professors Adam Dinham and Chris Baker of Goldsmiths, University of London. Through a large scale survey of local authority leaders, together with interviews with local authority and faith group representatives, the research will explore the extent and nature of new relationships between local authorities and faith groups. In addition, it will investigate how and why these relationships have come about, how they have worked in practice, and what their implications might be for local authorities, communities, and faith groups themselves.
The final report will be published in October and will recommend ways in which local authorities and faith based organisations can continue to work together effectively in the future.
The research is being made possible by funding from the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, and the project is being supported by the Trussell Trust and the Good Faith Partnership.
Note to editors:
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society was launched in 2012 with FaithAction acting as the Secretariat. The APPG’s aims are to highlight the contribution to society by faith-based organisations, to identify best practice, and to promote understanding of the groups providing innovative solutions around the country.
The Trussell Trust supports a UK-wide network of 1,200 food bank centres and together they provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
The Good Faith Partnership is a social consultancy that helps different sectors work better together on common aims. They have worked extensively on issues of collaboration between faith-based organisations and secular groups, including a recent report with the think tank Demos.
The Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London is a centre of excellence, linking research, policy and practice in the field of faith-based social action in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia.
Stephen has written to the Chancellor pressing the Government to put in place urgent measures to support the theatre industry during the Covid-19 crisis.
The creative sector has undoubtedly been one of the hardest hit by Covid-19. Due to the difficulty of operating in line with social distancing measures, the performing arts sector will be one of the last to fully reopen and thousands in East Ham and beyond now face unemployment. This also has implications for local businesses, such as bars, restaurants and hotels, who rely on theatre-goers to keep their doors open.
At the start of July, Stephen wrote to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, highlighting the impact Covid-19 has had on the arts and the sector’s desperate need of Government support. He asked for urgent supportive measures to be put in place. You can read the full letter here.
A few days later, on 5 July, the Government finally announced a support package of £1.57 billion for the arts. However, several believe this has been implemented too late, as many theatres have already announced redundancies. Many also argue that the funding is simply not enough to support an industry which, in 2018, contributed £111.7 billion to the UK economy.
Speaking after the Government’s announcement, Stephen said “whilst I warmly welcome the funding package for the arts sector, I fear it will not be enough to save the hundreds of theatres, venues and galleries who claim to be on the brink of collapse. The Government must provide assurance that the theatre industry can reopen as soon as possible and put in place additional support for this important sector.”
You can read the letter here.
In the Third Reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill on 6 July 2020, Stephen spoke in favour of New Clause 22, an amendment which would have ensured all victims - regardless of immigration status - get the vital support and services they need to escape abuse.
Currently, the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) restriction severely hinders their ability of victims to access life-saving refuge, support and other welfare. Research by Women’s Aid has found that only 5.8% of refuge vacancies in England in 2018-19 could accept a woman with No Recourse to Public Funds.
MPs voted against New Clause 22 by 330 to 207 votes.
Stephen has joined a group of constituents who had organised to meet him as part of the Climate Coalition’s ‘The Time is Now’ mass lobby which calls for a green economic recovery from Coronavirus.
Across the country, hundreds of people met virtually with their Members of Parliament to draw attention to this important issue. East Ham residents brought their questions and ideas about renewable energy, recycling and environmental education.
Speaking to the residents, Stephen said: “I welcome the Climate Coalition’s mass lobby, because the more people that are speaking out about the importance of looking after the planet, the better our future will be. The Coronavirus pandemic has certainly led to policy decisions that we would previously have thought to be impossible becoming possible. I hope we can learn from this to ensure that the economic recovery the country now faces is low-carbon, high growth and ensures the protection of the environment.”
