Sorcha Eastwood MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
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Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
21 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Migrant Workers: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's open consultation on Earned Settlement, due to close on 12 February 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing transitional arra
Answer: The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, has been subject to a public consultation which ran until 12 February 2026.The consultation seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a ...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Republic of IrelandHome OfficeTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her earned settlement proposals would apply to the family members of Irish citizens.
Answer: The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation. Full details on earned settlement will be finalised following the conclusion of that public consultation.
Answered 8 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether B1 English-language qualifications will remain valid for current BNO visa holders approaching eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain; and what assessment she has made of the potential impa
Answer: The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94321More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals from Hong Kong who have been granted asylum or refugee status will be required to meet a 20-year settlement requirement.
Answer: The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK. We fully recognise the significant contribution that Hong Kongers have already made to the UK, and the role they will continue to play in the years ahead. Th...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed Migration Quantitative Indicators and changes to existing exemptions, including the English-language waiver for applicants aged 65 and over, will apply to current BNO visa holders
Answer: The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young adults currently in full-time education, who were under 18 at the time of their initial BNO visa application, will be exempt from the proposed sustained economic contribution requirement
Answer: The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94318More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of retrospective protections for BNO dependants unable to meet the sustained economic contribution requirement.
Answer: The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94317More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed requirement for a sustained economic contribution under the BNO visa application route will apply to all adult applicants, including non-working spouses, unpaid carers, full-time
Answer: The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare and Pre-school Education: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review the adequacy of the (a) salary and (b) eligibility requirements for (i) childcare and (ii) early years workers under the Skilled Worker visa route.
Answer: On 12 May, the Government published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. On 22 July the first phase of changes took effect, including raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level occupat...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare and Pre-school Education: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of Skilled Worker visa eligibility criteria for (a) childcare and (b) early years workers.
Answer: On 12 May, the Government published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. On 22 July the first phase of changes took effect, including raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level occupat...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare and Pre-school Education: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82819More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Skilled Worker visas have been granted for (a) childcare and (b) early years posts since their inclusion on the eligible occupations list.
Answer: The Home Office publishes data on sponsored work visas by visa type and occupation in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants of visas are published in table ‘Occ_D02’ of the sponsored work visas by occupation and industry da...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82818More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed extension of the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Skilled Worker route will apply to people already residing in the UK under that route.
Answer: We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82817More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to provide clarity to Skilled Worker visa holders in the UK impacted by proposed changes to the Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying period.
Answer: We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services and Social Services: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Skilled Worker visa route on the health and social care workforce.
Answer: We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Northern IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying period on the recruitment and retention of overseas workers in Northern Ireland’s health and
Answer: We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking discussions with her Irish counterpart on establishing an all-island work visa for the island of Ireland.
Answer: The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security which is underpinned by our joint commitment to protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the ri...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with his Irish counterpart on the potential merits of creating an all-island working visa.
Answer: The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security which is underpinned by our joint commitment to protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the ri...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77794More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an all-island working visa for the island of Ireland.
Answer: The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security which is underpinned by our joint commitment to protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the ri...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordJournalism: Northern IrelandHome OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will commission a judge-led public inquiry into the surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland by MI5.
Answer: MI5’s use of covert investigatory powers is subject to strong safeguards under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and their related statutory Codes of Practice.Robust independent oversight of these powers i...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSelf-employed: VettingHome OfficeTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to enable (a) private coaches, (b) education tutors and (c) other self-employed people to apply for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate with the
Answer: On 9 April 2025, the Government published an update on its work to tackle child sexual abuse, available on GOV.UK: Tackling Child Sexual Abuse. As part of this, by the end of 2025, we will introduce secondary legislation to create the ability for self-emp...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordVettingHome OfficeTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to introduce a legal requirement for people undertaking regulated activity to obtain an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate with a barred list check.
Answer: Outside of specific sectors such as health and education, where Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are mandated, the decision to carry out DBS checks lies with the employer. DBS checks apply in England and Wales; other parts of the UK have their ...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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