A report published today by the Home Affairs Committee has found little evidence to indicate significant numbers of Albanian nationals are at risk in their own country and require asylum in the UK.
However, some Albanian citizens making asylum claims will have been trafficked, and women are disproportionately at risk from this form of crime. The UK has an obligation to support trafficking victims and they should only be returned to Albania if appropriate safeguards are in place.
In 2022, more than a quarter of the 45,755 people who crossed the Channel in small boats came from Albania and most claimed asylum. In one year the number of Albanians arriving in the UK by this route had gone from 800 to 12,301, a rise that was both unexpected and unexplained.
Albania is a safe country, it is not at war and is a candidate country to join the European Union. There is no clear basis for the UK to routinely accept thousands of asylum applications from Albanian citizens, the Committee finds.
However up to June 2022, 51% of asylum claims from Albania were initially accepted, a rate far higher than many comparable European nations. Nine countries, including Germany, accepted no asylum claims from Albania. The Home Office must explain why the UK’s acceptance rate was so high, particularly compared to other countries. It must also explain why the acceptance rate is substantially higher for women (88%) than for men (13%).
Maintaining positive relations with the Albanian Government should also be a key priority to ensure that the UK can return irregular migrants and offenders from UK prisons. Politicians, commentators and others should be careful to show restraint in their language and not single out Albania as the sole cause of the UK’s asylum pressures.
The report focusses on Albania due to the unexpected spike in small boat crossings and asylum claims by Albanian nationals in 2022. However, the Committee finds that it should not be singled out and scapegoated in relation to the UK’s ongoing asylum backlog or overcrowding at immigration processing centres.
The Prime Minister has committed to clearing the backlog by the end of the year and the Home Office needs to set out how it plans to achieve this. The Government should also provide quarterly progress reports, including information on the number of pending claims in the backlog, staffing levels for asylum caseworkers numbers and the number of asylum decisions made per week.
A key driver of migration from Albania to the UK is economic. People are prepared to make the journey, even in dangerous small boat crossings, for improved job prospects and higher incomes. The desire to come to the UK will continue until Albania become wealthier.
Improved awareness of work visa programmes would support formalised migration to the economic benefit of the UK and Albania, providing an alternative to people smuggling gangs and reducing the burden on the asylum system.
Only 325 work visas were granted to Albanian nationals in the first nine months of 2022, with evidence submitted to the inquiry arguing that a perceived difficulty in obtaining work in the UK through legal means could be driving people towards clandestine migration routes.
The Committee finds that more should be done to promote the availability of visas that would fill worker shortages in the UK economy and enable some transfer of wealth back to Albania. This would include short-term or seasonal work in sectors such as construction or agriculture.
Home Affairs Committee Chair, Dame Diana Johnson MP, said: “Such a substantial sudden increase in asylum claims from a seemingly peaceful country understandably raised concerns.
“While it is important that questions are asked and lessons are learnt, it is clear that the immigration picture is not static and will continue to evolve. New challenges are likely to continue to emerge and it is important that the UK improves its overall approach to asylum, rather than focus on one country.
“Changes in migration will inevitably place strain on any system, but the Government must do much more to ensure it can better handle these stresses. Most importantly it must improve the speed of decision making and clear the backlog as we set out in our Channel Crossings report in 2022. We expect the Home Office to set out how it plans to achieve this.
“People will continue to be attracted to the UK from Albania while it continues to offer job opportunities and higher wages. The UK should look at how access to work visa schemes can be improved to fill our skills or staffing gaps, while offering Albanian nationals a route to higher income, benefiting both nations.”
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More than 260 children from Edinburgh have taken part in storytelling sessions organised by Fort Kinnaird aimed at helping them fall in love with reading.
The event allowed children to listen to stories from professional storyteller Ron Fairweather and were part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Fort Kinnaird co-owner British Land and run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, that is designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.
Ron Fairweather has been writing and performing stories, songs, and poems for decades, including performing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the National Museum of Edinburgh, and The Scottish Storytelling Centre.
During the literacy-focussed events, pupils from Niddrie Mill Primary School, Brunstane Primary School, and Castleview Primary School were also able to take home a book of their choice.
This marks the twelfth year of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust, and since the programme launched at Fort Kinnaird, it has supported more than 2,500 school children and seen more than 7,600 books donated across Edinburgh.
Research by the National Literacy Trust has shown that owning a book means children are more likely to say they enjoy reading and are more inclined to read in their free time. However, 6.5% of children in the UK do not own a book, which equates to half a million children across the country*. This rises to one in 10 (9.7%) children from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is the demographic this partnership aims to reach.
With reading for enjoyment proven to have a positive effect on children’s reading skill* as well as their wellbeing and mental health, the Young Readers Programme initiative aims to give support and help with the development of children in under privileged areas by giving them access to books.
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Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Supporting our community is very important to us, so we’re incredibly proud of the Young Readers Programme and all the local children and families we’ve been able to support in the last 12 years.
“It’s always very rewarding to hear how the children are inspired by the stories and start to get excited about reading and bringing their own books home.”
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Martin Galway, Head of School Programmes at the National Literacy Trust, said: “The right book, at the right moment, can change a child’s life.
“That’s what the Young Readers Programme has been doing with British Land for the last 12 years – giving children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to experience enchanting storytelling events, and to choose books that speak to their interests and passions.
“Our goal is to spark a love of reading that will last them a lifetime, which in turn will empower them with the literacy skills they need to succeed.”
Residents at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh are celebrating National Carers’ Week, which takes place from 5 – 11 June.
Residents wanted to thank all the wonderful staff at the home, whose hard work and dedication make a real difference to the lives of those living in their care.
Carers Week is an annual event to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges carers face, and recognising the contribution they make to our residents, families and communities throughout the UK.
The theme for Carers Week this year is ‘recognising and supporting carers in the community’ – this year the organisers are asking people across the UK to come together to recognise the huge contribution carers make to society.
Staff were treated to a beach party in their wonderful grounds as their residents also celebrated National Ocean Day. The team decided to merge the two and throw a party that even the Beach Boys would have been envious of.
With hot dogs, ice lollies and plenty of fun and laughter, the afternoon was enjoyed by everyone and the water pistols totally added to the fun and games.
Residents also gave thanks by handing out small gifts of chocolate show their appreciation for all that their carers do.
Gordon Philp, General Manager said: “It is so wonderful to be able to celebrate Carers Week and thank our fantastic carers with a beach party in our garden, and to be able to welcome the community, relatives and friends. Everyone has had such a fantastic afternoon.”
Bertie Dobie, a resident at Strachan House commented: “We’ve all had such a lovely time today, it really is a joy to be able to thank our wonderful carers for all that they do. They really are heaven sent.”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has today announced this year’s winners of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.
Coen, a P7 pupil from Liberton Primary School, has won the Pupil Reading the Most Books award after reading an incredible 71 books over the course of the school year.
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge was established in 2016, and celebrates the reading journeys of schools, libraries, and community groups across Scotland. The Challenge is run by Scottish Book Trust, working closely with Education Scotland. It includes book suggestions, learning resources, prizes, case studies and ideas to help young people develop a love of reading, as well as the opportunity to apply for funded author visits.
Andy Theakston, P7 class teacher (above) said: ‘At Liberton Primary School, we are incredibly proud of Coen and how much commitment he has shown to the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.
“He is an avid reader and was very keen to take part right from the start of the year. We knew he would read a lot of books during the challenge, but to win is an absolutely fantastic achievement!’
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Many congratulations to this year’s First Minister’s Reading Challenge winners, as well as to those who were highly commended.
“Reading for pleasure supports attainment across the curriculum – as well as boosting empathy, wellbeing and critical thinking – and we are delighted to see how schools, libraries and community groups have used the Challenge to develop their reading cultures.’
The First Minister’s Reading Challenge was launched in March 2016 and in its first year was open from August 2016 to March 2017 to all Primary 4 to Primary 7 children in local authority and independent schools across Scotland.
In its second year the Challenge was expanded to include Primaries 1 to 3, and in its third year, the Challenge was expanded to include Secondary Schools, Libraries and Community Groups.
Full list of this year’s winning and highly commended groups:
· Classroom Inspiration Challenge
o Winner – The Selkies from Parklands School (Argyll & Bute)
o Highly Commended – P6b from Darnley Primary School (Glasgow City)
o Highly Commended – Campsie View School (East Dunbartonshire)
· Reading Inspiration Challenge
o Winner – Dornoch Academy (Highland)
o Highly Commended – King’s Park Secondary School (Glasgow City)
· Pupil Reading Journey – Group
o Winner – Braco Primary School (Perth and Kinross)
o Highly Commended – Golfhill Primary School (Glasgow City)
· Lower Primary Pupil Reading Journey
o Winner – P1–3 from Bankton Primary School (West Lothian)
· P4 Pupil Reading Journey
o Winner – Ivy from Findochty Primary School (Moray)
· P5 Pupil Reading Journey
o Winner – Judy from Oakgrove Primary School (Glasgow City)
· P7 Pupil Reading Journey
o Winner – Daisy from Findochty Primary School (Moray)
· Library Reading Culture Challenge
o Winner – Denny Library and Denny High School (Falkirk)
· Community Reading Culture Challenge
o Winner – Virtual School NLC Letterbox Club (North Lanarkshire)
· Pupil Reading the Most Books
o Winner – Coen from Liberton Primary School (Edinburgh City)
The UK would be turning its back on the vast majority of refugees, in breach of a number of binding international human rights obligations, if the Illegal Migration Bill is passed in its current form, the Joint Committee on Human Rights has warned.
In a report published yesterday, the Joint Committee finds that the legislation would deny access to the asylum system to the vast majority of refugees coming to the UK. It urges the Government not to breach its legal obligations to refugees, children and victims of modern slavery, and to play its part in the global system of refugee protection.
Key provisions in the Bill would fail to meet the UK’s obligations under international human rights law. These include denying refugees access to the asylum system and severely restricting human rights claims, broad detention and search powers, denying protections to modern slavery victims, and removing the right of appeals following age assessments.
Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Joanna Cherry KC MP said: “When she introduced this Bill to Parliament, the Home Secretary took the unusual step of making a statutory declaration under the Human Rights Act that she was unable to state that the bill was compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
“However, she has stated elsewhere that the Bill is compatible with international law. We disagree. Having carried out legislative scrutiny of the Bill it is overwhelmingly clear that it breaches a number of the UK’s international human rights obligations including the ECHR and risks breaching others.
“Most people fleeing persecution or conflict have no safe and legal way of getting here. Under the Bill, any refugee or victim of modern slavery who comes to the UK irregularly and indirectly, as most do, will automatically have their asylum claim declared inadmissible. They will also be subject to detention without time limit and removal from the UK irrespective of the merits of their claims.
“The Bill applies not only to refugees but also to victims of trafficking and slavery. By treating victims of modern slavery as ‘illegal migrants’ subject to detention and removal, this Bill would breach our legal obligations to such victims and would risk increasing trafficking of vulnerable people.
“Children are affected by every aspect of this Bill. The Government has a clear legal responsibility to protect the best interests of children. While no one wants children to make dangerous cross-Channel journeys, deterrence cannot override the UK’s binding legal obligations to protect children once they are here.
“Whether it is removing children’s ability to challenge incorrect decisions that they are adults, giving children life-long bans on re-entering the UK because of the choices made on their behalf by adults, or not putting safeguards for unaccompanied children accommodated by the Home Office on the face of the Bill, the Bill falls far short on providing the protections children need and deserve.
“If this bill is passed it is likely to have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups. As well as victims of trafficking and modern slavery and children this will include LGBT people.
“I urge the Government to seriously consider the recommendations in this report and take steps to address the human rights incompatibilities in this Bill. The UK has international legal obligations to those fleeing persecution and conflict, victims of modern slavery, and children. The Bill needs to comply with these obligations.”
Duty to make arrangements to remove
The Bill would place a new duty on the Home Secretary to make arrangements to remove anyone who comes to the UK irregularly and indirectly i.e. if they have not come directly from their country of persecution via a legal route.
It would apply to victims of trafficking and slavery, accompanied children, and unaccompanied children as soon as they turn 18. The Joint Committee finds that the scope of this duty is so broad that in practice it would remove the right to asylum for the vast majority of refugees coming to the UK.
Those who are caught by the Home Secretary’s ‘removal duty’ will have their asylum claims declared inadmissible meaning that the merits of their case will not be considered in the UK. Human rights claims relating to their countries of origin will also be declared inadmissible. Removals could be to any country deemed to be ‘safe’ by the Government, such as Rwanda.
The Committee find that this would breach numerous legal obligations under the Refugee Convention, which guarantees the rights of refugees irrespective of how they arrived in the country, and would see the UK fail to play its part in the global system of refugee protection.
Children
Children are impacted by every aspect of the Bill. The Bill would allow families with children to be detained indefinitely at any place deemed ‘appropriate’ and for any period deemed ‘reasonably necessary’.
Unaccompanied children can also be detained in any place deemed appropriate, although this power must be exercised only in accordance with regulations to be made by the Secretary of State, which may include time limits.
The Bill places the accommodation of unaccompanied children by the Home Office on a statutory footing, but no standards or safeguards for that accommodation appear on the face of the Bill.
The threat of removal from the UK when the child turns 18 is likely to harm the child’s ability to live a healthy, happy childhood. It also gives them a perverse incentive to flee the care of authorities, rendering them extremely vulnerable to traffickers, exploiters and criminal gangs.
The Joint Committee finds that the approach of the Bill in respect of children variously breaches or is likely to breach the rights of children under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Age assessments
Accurately assessing whether a person is a child can be difficult, especially for people who are just over or just under the age of 18. Children are treated differently from adults in the UK’s immigration system for good reason, and wrongly treating a child as an adult can have severe negative consequences for that child and their rights.
The Bill removes all appeal rights and severely restricts judicial review for age assessment decisions, meaning most determinations of a person’s age will not be reviewable by an independent court. Therefore, if a child is wrongly assessed to be an adult, they are unlikely to be able to challenge that decision and will face the presumption of removal from the UK as an adult.
The Committee acknowledges that there are also clear safeguarding issues if adults are incorrectly judged to be children, but the removal of appeal rights does not assist in addressing those issues.
The Joint Committee finds it difficult to see how the removal of the ability to challenge age assessment decisions is compatible with the UK’s obligations to safeguard the best interests of the child under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, or the child’s rights under the ECHR, especially their right to a fair trial.
The Committee has previously published evidence from medical professionals that there are currently no scientific methods which can accurately and consistently determine whether a person is a child.
The Bill would nevertheless allow the Home Secretary to make regulations at a future date which would penalise purported-children who refuse to consent to the use of scientific methods to determine their age. Such regulations would explicitly allow the Secretary of State to presume that those who do not comply are adults.
We are concerned that this could result in the penalisation of children who refuse such interference with their bodily integrity because they have suffered traumatic journeys to the UK or been victims of abuse.
The Secretary of State has undertaken not to exercise this power until she is satisfied that scientific methods are capable of assessing age accurately and compatibly with human rights.
Nevertheless the Committee makes clear that any regulations made about this penalisation would have to be carefully drawn to ensure that the circumstances and experiences of the individual child and their best interests are fully considered before determining whether they had reasonable grounds for refusing to comply.
Trafficking and modern slavery
Many existing protections, support and assistance for victims of trafficking or modern slavery would be removed under the legislation.
If victims have come to the UK outside of a safe and legal route they will be liable to detention and subject to the removal duty unless they are cooperating with a criminal investigation or prosecution and are required to remain in the UK.
These measures clearly breach the UK’s obligations under the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Detention
The Bill risks breaching article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to liberty, by removing current restrictions on immigration detention, including for children, families and pregnant women. It would authorise the Home Secretary to decide on the reasonable length of detention, a decision that is currently made by the courts.
The Joint Committee is further concerned that extending powers for detention would place increased pressure on an already struggling immigration detention system, risking a deterioration of conditions that could breach several articles of the ECHR.
Individuals subject to detention would, for the first 28 days, also have their right to bail restricted and be denied access to judicial review of their detention. This is also hard to reconcile with Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Banning future entry
Those who entered the UK irregularly would be banned from ever re-entering or settling in the UK in the future. They would also be barred from obtaining any form of British citizenship. The Bill gives the Secretary of State the discretion to make exceptions to these bans in individual cases.
The Committee finds that whether or not these life-long bans are compatible with international and domestic human rights law will depend on the Secretary of State making extensive and routine exceptions to take into account individual circumstances.
The Committee was concerned that the bans would be applied automatically to children, too, in effect penalising them for their parents’ or other adults’ choices to bring them to the UK irregularly even though they may have had no control over that decision.
The Joint Committee finds that this approach is likely to contravene the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Restricting legal challenges
The Joint Committee is concerned by the Bill’s restrictions on the ability of individuals subject to the removal duty to bring legal challenges to their removal before it takes place. These restrictions would likely violate the UK’s international treaty obligations.
While the Bill allows for ‘suspensive claims’ in exceptional circumstances, which would prevent a person from being removed from the UK while their claim is assessed, the narrow scope of these claims are unlikely to be consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The tight timescale applicable to suspensive claims would also severely restrict the ability of claimants to access legal assistance and present their claims effectively.
Cap
The Committee reiterated that it would be contrary to the UK’s binding international law obligations under the Refugee Convention for the UK to reject asylum applications duly made in its territory and that a domestic quota could not displace those obligations.
However, it appears to the Committee that the cap is in practice only intended to limit the number of people the UK volunteers to resettle from abroad in cooperation with other states or organisations.
The UK’s participation in such burden-sharing resettlement schemes is and remains at the Government’s discretion, so the cap will in practice only be an internal Government administrative quota for those voluntary schemes and therefore not contravene the Refugee Convention.
Visitors to the Highlands and wannabe monster spotters can now walk through 500 million years of history, delve deeper into Scottish myths and legends, and discover the scientific research behind the global phenomena that is the Nessie legend at The Loch Ness Centre.
Located at the old Drumnadrochit Hotel, where, 90 years ago, Mrs Aldie Mackay hotel manageress reported seeing a ‘water beast’ in Loch Ness, Continuum Attractions has invested £1.5m in creating a modern immersive journey.
During the one-hour experience guests become part of the quest, discovering the real stories and meeting the many real and historic characters associated with the search for the truth about Loch Ness and Nessie.
Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit.
Throughout eight immersive rooms guests delve deeper not just into history of the Loch Ness phenomenon but also the scientific research carried out by Adrian Shine and The Loch Ness Project (based on site), showcasing scientific methodology and real artefacts such as a real mini submarine, real underwater cameras, boats, sonar equipment all used in the quest to uncover the secrets of the 23 miles long Loch.
In ‘People and Stories’, guests will explore some of the most famous sightings and hoax’s linked to Nessie, set in the ‘bar of the old hotel’ guest meet old and young Mrs Aldie Mackay and learn how her one sighting changed history forever; and gave birth to a modern legend.
Guests’ hunt for the truth doesn’t end after the tour, tickets include an optional 12-month membership to The Loch Ness Quest, giving exclusive access to the latest Nessie sightings, events and news.
Guests can go on to explore the depths of the world’s most famous loch for themselves onboard the Centre’s vessel, Deepscan, named after the Operation Deepscan expedition carried out on the loch in 1987.
Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit.
Juliana Delaney, Chief Executive of Continuum, said: “It’s an honour to open the doors to the newly imagined Loch Ness Centre. This must be one of the world’s greatest stories and it deserved a more modern and immersive presentation, which I hope we have delivered.
“We are very aware we are only temporary guardians of this amazing legend and we want to invest in keeping the search alive.
“There’s also a surprise for guests too when they hear who our narrator is!”
Pre-booked tickets are available in advance online. Adult tickets start from £13.95 online and Deepscan Cruises tickets start from £19.00.
To book your trip to The Loch Ness Centre or a cruise tour, please visit:
Hamilton & Inches, a Scottish luxury jeweller and jewellery designer, is hosting the highly anticipated 2023 Rolex collection at its prestigious showroom in the heart of Edinburgh. This exhibition promises to be a captivating celebration of craftsmanship, presenting the latest iconic creations from Rolex.
The showcase which takes place from June 12th to June 20th, will unveil the brand’s newest additions, including the exquisite Oyster Perpetual 1908. Drawing inspiration from one of Rolex’s first watches with a Perpetual rotor, this completely new timepiece opens the Perpetual collection in a modern and avant-garde fashion, redefining traditional watchmaking through their visionary lens.
Victoria Houghton, CEO of Hamilton & Inches, said:“Our Edinburgh showroom sets the perfect stage to showcase the remarkable 2023 Rolex Collection. This exhibition offers our valued clientele a rare opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the world of luxury watchmaking, granting an unparalleled opportunity to see the newest array of Rolex novelties in person.
“Each visitor’s experience will be tailored to their preferences, ensuring a bespoke exhibition that leaves a lasting impression. It serves as an exceptional opportunity to gain real insight and become knowledgeable about these new pieces.”
Joining the line up is the light and robust, new Yacht-Master 42, an ally of those seeking freedom of movement. Especially suited to the demands and pressures of competitive sailing, it puts watchmaking excellence at the pinnacle of sporting performance.
To mark the watch’s 60th anniversary, Rolex has rejuvenated the iconic Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, to produce a timepiece with enhanced visual harmony and a more modern demeanour.
The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II joins the collection as the ultimate navigation companion whilst embodying Rolex’s dedication to excellence and precision.
These highlights represent just a glimpse into the stunning array of timepieces that will be on display during the exhibition. With its full collection of latest creations, Rolex proudly showcases its perpetual pursuit of excellence. The watches unveiled illustrate the brand’s commitment to reinvention and cutting-edge technology while honouring tradition and timeless artistry.
The 2023 Rolex collection exhibition reinforces Hamilton & Inches’ position as the capital’s premier destination for fine jewellery, luxurious watches, and handcrafted silver. From June 12th to June 20th, the 2023 exhibition will offer customers and watch enthusiasts an opportunity to explore the innovations that Rolex has crafted for this year. Visitors can view the collection without an appointment during the showroom opening hours.
As well as attending the exhibition, customers can also take advantage of Hamilton & Inches high-quality watch service and repairs. As the first accredited Rolex Service Centre in Edinburgh, Hamilton & Inches has a heightened after-sales customer service, offering the ultimate immersive and luxurious experience.
A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.
The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.
A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.
As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.
UPDATE @ 17.33
A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.
