Question
A large number of people from Hong Kong have chosen to make Stockport and Greater Manchester their home, and they make an invaluable contribution to our town and city region. Many of them have been worried over the last couple years about potential upcoming changes to indefinite leave to remain. I have met many of them over the last few months. What more can the Secretary of State say to reassure the people from the Hong Kong community who have used the British national overseas visa scheme that they are welcome in this country and that they will have a fair shot in terms of ILR?
Answer
Let me confirm to my hon. Friend that those who arrived on the BNO route are exempt from these changes. He knows that they have to meet the minimum requirements for English language, as well as no criminality and so on, but he should also know that the over-65s are exempt from the change in relation to English, which I think also provides a fair resolution for those who arrived on that route.
Verdict: GREEN (82/100)
The reply addresses both parts of the question directly. It states that people who arrived under the BNO route are exempt from the indefinite leave to remain changes, which answers the question of how they would be treated, and it sets out the remaining requirements and an exemption for over-65s in England. The answer is specific and committed, so the person who asked is likely to have what they need without having to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What more the Secretary of State can say to reassure British National (Overseas) visa holders from Hong Kong that they are welcome in the UK. | Addressed | Direct | The reply gives a concrete reassurance that BNO-route arrivals are exempt from the changes and calls this a fair resolution for them. It does not explicitly use the word 'welcome', but the substance of what the minister can say to reassure these holders is answered. |
| What more the Secretary of State can say to reassure British National (Overseas) visa holders from Hong Kong that they will have a fair opportunity to obtain indefinite leave to remain under any changes to the ILR rules. | Addressed | Direct | Statement 1 states that BNO-route arrivals are exempt from the ILR changes, which speaks directly to having a fair opportunity under those changes. Statements 2 and 3 add the remaining requirements and the over-65 English exemption, and statement 4 reinforces the fairness point. |