Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have awarded a contract for facial age estimation technology for assessing the age of asylum seekers; and if so, which company that contract has been awarded to.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Information sought is withheld for reason of commercial sensitivities.

The procurement is now concluded, and we are preparing to inform bidders. A published contract award notice will follow thereafter.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of whether the stakeholder engagement undertaken during the previous Administration’s Independent Review of Prevent attached equal weight to views expressed by (a) faith groups and (b) non-religious belief organisations.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) relevance and (b) accuracy of stakeholder feedback from faith groups gathered during the previous Administration’s Independent Review of Prevent.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department uses stakeholder feedback from faith groups gathered during the previous Administration’s Independent Review of Prevent in developing current Prevent policy and guidance.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a summary of the feedback provided by faith groups during the previous administration’s Independent Review of Prevent.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) faith groups, (b) religious organisations and (c) non-religious belief organisations were consulted in the previous Administration’s Independent Review of Prevent.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she met President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria during his visit to the UK on 31 March 2026.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Secretary of State for the Home Department met with President al-Sharaa of Syria during his visit to the UK on 31 March 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many instances of breaches of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme have resulted in prosecutions.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The FIRS scheme went live on 01 July last year. We will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations, the number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.

Providing information outside of that publication schedule about any live cases or prosecutions risks revealing information not intended to be made public and undermining any enforcement action.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the links between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in the context of national security policy.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Although The Home Office does not comment on specific groups or individual cases, I would like to reassure The Rt Hon gentleman that we are committed to continually building our understanding of the extremist threat and monitor groups that pose a threat to national security.

Where the actions of individuals or groups cross a legal threshold, we will act to prevent harm and to safeguard susceptible individuals.

As set out in the recent ‘Protecting What Matters’ publication, the Home Office is increasing resource to counter extremism and prevent groups and individuals from sharing their harmful rhetoric.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to undertake a further review of the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Although The Home Office does not comment on specific groups or individual cases, I would like to reassure The Rt Hon gentleman that we are committed to continually building our understanding of the extremist threat and monitor groups that pose a threat to national security.

Where the actions of individuals or groups cross a legal threshold, we will act to prevent harm and to safeguard susceptible individuals.

As set out in the recent ‘Protecting What Matters’ publication, the Home Office is increasing resource to counter extremism and prevent groups and individuals from sharing their harmful rhetoric.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when is the next review date for the National Referral Mechanism guidance; and whether that review will consider the barriers to referral routes for Overseas Domestic Worker visa holders at risk of modern slavery.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The “Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for England and Wales (under s49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and Non-Statutory Guidance for Scotland and Northern Ireland” is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains current and effective for decision-makers and first responders.

Following the conclusion of the Call for Evidence on the Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery, we are considering the evidence received and how identification and referrals can be improved.

Overseas Domestic Workers who find themselves a victim of modern slavery can be referred into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) by a designated First Responder.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the Adam Smith Institute’s Freedom of Speech model Bill, published on 1 April 2026.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Freedom of speech is a fundamental right and a defining value of our open and diverse society. The Government is absolutely committed to upholding lawful free expression, including robust debate on matters of public interest, and all relevant legislation and policing powers are applied in line with the UK’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, freedom of expression is a qualified right and can be restricted in certain situations. The legislative framework in the UK ensures that people are protected against criminal activity including threatening, harassing, or abusive behaviour. Freedom of speech must not be used as an excuse to cause harm or spread hatred.

The Government has launched an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation, led by Lord Ken Macdonald of River Glaven KC. The review will examine whether current legislation is fit for purpose in light of evolving protest tactics, community impacts, and the need to safeguard democracy.

The review will address three critical questions: whether existing legislation effective and proportionate; whether it adequately protects communities from intimidation and hate; and whether it strikes a fair and sustainable balance between the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, and the need to prevent disorder and keep communities safe.

The review is underway and will report to the Home Secretary in May 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations of the report entitled Invisible Women "Made Visible": Learning from the Femicides of Black, Minoritised and Migrant Women published by Killed Women in October 2025.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government, and we are treating it as the national emergency it is. The recently published ‘Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy’ sets out the steps we are taking to drive system-wide change, so that no life is lost to violence and abuse that could have been prevented. All victims, including Black and other minoritised ethnic groups, are integrated into our response, and every commitment set out in the Strategy will consider Black and other minoritised ethnic groups.

The report illustrates the stark picture of the risk of fatal violence faced by Black and ethnic minority women. The Government is absolutely committed to improving the response to all forms of violence, and femicide as part of that. I wholeheartedly thank the Killed Women network for their work to raise awareness of these appalling crimes and have written to them in response to this report.

The Home Office continues to build the evidence base on all domestic abuse related deaths through funding the Domestic Homicide Project, to capture information on these deaths from all 43 police forces in England and Wales and identify how the response can be improved. We are also exploring the possibility of expanding the project’s scope in future years to encompass all deaths that occur in the context of VAWG. This will enable a more comprehensive understanding of every death resulting from VAWG to improve our response and prevent further loss of life.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 70519 on Public Inquiries, what is the status of Independent Commission on Grooming Gangs.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Written Ministerial Statement entitled 'Commencement of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, was issued on 13 April 2026.

This sets out that the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs has been formally established. The final Terms of Reference for the Inquiry were published on 31 March 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of a potential link between children going missing and the risk of exploitation, including child criminal exploitation and child sexual exploitation.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

We recognise that missing episodes, especially repeat missing episodes, however brief, can often be a red flag for a number of harms including child sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation.

Each missing child case represents a vulnerable young person at risk, often with complex underlying causes that need to be understood and addressed. We are working to support the NPCC and its rollout of its ‘Children who go Missing from Care’ Framework as another vital tool when tackling head-on the underlying vulnerabilities in children that often lead to missing episodes and further strengthening frontline response.

In addition, the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP) launched in April 2025 to improve the response to violence against women and girls and child sexual abuse. The Home Office has already invested £13.1 million into the Centre in 2025-25 and will provide a further £13.9m funding this financial year. The NCVPP will improve the response to missing children by driving up standards; developing best practices and delivering training to officers across a range of vulnerabilities.

We will continue to work closely across Government Departments, with the police and other safeguarding partners, to improve the whole system response to missing children.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the consistency of the application of powers to exclude foreign nationals from the UK in cases involving people with (a) controversial public rhetoric and (b) reported links to or support for proscribed organisations.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

The Home Secretary has the power to exclude a person who is not a British Citizen if their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. Exclusion is reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour. An exclusion decision must be reasonable, consistent with decisions taken in similar circumstances, and proportionate to the threat the person poses to the UK. There must be a rational connection between exclusion of the individual and the legitimate aim being pursued, for example safeguarding public security or tackling serious crime.

The Immigration Rules also provide for the refusal of entry clearance or permission where a person’s character, conduct or associations means it is undesirable to grant them entry or permission to stay the UK. The decision to refuse entry on the ground it is conducive to the public good must be made on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the conduct and circumstances of the person concerned. All decisions must be reasonable, proportionate and evidence based. A person’s presence may be deemed to be non-conducive to the public good for a range of reasons, for example, because of criminality, reprehensible behaviour falling short of a conviction, or because their identity, travel history or other circumstances means that their presence in the UK poses a threat to UK society. A person does not need to have a criminal conviction to be refused admission on non-conducive grounds.

Where a person has already been admitted to the UK, deportation action may be taken where their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. This may include those who have publicly expressed support for proscribed organisations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will set out the criteria to determine whether an person's presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good; and if she will set out how those criteria were applied in the decision to refuse entry clearance to Kanye West.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

The Home Secretary has the power to exclude a person who is not a British Citizen if their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. Exclusion is reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour. An exclusion decision must be reasonable, consistent with decisions taken in similar circumstances, and proportionate to the threat the person poses to the UK. There must be a rational connection between exclusion of the individual and the legitimate aim being pursued, for example safeguarding public security or tackling serious crime.

The Immigration Rules also provide for the refusal of entry clearance or permission where a person’s character, conduct or associations means it is undesirable to grant them entry or permission to stay the UK. The decision to refuse entry on the ground it is conducive to the public good must be made on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the conduct and circumstances of the person concerned. All decisions must be reasonable, proportionate and evidence based. A person’s presence may be deemed to be non-conducive to the public good for a range of reasons, for example, because of criminality, reprehensible behaviour falling short of a conviction, or because their identity, travel history or other circumstances means that their presence in the UK poses a threat to UK society. A person does not need to have a criminal conviction to be refused admission on non-conducive grounds.

Where a person has already been admitted to the UK, deportation action may be taken where their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. This may include those who have publicly expressed support for proscribed organisations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will set out what powers are available to (a) refuse entry to and (b) remove from the UK people who have publicly expressed support for proscribed organisations after being admitted.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

The Home Secretary has the power to exclude a person who is not a British Citizen if their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. Exclusion is reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour. An exclusion decision must be reasonable, consistent with decisions taken in similar circumstances, and proportionate to the threat the person poses to the UK. There must be a rational connection between exclusion of the individual and the legitimate aim being pursued, for example safeguarding public security or tackling serious crime.

The Immigration Rules also provide for the refusal of entry clearance or permission where a person’s character, conduct or associations means it is undesirable to grant them entry or permission to stay the UK. The decision to refuse entry on the ground it is conducive to the public good must be made on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the conduct and circumstances of the person concerned. All decisions must be reasonable, proportionate and evidence based. A person’s presence may be deemed to be non-conducive to the public good for a range of reasons, for example, because of criminality, reprehensible behaviour falling short of a conviction, or because their identity, travel history or other circumstances means that their presence in the UK poses a threat to UK society. A person does not need to have a criminal conviction to be refused admission on non-conducive grounds.

Where a person has already been admitted to the UK, deportation action may be taken where their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. This may include those who have publicly expressed support for proscribed organisations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the availability of domestic abuse services in semi-rural areas.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Every victim of violence against women and girls (VAWG), whether in a city or a rural village, should be able to access the help they need. In the 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse’ Strategy, we committed to developing a new cross-government statement on the commissioning of VAWG services. This statement aims to strengthen the quality of commissioning from local commissioners, and it will support local areas to tailor their provision to their local communities, including rural victims.

Last year (2025/26), the Home Office invested over £6m into specialist helplines to support victims of VAWG and we are expanding our investment into the VAWG helplines this financial year. The helplines are accessible across England and Wales and provide advice and support to victims and assist in signposting and referrals to appropriate local services.

Last year, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) commenced a call for evidence across a network of rural stakeholders to inform our understanding of the availability of support services and effective practice to provide support in rural areas. This research will help to confront the disparities in the provision and inform our future work to address the disparities of provision.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK crackdown on vile scam centres steps up with sanctions on illicit crypto network, published 26 March 2026, what cooperation has taken place with authorities in host countries to trace and recover proceeds of fraud linked to scam centres.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Fraud is increasingly industrialised, transnational and technologically advanced. Methods used to contact and target victims in the UK also include measures to obscure offenders’ true identities and locations. This represents significant challenges for law enforcement in disrupting and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Scam centre activities typically involve actors, infrastructure, victims and financial flows across several jurisdictions. Proceeds of crime are also often transferred and laundered through multiple countries. This creates operational complexity which can prolong investigations.

The NCA, through the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), works with international partners to identify and recover the proceeds of fraud affecting victims in the UK and overseas. For example, recent collaboration between the NCA and the Ghanaian authorities resulted in Ghana’s first cryptocurrency seizure, valued at approximately US$15 million.

The UK has also announced support for INTERPOL’s Global Fraud Task Force (Operation Shadow Storm), aimed at strengthening international coordination against scam centres and associated criminal finance

As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, the UK neither confirms nor denies that an extradition request has been made or received where no arrest has taken place, however the government attaches significant importance to ensuring that our extradition arrangements provide a path to justice for victims of crime and their families.

The decision to make a request for extradition is taken by the prosecuting authorities in each UK jurisdiction.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK crackdown on vile scam centres steps up with sanctions on illicit crypto network, published 26 March 2026, whether the UK has sought the extradition of any individuals linked to scam centres targeted by the sanctions.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Fraud is increasingly industrialised, transnational and technologically advanced. Methods used to contact and target victims in the UK also include measures to obscure offenders’ true identities and locations. This represents significant challenges for law enforcement in disrupting and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Scam centre activities typically involve actors, infrastructure, victims and financial flows across several jurisdictions. Proceeds of crime are also often transferred and laundered through multiple countries. This creates operational complexity which can prolong investigations.

The NCA, through the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), works with international partners to identify and recover the proceeds of fraud affecting victims in the UK and overseas. For example, recent collaboration between the NCA and the Ghanaian authorities resulted in Ghana’s first cryptocurrency seizure, valued at approximately US$15 million.

The UK has also announced support for INTERPOL’s Global Fraud Task Force (Operation Shadow Storm), aimed at strengthening international coordination against scam centres and associated criminal finance

As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, the UK neither confirms nor denies that an extradition request has been made or received where no arrest has taken place, however the government attaches significant importance to ensuring that our extradition arrangements provide a path to justice for victims of crime and their families.

The decision to make a request for extradition is taken by the prosecuting authorities in each UK jurisdiction.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK crackdown on vile scam centres steps up with sanctions on illicit crypto network, published 26 March 2026, what barriers exist to prosecuting individuals involved in scam centres operating overseas.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Fraud is increasingly industrialised, transnational and technologically advanced. Methods used to contact and target victims in the UK also include measures to obscure offenders’ true identities and locations. This represents significant challenges for law enforcement in disrupting and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Scam centre activities typically involve actors, infrastructure, victims and financial flows across several jurisdictions. Proceeds of crime are also often transferred and laundered through multiple countries. This creates operational complexity which can prolong investigations.

The NCA, through the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), works with international partners to identify and recover the proceeds of fraud affecting victims in the UK and overseas. For example, recent collaboration between the NCA and the Ghanaian authorities resulted in Ghana’s first cryptocurrency seizure, valued at approximately US$15 million.

The UK has also announced support for INTERPOL’s Global Fraud Task Force (Operation Shadow Storm), aimed at strengthening international coordination against scam centres and associated criminal finance

As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, the UK neither confirms nor denies that an extradition request has been made or received where no arrest has taken place, however the government attaches significant importance to ensuring that our extradition arrangements provide a path to justice for victims of crime and their families.

The decision to make a request for extradition is taken by the prosecuting authorities in each UK jurisdiction.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK crackdown on vile scam centres steps up with sanctions on illicit crypto network, published 26 March 2026, how many joint investigations since 2020 have been conducted with international partners into scam centres linked to fraud affecting UK citizens.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Fraud is increasingly industrialised, transnational and technologically advanced. Methods used to contact and target victims in the UK also include measures to obscure offenders’ true identities and locations. This represents significant challenges for law enforcement in disrupting and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Scam centre activities typically involve actors, infrastructure, victims and financial flows across several jurisdictions. Proceeds of crime are also often transferred and laundered through multiple countries. This creates operational complexity which can prolong investigations.

The NCA, through the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), works with international partners to identify and recover the proceeds of fraud affecting victims in the UK and overseas. For example, recent collaboration between the NCA and the Ghanaian authorities resulted in Ghana’s first cryptocurrency seizure, valued at approximately US$15 million.

The UK has also announced support for INTERPOL’s Global Fraud Task Force (Operation Shadow Storm), aimed at strengthening international coordination against scam centres and associated criminal finance

As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, the UK neither confirms nor denies that an extradition request has been made or received where no arrest has taken place, however the government attaches significant importance to ensuring that our extradition arrangements provide a path to justice for victims of crime and their families.

The decision to make a request for extradition is taken by the prosecuting authorities in each UK jurisdiction.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many ECAA Indefinite Leave to Remain applications are pending.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Leave granted under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) allows people, largely Turkish nationals, to work or establish businesses in the UK.

The Home Office does not publish information specifically relating to the volume of applications pending or volume of applications decided under the ECAA route. However, from the immigration statistics published for the calendar year ending December 2025, it was noted that the published data on grants of Settlement under the Work Permit holder category largely relates to persons granted leave under the ECAA route.

The latest statistics show that there were 6,367 Settlement grants for Work Permit holders, an increase of 72% on the previous 12 months.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Parliamentary Question 104261 answered on 16 January 2026, to which budgets the ‘net positive benefit to the public purse’ of the new Home Office English Language Test will be attributed to.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As set out in the answer of 16 January 2026, today's Secure English Language Testing concessions collect all applicants' fees with no return to the Department to cover the costs of managing and overseeing delivery. The new Home Office English Language Test service will deliver a net positive benefit to the public purse by changing that financial arrangement.

The Department has not made a separate published assessment of the net financial benefit of a model combining digital and in-person security measures compared to the model being tendered. The procurement specification sets out the security and integrity requirements that any delivery model must meet, and cost is assessed alongside those requirements as part of the evaluation process. The overall value for money assessment will be made in the context of the full evaluation.

A specific estimate of the net positive benefit has not been published, as the procurement process is ongoing and the financial arrangements will be determined at contract award.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 March (HL15813), how many licences they granted for the use of (1) beagles, and (2) non-human primates, in scientific procedures in 2025.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025, a total of 12 project licences were granted that included the use of beagles and/or non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: 4 authorising the use of beagles; 4 authorising the use of non-human primates; and, 4 authorising the use of both beagles and non-human primates.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the timeline for establishing a Named Community Sponsorship scheme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.

The delivery of the new named sponsorship scheme will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.

Work is underway to deliver the named community sponsorship route. Further details, including timeframes for the launch of the route, will be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Parliamentary Question 104261 answered on 16 January 2026, if the lower cost of the Home Office English Language Test will be passed on to test takers.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The fee structure for the Home Office English Language Test has not yet been set, as the procurement process is ongoing. The Department is committed to ensuring the test is accessible to those required to take it. The final fee to test takers will be determined as part of the contract and will be subject to the approval of Parliament. The Department will provide further information on fees in due course. Any income the Home Office receives from these fees will play an essential role in supporting the sustainable funding of the migration and borders system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average length of time taken to complete security and background checks on border force applicants.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) checks are required for Home Office roles. Checks for external applicants include the following:

• Civil Service eligibility;
• right to work / ID / address checks;
• employment history verification;
• health checks (where required); and,
• checks relating to security and integrity, including some role-specific checks for Border Force Officers.

Due to the highly contextual, case-by-case nature of recruitment, it would be neither feasible nor instructive to provide an average timespan.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential risk that takers of the fully remote Home Office English Language Test may use artificial intelligence technology to circumvent testing integrity; and what safeguards her Department will put in place to help tackle the potential risks to testing integrity posed by the increasing availability of wearable technology outside of secure test centres.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office takes the integrity of the Home Office English Language Test seriously and has assessed a range of risks, including those posed by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence tools and wearable devices. The Department recognises that technological developments can present new challenges to test security in remote environments. Any provider appointed through the procurement process will be required to demonstrate that their solution includes best-in-class safeguards capable of addressing these risks. The specification includes requirements for technical and procedural controls to mitigate cheating methods, and this will be a key factor in the evaluation of bids.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what engagement her Department has had with Ofqual regarding the introduction of the Home Office English Language Test.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office English Language Testing Programme remains in live procurement. We anticipate that the successful bidder will hold, or secure, Ofqual recognition. They must then continue to meet the rigorous bar required to comply with Ofqual's regulatory requirements. We are working with Ofqual through the procurement to protect the integrity of these high stakes tests and our engagement with them reflects this.

In addition, given the Home Office English Language Testing programme is in live procurement, the Home Office is conscious of protecting the integrity of the procurement.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to publish the (a) Data Protection Impact Assessment and (b) Equality Impact Assessment for the (i) Asylum Case Summarisation and (ii) Asylum Policy Search tools.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Department intends to publish a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for either the Asylum Policy Search tool ([ii] APS; fully rolled out) and/or the Asylum Case Summarisation tool ([i] ACS; full roll out due April 2026) after both have been operationalised.

The Equality Impact Assessments for APS and ACS [i, ii] are being updated following the completion of pilots for both tools, and the current intention is to publish them in due course, after ACS has been fully operationalised in April 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Pursuant to WPQ 118152, on how many occasions were Border Force personnel involved in dealing with the more than five hundred sanctioned shadow fleet vessels.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Border Force is a law enforcement command within the Home Office. We secure the UK border by carrying out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the UK.

Maritime teams in the Home Office maintain a permanent presence around the UK as part of its maritime border security. This involves the deployment of Cutters, Coastal Patrol Vessels and other maritime assets.

The vessels are regularly out on proactive patrol, but we do not comment on specific operational deployments or operations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what engagement her department has had with the Minister for Investment regarding the introduction of the Home Office English Language Test.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office English Language Testing programme has engaged with impacted government departments and will continue this engagement throughout the life of the procurement though mobilisation. As with any government procurement, all commercial activity is subject to full governance procedure, including appropriate spending controls.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her written statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the proposed Named Community Sponsorship scheme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.

The delivery of the new named sponsorship scheme will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.

Work is underway to deliver the named community sponsorship route. Further details, including timeframes for the launch of the route, will be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the implementation of the Entry-Exit System on British tourists travelling to countries in the European Union, including on (a) families travelling with young children, (b) the travel and tourism industry, and (c) overall levels of outbound travel during peak holiday periods; and what steps she is taking to ensure that it works effectively for British holidaymakers and the travel industry.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU system, and its implementation is a matter for the EU and its member states.

The UK Government is engaging the European Commission and member states to encourage a pragmatic approach to EES that minimises disruption now that it is fully operational. We are also working with transport and travel operators to understand the potential impact of EES and supporting them with a communications package to help prepare passengers in advance of their journey.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure non-refoulement in its migrant return policy with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

No one who is found to be at legitimate risk of persecution or serious harm will be expected to return to their country of origin. Individuals are only returned to their country of origin when the Home Office and, where applicable, the courts deem it is safe to do so.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Parliamentary Question 104261 answered on 16 January 2026, whether the ‘net positive benefit to the public purse’ of the new Home Office English Language Test will be used to support management of budget pressures in the asylum system.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The financial benefits arising from the HOELT are expected to accrue to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) budgets within the Home Office. Under the current concession model, test fees are retained by approved providers. The new model changes that financial relationship. Decisions on the use of any resulting savings will be subject to usual Home Office financial planning processes. Any income the Home Office receives from these fees will play an essential role in supporting the sustainable funding of the migration and borders system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the longest time was that it has taken for a paid for priority and super priority application to be turned around and decided since 2000.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Statistics on UK Visas and Immigration applications is published in table VSI_01a on GOV.UK in the ‘Visas, status and immigration data: October to December 2025’, as part of the 'Migration Transparency data'. The information displayed goes back to 2021. For migration transparency data before 2021 please see the ‘Migration Transparency Data – March 2014 to December 2024’ on National Archives website.

The VSI_01a data table provides data on the volume of overseas and in-country applications received and input for each route and performance against service standard for each route including for Priority and Super Priority Services.

UKVI’s communications to visa customers applying for Priority and Super Priority Services set out that it can take longer to get a decision beyond the advertised waiting times for these services. For example, if the Home Office needs to ask for more information or check details with other government departments. Where an individual who has applied for these services may experience a delay beyond advertised times for these services, customers are notified by relevant UKVI caseworking teams.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many grants of indefinite leave to remain have been revoked and have lapsed in each year since 2004.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate costs. Under section 12(1) of the FOIA, the Home Office is not obliged to comply with an information request where to do so would exceed the appropriate limit.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 March (HL15813), what assessment they have made of the compatibility of granting licences for the use of animals in scientific testing with their Replacing animals in science strategy, published 11 November 2025.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Replacing animals in science strategy recognises that, while the long‑term vision is to replace the use of animals in science wherever possible, some animal use remains necessary at present to develop and test new medicines, advance understanding of biology and disease, and to protect human and animal health and the environment. These activities are integral to the UK’s national health preparedness and resilience, including the ability to respond to emerging health threats. Progress towards the phasing out of animal use must be science‑led and supported by reliable alternative methods.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the use of animals in scientific procedures is subject to a strict regulatory framework. Project licence applications must demonstrate that the harms to animals are justified by the expected benefits to society, the environment or animals themselves. They must also comply fully with the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs). This means that animals cannot be used if a suitable non‑animal method exists, the minimum number of animals must be used, and any harms must be minimised through the most refined methods available.

Accordingly, the licensing regime is compatible with the strategy; it enables only tightly controlled animal use where it is scientifically justified and no suitable alternative exists, while continuing to drive the development, validation and uptake of non-animal approaches.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to question 104256 on Visas: English Language, which other countries' systems have been considered in development of the Home Office English Language Test.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As set out in the answer of 16 January 2026, the Home Office English Language Test will be one of the first primarily remote language testing services for government immigration purposes. In developing this approach, the Department considered a range of international systems and models.

This included reviewing the approaches taken by Australia and Canada, both of which recently reviewed their English language testing requirements. The Department also drew on evidence from other government contexts where digital identity and remote service delivery have been implemented, including existing Home Office delivery models incorporating identification technology, audit and assurance processes, and robust oversight frameworks.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with Duolingo on the introduction of the Home Office English Language Test.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Prior to the Home Office English Language Testing programme publishing invitation to tender, five rounds of market engagement was conducted under non-disclosure agreements. However, there were opportunities for those who participated to share information that they wished for the Home Office to consider and ask Clarifying Questions. It would not be appropriate to disclose details of individual organisations' participation in a confidential market engagement process

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of those granted visas under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship programme were Ukrainian nationals.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A range of processing data, including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, which can be filtered to the nationality of the applicant, are published here:

Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets, year ending December 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the nationalities were of those granted visas under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship programme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

A range of processing data, including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, which can be filtered to the nationality of the applicant, are published here:

Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets, year ending December 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of proposed changes under the Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation on demand for independent immigration advice services; and what steps they are taking to ensure those services have sufficient workforce capacity to meet that demand.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the formal representation of the Oxford Sudanese Student Society to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, concerning the imposition of a visa brake on Sudanese nationals; and whether they intend to meet representatives of the Society to discuss the issue.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We recognise the concerns the Oxford Sudanese Student Society have regarding the visa brake and that this decision may be disappointing. However, the visa brake, which was data-driven, was ultimately required to ensure that the system remains fair, credible, and sustainable. Proportionality has been central to the development of this policy, with nationals of Sudan presenting not only high numbers of claims but also some of the highest proportions of asylum claims to visas issued on the Student route.

In the year ending September 2025, for Sudan nationals on the Student route, the proportion of asylum claims as a proportion of visas issued was 46%. This is consistent with a rise across the past five years. This is not sustainable, and has necessitated swift action to address this trend.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2026 to Question 118319 on Extradition: Bangladesh, from when the data will no longer be categorised as provisional.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Further to the response to question 118319 dated 1 April 2026, we can confirm that this information is taken from local management information and has not been quality assured to the level of published National Statistics. It is the ongoing position that as such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect enquiries following the arrest and bail of David Taylor under national security legislation will be completed.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It would not be appropriate to comment on what remains a live Police investigation.

The Government will update Parliament at an appropriate moment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered banning Valentina Gomez from entering the country.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

The Home Secretary has the power to exclude a person who is not a British Citizen if their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. The Immigration Rules also provide for the refusal of entry clearance or permission at the border if a person’s character, conduct or associations mean it is undesirable to grant them entry to the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the accuracy of (a) benchmarking, (b) validation methods and (c) error rates of AI tools used in asylum casework.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

There are two AI tools in use in asylum casework currently; Asylum Case Summarisation (ACS) and Asylum Policy Search (APS).

Bench Marking & Validation - Both evaluations used a mixed-methods approach to collect primary data during and after the pilots. All participants in the test and comparison groups were asked to log information for each case undertaken. For the Asylum Case Summarisation pilot, the logging exercise captured data on 334 cases in the test group and 95 cases in the comparison group. For the Asylum Policy Search pilot, the logging exercise captured data on 270 cases in the test group and 214 cases in the comparison group.

The following published research note provides more detail on both pilots and the findings we documented - Evaluation of AI trials in the asylum decision making process - GOV.UK.

Error Rates - Technical specialists reviewed all summaries created by the Asylum Case Summarisation tool for accuracy prior to use in the pilot. A small proportion of summaries produced (9%) were deemed to be inaccurate or had missing information and were therefore removed from the pilot and these cases progressed in the business-as-usual way. Of the summaries that progressed in the pilot, 23% of users reported they were not fully confident in the summary information and would warrant further exploration in a full roll out. The Asylum Case Summarisation Tool has not yet been rolled out operationally.

The methodologies used in the evaluation of our Asylum AI tools were reviewed by and agreed with the Cabinet Office Evaluation Taskforce, and apply to both ACS and APS.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will investigate trends in the number of applications for asylum from people from (a) Pakistan and (b) Bangladesh who are falsely claiming to be gay and in fear for their lives if returned to their home country.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Where we encounter abuse of the asylum system, we take action. Protection status will be revoked where evidence emerges that it was obtained by deception.

All asylum and human rights claims, including those raised by Pakistan and Bangladesh nationals on grounds of sexuality or gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Our guidance for considering asylum claims is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

A decision maker will not accept that someone is gay simply because they claim to be so. Such declarations constitute the starting point in the consideration process and are subject to probing at interview and a proper assessment of the facts and circumstances.

Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-policy-and-information-notes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders issued against foreign national offenders resulted in (a) enforced removals, (b) voluntary departures and (c) no removal in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Some of the information that you have requested regarding FNOs is not available from published statistics.

The Home Office does publish data on FNO returns in the quarterly Immigration System Statistics release which can be viewed at, Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK. This publication includes quarterly data on enforced, voluntary and port FNO returns (of which ‘deportations’ are a legal subset) and are published in table ‘Ret_D03’ of the returns detailed datasets accompanying the release. The Home Office also recently published figures on FNO returns (which include both enforced and voluntary returns) between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, which can be found here: Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026 - GOV.UK.

Over 8,700 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned from the UK under this government, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The Home Office provides the data on FNOs who are subject to deportation action, living in the community. These are published quarterly in the Immigration Enforcement Data, which is available at, Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.

Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time is between (a) the issuing of a deportation order and (b) the removal of the individual from the UK in the most recent year for which data is available.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Some of the information that you have requested regarding FNOs is not available from published statistics.

The Home Office does publish data on FNO returns in the quarterly Immigration System Statistics release which can be viewed at, Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK. This publication includes quarterly data on enforced, voluntary and port FNO returns (of which ‘deportations’ are a legal subset) and are published in table ‘Ret_D03’ of the returns detailed datasets accompanying the release. The Home Office also recently published figures on FNO returns (which include both enforced and voluntary returns) between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, which can be found here: Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026 - GOV.UK.

Over 8,700 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned from the UK under this government, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The Home Office provides the data on FNOs who are subject to deportation action, living in the community. These are published quarterly in the Immigration Enforcement Data, which is available at, Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.

Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportation orders were issued against foreign national offenders in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Some of the information that you have requested regarding FNOs is not available from published statistics.

The Home Office does publish data on FNO returns in the quarterly Immigration System Statistics release which can be viewed at, Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK. This publication includes quarterly data on enforced, voluntary and port FNO returns (of which ‘deportations’ are a legal subset) and are published in table ‘Ret_D03’ of the returns detailed datasets accompanying the release. The Home Office also recently published figures on FNO returns (which include both enforced and voluntary returns) between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, which can be found here: Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026 - GOV.UK.

Over 8,700 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned from the UK under this government, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The Home Office provides the data on FNOs who are subject to deportation action, living in the community. These are published quarterly in the Immigration Enforcement Data, which is available at, Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.

Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders subject to a deportation order remain in the UK for which the latest data is available.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Some of the information that you have requested regarding FNOs is not available from published statistics.

The Home Office does publish data on FNO returns in the quarterly Immigration System Statistics release which can be viewed at, Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK. This publication includes quarterly data on enforced, voluntary and port FNO returns (of which ‘deportations’ are a legal subset) and are published in table ‘Ret_D03’ of the returns detailed datasets accompanying the release. The Home Office also recently published figures on FNO returns (which include both enforced and voluntary returns) between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, which can be found here: Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026 - GOV.UK.

Over 8,700 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned from the UK under this government, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The Home Office provides the data on FNOs who are subject to deportation action, living in the community. These are published quarterly in the Immigration Enforcement Data, which is available at, Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.

Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of police use of live facial recognition technology in comparison to traditional policing methods.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has not made a final assessment of the cost‑effectiveness of police use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology in comparison to traditional policing methods. However, when the government introduces legislation on a new framework this will be accompanied by an impact assessment. This will include consideration of costs, operational benefits and wider impacts, alongside legal, ethical and equality considerations.

With regards to the integration of facial recognition into existing CCTV, police forces must comply with data protection, human rights, equality and other relevant laws. This means that police can use live facial recognition only for targeted, intelligence led, time-bound deployments to locate specific individuals on a watchlist, such as wanted offenders or people who may pose a risk of serious harm.

The Home Office is aware that both the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police have piloted the use of facial recognition cameras mounted on fixed street infrastructure. This involves adding standalone LFR cameras and does not involve changing the use of existing CCTV, which remains separate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide a list of the locations that Asylum Move-On Liaison Officers are based in England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have placed Asylum Move‑On Liaison Officers (AMLOs) in 59 local authorities across the UK, working alongside Migrant Help to support individuals who will be leaving asylum accommodation.

In England, we have AMLO presence in the following regions:

– London

– West Midlands

– East Midlands

– North West

– Yorkshire and the Humber

– South East

– South West

AMLO deployment is kept under regular review to ensure support is directed appropriately.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she make an assessment of the feasibility of repurposing disused prisons or other redundant public-sector sites as dedicated asylum reception and processing centres.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Asylum Accommodation estate is kept under constant review. We are moving at pace to fulfil the Government’s commitment to close every asylum hotel by the end of this parliament. Work to facilitate this exit is ongoing, and the Asylum Accommodation Taskforce is working across Government to deliver alternative asylum accommodation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether services provided by CWT UK Group Ltd for UK immigration enforcement include (a) deportation or enforced removals, (b) voluntary returns, (c) domestic travel and (d) international travel for individuals in the immigration system.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

CWT provides travel services to Immigration Enforcement via a contract procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, awarded in 2017. This contract covers the payments that have been made to CWT UK Group Ltd for UK Immigration Enforcement services since 1 October 2024, and currently expires on 30th April 2027. This is the sole contract held with CWT by the Home Office for Immigration Enforcement.

Details of the services provided under this contract can be found at the following link Provision of Travel Services for Immigration Purposes. - Contracts Finder, which also contains a redacted copy of the contract which can be downloaded.

CWT provides travel services related to public expense removals, and immigration enforcement activity. This primarily includes international travel for deportation, enforced returns, and voluntary returns. In addition to international travel the contract also provides some limited immigration enforcement related domestic travel, such as internal flights. The CWT contract does not provide domestic travel services for persons within the Asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what services are provided to her Department by CWT UK Group Ltd under arrangements relating to UK immigration enforcement.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

CWT provides travel services to Immigration Enforcement via a contract procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, awarded in 2017. This contract covers the payments that have been made to CWT UK Group Ltd for UK Immigration Enforcement services since 1 October 2024, and currently expires on 30th April 2027. This is the sole contract held with CWT by the Home Office for Immigration Enforcement.

Details of the services provided under this contract can be found at the following link Provision of Travel Services for Immigration Purposes. - Contracts Finder, which also contains a redacted copy of the contract which can be downloaded.

CWT provides travel services related to public expense removals, and immigration enforcement activity. This primarily includes international travel for deportation, enforced returns, and voluntary returns. In addition to international travel the contract also provides some limited immigration enforcement related domestic travel, such as internal flights. The CWT contract does not provide domestic travel services for persons within the Asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out the contractual basis for payments to CWT UK Group Ltd in connection with UK Immigration Enforcement services since 1 October 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

CWT provides travel services to Immigration Enforcement via a contract procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, awarded in 2017. This contract covers the payments that have been made to CWT UK Group Ltd for UK Immigration Enforcement services since 1 October 2024, and currently expires on 30th April 2027. This is the sole contract held with CWT by the Home Office for Immigration Enforcement.

Details of the services provided under this contract can be found at the following link Provision of Travel Services for Immigration Purposes. - Contracts Finder, which also contains a redacted copy of the contract which can be downloaded.

CWT provides travel services related to public expense removals, and immigration enforcement activity. This primarily includes international travel for deportation, enforced returns, and voluntary returns. In addition to international travel the contract also provides some limited immigration enforcement related domestic travel, such as internal flights. The CWT contract does not provide domestic travel services for persons within the Asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the scheduled January meeting of the cross-government working group on how best to reduce barriers to clinical research with Schedule 1 drugs took place, and whether minutes will be available on public record.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

A meeting of the cross-government working group on reducing barriers to research with Schedule 1 drugs took place on 23 January. The working group is comprised of officials from the relevant government departments and regulatory bodies. The group’s role is the formulation of policy. As such its considerations are not agreed government policy and we have no plans to publish them. The Government remains committed to implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on reducing barriers to research with Schedule 1 drugs and we will publish our plans in this area in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the powers available to Staffordshire Police to seize dangerous dogs.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The police have appropriate powers to seize dangerous dogs, including under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the general seizure power in section 19 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The exercise of these powers is an operational decision for the police, who must take account of the circumstances of each case. We keep police powers under regular review to ensure the police have the necessary tools to respond quickly and effectively to tackle crime and protect the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 15 April 2026, to question 125325 on Animal Welfare: Inspections, what is the number of animals used annually by MBR Acres.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted, including breakdowns by species of animals. The statistics report both the total number of procedures conducted and the number of animals used for the first time in a given year. Data is collected and published on an annual basis and is not disaggregated by establishment.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) requires establishments that breed or supply animals for use in scientific procedures to be licensed and regulated, even where no scientific procedures are carried out on site.

MBR Acres Ltd is a breeding facility and does not carry out onsite testing.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled AI Playbook for UK Government, published on 10 February 2025, whether this guidance was used in the context of AI tools for asylum casework.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We follow and abide by Government and Home Office guidance for all AI development, however the development and delivery of the Asylum project pilots predated the AI Playbook.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the (a) total budget and (b) expected completion date of the Orgreave Inquiry.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On 26 March 2026, the Home Secretary announced the terms of reference and start date for the Orgreave Inquiry. The terms of reference include the aim to publish a final report within 24 months of the start date 26^th March 2026. Decisions about the timetable, process and procedures will be made by the Inquiry’s independent Chair, the Right Revd Dr Bishop Pete Wilcox.

Ministers will discuss budgets with the Chair and the timetable for the Inquiry in more detail now that the terms of reference have been published, as this enables more reliable estimates of the Inquiry’s costs to be made.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment has been made of the potential merits of co-locating asylum casework, legal services, healthcare provision and integration support within centralised reception hubs.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Current reforms prioritise restoring order and control to the asylum system, including ending the use of hotels, enhancing fairness, and improving efficiency, rather than moving to a single end-to-end co-located reception hub model.

We are committed to ensuring that asylum reforms are considered carefully so that they support creation of a system which is both fair and sustainable. As with all significant policy changes, the impacts will be subject to assessment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the governance arrangements applying to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, including its funding model.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

We fully recognise the serious and growing threat that freight crime poses to businesses, drivers, and the wider economy.

The Government does not fund NaVCIS. Instead NaVCIS is funded by the industry, including finance and leasing companies, insurers and hauliers.

NaVCIS is a national policing unit that provides dedicated specialist intelligence, and it engages with a range of partners to tackle organised vehicle crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how police forces will be held accountable for improving response times, investigations and conviction rates following the introduction of new measures under the Crime and Policing Bill.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Police forces will be held accountable for improving response times and investigative outcomes through the new Police Performance System, which will provide a single, consistent picture of police performance across all forces, enable earlier identification of problems and provide targeted support to deliver better service for the public.

As set out in the Police Reform White Paper, we have committed to introducing clear national targets on response times. The Police Performance System will enable consistent assessment of contact and response, using nationally comparable data. This will strengthen the scrutiny of underperforming forces, enabling earlier and robust intervention, including performance improvement plans where necessary and statutory intervention powers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, HCWS1373, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of promoting a named community sponsorship scheme to facilitate the closure of asylum hotels.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.

The Home Office assesses that launching new safe and legal routes, including community sponsorship, supports the Government’s overall objectives of reducing dangerous journeys and ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers. The new routes in isolation will not lead to the closure of asylum hotels, however, they form part of the broader package of measures set out in the Restoring Order and Control policy statement to support sustainable exit from hotel accommodation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025 what progress has she made in implementing the Rawle Report recommendations.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is working with the Animals in Science Regulation Unit, funders and wider stakeholders to progress implementation of the Rawle report recommendations. Specifically, the Animals in Science Committee, a ministerial advisory body, has been commissioned for advice on leading practice in delivery of the responsibilities of Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs); addressing a key finding from the Rawle report.

The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure all police forces are operating in compliance with the Statutory Guidance on firearms licensing for Chief Officers of Police.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Firearms licensing is an operational matter for chief officers of police, who are required to have regard to the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing in exercising their licensing responsibilities. The Home Office works closely with the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for firearms licensing to support consistent application of the law and accompanying Statutory Guidance across forces.

In addition, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services are now undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing, providing independent scrutiny and identifying areas for improvement.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with NHS England on the provision of on-site primary healthcare services within asylum reception facilities.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has engaged with NHS England in the development of large sites established in England under the Asylum Accommodation Programme. Further engagement with health partners including the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England will be undertaken to support suitable provision for future sites.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the proportionality of the police using live facial recognition technology to identify suspects for low-level offences.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has not formally assessed the potential impact of police facial recognition cameras on levels of local crime rates or effectiveness against traditional policing methods. However, when the Government introduces legislation on a new framework this will be accompanied by an impact assessment. This will include consideration of operational benefits, costs and wider impacts, alongside legal, ethical and equality considerations.

When using live facial recognition, police forces must comply with existing legal obligations including the requirement that its use is necessary and proportionate to a specific policing objective.

National guidance issued by the College of Policing requires forces to define the purpose of a deployment in advance and ensure watchlists are focused and limited to appropriate categories of people, which may include wanted individuals, suspects, missing or vulnerable people, or those posing risks. Watchlists must be tailored to the policing objective and reviewed before each deployment to ensure the legal tests of necessity and proportionality are met.

Last year, we launched a public consultation on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used by law enforcement, and what safeguards and oversight are needed. This consultation included questions on when the use of such technologies should be considered necessary and proportionate. We are currently considering the responses, which will inform the scope and content of any legal changes brought before Parliament

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of facial recognition technology when compared against traditional policing methods.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has not formally assessed the potential impact of police facial recognition cameras on levels of local crime rates or effectiveness against traditional policing methods. However, when the Government introduces legislation on a new framework this will be accompanied by an impact assessment. This will include consideration of operational benefits, costs and wider impacts, alongside legal, ethical and equality considerations.

When using live facial recognition, police forces must comply with existing legal obligations including the requirement that its use is necessary and proportionate to a specific policing objective.

National guidance issued by the College of Policing requires forces to define the purpose of a deployment in advance and ensure watchlists are focused and limited to appropriate categories of people, which may include wanted individuals, suspects, missing or vulnerable people, or those posing risks. Watchlists must be tailored to the policing objective and reviewed before each deployment to ensure the legal tests of necessity and proportionality are met.

Last year, we launched a public consultation on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used by law enforcement, and what safeguards and oversight are needed. This consultation included questions on when the use of such technologies should be considered necessary and proportionate. We are currently considering the responses, which will inform the scope and content of any legal changes brought before Parliament

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the (a) title and (b) reference number of all (i) contracts, (ii) framework agreements and (iii) call-off arrangement under which payments have been made to CWT UK Group Ltd for UK Immigration Enforcement services since 1 October 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

CWT provides travel services to Immigration Enforcement via a contract procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, awarded in 2017. This contract covers the payments that have been made to CWT UK Group Ltd for UK Immigration Enforcement services since 1 October 2024, and currently expires on 30th April 2027. This is the sole contract held with CWT by the Home Office for Immigration Enforcement.

Details of the services provided under this contract can be found at the following link Provision of Travel Services for Immigration Purposes. - Contracts Finder, which also contains a redacted copy of the contract which can be downloaded.

CWT provides travel services related to public expense removals, and immigration enforcement activity. This primarily includes international travel for deportation, enforced returns, and voluntary returns. In addition to international travel the contract also provides some limited immigration enforcement related domestic travel, such as internal flights. The CWT contract does not provide domestic travel services for persons within the Asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on improving the approval processes around animal research and ensuring animals continue to only be used where there is no available alternative.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has two key strands of work to improve licence approval processes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulatory framework. First, it is working with the Animals in Science Regulation Unit, funders and wider stakeholders to progress implementation of recommendations provided by Dr Frances Rawle relating to approvals processes to ensure that animals continue to only be used where there is no practicable alternative.

Concurrently, the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction is scheduled to provide recommendations to the Home Office to enhance the project licence application form for undertaking research involving animals. This will include advice aimed at strengthening the evaluation of replacement strategies.

The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds an internal estimate of the number of illegal migrant absconders in the UK.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics.

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.

Whilst local management information is held on absconder numbers and updated in line with operational need, this is used only for local management purposes. This data has not been verified or checked for accuracy to a standard that would make it suitable for publication, or to be provided to Members of Parliament.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police facial recognition technology is being used in conjunction with (a) body-worn video and (b) drones.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government supports police innovation, including the responsible use of facial recognition technologies. The Government recognises that facial recognition and similar technologies can support the police to prevent and detect crime and protect the public, when used appropriately and responsibly.

Police forces must comply with the existing legal framework for any use of facial recognition technology. As part of this, any use of facial recognition technology must be necessary and proportionate to a specific policing objective.

The Home Office launched a public consultation which closed on 12 February 2026 on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used by law enforcement, and what safeguards and oversight are needed. This consultation included questions on when the use of such technologies should be considered necessary and proportionate. We are currently considering the responses, which will inform the scope and content of any legal changes brought before Parliament. However, there are currently no plans for the Government to fund body worn video or drone projects in relation to facial recognition technologies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, Published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in implementing the full recommendations of the Rawle Report.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is working with the Animals in Science Regulation Unit, funders and wider stakeholders to progress implementation of the Rawle report recommendations. Specifically, the Animals in Science Committee, a ministerial advisory body, has been commissioned for advice on leading practice in delivery of the responsibilities of Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs); addressing a key finding from the Rawle report.

The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

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Found: wanted to know more about Chevening Scholarships and whether there had been engagement with the Home Office

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Found: The 2016 Justice Select Committee inquiry, the 2021 80 Home Office (2021) Domestic Abuse: Draft Statutory

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Found: stronger national leadership of forensic science with clear ministerial responsibility across the Home Office

Found: describe a complex overwhelming claiming process, combined with a ‘culture of disbelief’ in the Home Office

Found: from the Windrush Compensation Scheme that a lack of trust in the Government, in this case the Home Office

Found: independent Windrush Commissioner, my role is to serve as a trusted voice for those affected by the Home Office

Found: Some of the Clinic's work has been funded by the Home Office, as a result of successful applications

Found: report (para 3.26) refers to the support available from ‘We Are Group’ and, more recently, the Home Office

Found: In placing oversight and decision-making for Windrush compensation within the Home Office, the government

Found: Full Home Office immigration statistics is available here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee

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Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many bids were accepted for the contract to provide up to 10,000 sets of protective body armour for prison officers; and whether any provider of new sets of protective body armour for prison officers has previously provided similar equipment for use by police officers.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a contract to Safariland UK LTD for 6,250 sets of Body Armour for Prison Officers. The Ministry of Justice received two bids from suppliers and accepted one.

This contract was tendered via a Bluelight Commercial Framework. This initial opportunity for this Framework was published by BlueLight Commercial on 8 July 2022 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender] and then awarded on 16 March 2023 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender]. The Ministry of Justice, following Cabinet Office guidelines to utilise frameworks where appropriate, conducted a further competition via this framework and subsequently published the award on 22 January 2026 [Supply of Protective Body Armour - Find a Tender].

The Bluelight Framework at the initial opportunity was available for all the market to bid for, so therefore open. The Ministry of Justice has followed all the guidelines and published notices in accordance with the regulations. The process was effective as Frameworks offer the shortest route to contract award and in line with Cabinet Office policy.

The requirements of the body armour for prison officers are ballistic, knife and spike and the product sourced meets the Home Office Standard [Body armour standard 2017: [CAST Publication number: 012/17 Body armour standard 2017 - GOV.UK]. The Home Office standard is frequently used by other Government agencies, so in that respect the Police will have similar body armour. For example, Safariland UK Ltd has supplied various Police forces and the Ministry of Defence Police with body armour that meets the Home Office Standard.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that the process of procuring up to 10,000 sets of protective body armour for prison officers is (a) open, (b) transparent, and (c) effective.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a contract to Safariland UK LTD for 6,250 sets of Body Armour for Prison Officers. The Ministry of Justice received two bids from suppliers and accepted one.

This contract was tendered via a Bluelight Commercial Framework. This initial opportunity for this Framework was published by BlueLight Commercial on 8 July 2022 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender] and then awarded on 16 March 2023 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender]. The Ministry of Justice, following Cabinet Office guidelines to utilise frameworks where appropriate, conducted a further competition via this framework and subsequently published the award on 22 January 2026 [Supply of Protective Body Armour - Find a Tender].

The Bluelight Framework at the initial opportunity was available for all the market to bid for, so therefore open. The Ministry of Justice has followed all the guidelines and published notices in accordance with the regulations. The process was effective as Frameworks offer the shortest route to contract award and in line with Cabinet Office policy.

The requirements of the body armour for prison officers are ballistic, knife and spike and the product sourced meets the Home Office Standard [Body armour standard 2017: [CAST Publication number: 012/17 Body armour standard 2017 - GOV.UK]. The Home Office standard is frequently used by other Government agencies, so in that respect the Police will have similar body armour. For example, Safariland UK Ltd has supplied various Police forces and the Ministry of Defence Police with body armour that meets the Home Office Standard.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the tender for providing up to 10,000 sets of protective body armour for prison officers was made public, and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a contract to Safariland UK LTD for 6,250 sets of Body Armour for Prison Officers. The Ministry of Justice received two bids from suppliers and accepted one.

This contract was tendered via a Bluelight Commercial Framework. This initial opportunity for this Framework was published by BlueLight Commercial on 8 July 2022 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender] and then awarded on 16 March 2023 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender]. The Ministry of Justice, following Cabinet Office guidelines to utilise frameworks where appropriate, conducted a further competition via this framework and subsequently published the award on 22 January 2026 [Supply of Protective Body Armour - Find a Tender].

The Bluelight Framework at the initial opportunity was available for all the market to bid for, so therefore open. The Ministry of Justice has followed all the guidelines and published notices in accordance with the regulations. The process was effective as Frameworks offer the shortest route to contract award and in line with Cabinet Office policy.

The requirements of the body armour for prison officers are ballistic, knife and spike and the product sourced meets the Home Office Standard [Body armour standard 2017: [CAST Publication number: 012/17 Body armour standard 2017 - GOV.UK]. The Home Office standard is frequently used by other Government agencies, so in that respect the Police will have similar body armour. For example, Safariland UK Ltd has supplied various Police forces and the Ministry of Defence Police with body armour that meets the Home Office Standard.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will hold discussions with the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers on protests outside their members' premises.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra engages regularly with stakeholders across the food and farming sector, including representative bodies, on matters within the Department’s remit.

Issues relating to protests and public order, including protests taking place outside commercial premises, are matters for the police and fall within the responsibility of the Home Office. The policing of protests is an operational matter for local police forces, who are responsible for balancing the right to peaceful protest with the rights and safety of others.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 20 March (HL15283), what plans they have to further develop a legislative framework for the use of facial recognition software by private companies in the light of the increasing use of AI.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has no current plans to introduce a standalone legislative framework governing the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by private companies. However, a recent consultation by the Home Office on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics and facial recognition will consider the relevance of any new developments in that area to wider public and private sector use of FRT. The consultation closed on 12 February, and responses are being analysed.

As noted in our previous correspondence, the use of FRT is already governed by a robust legal framework, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Under this framework, organisations must process data lawfully, fairly and transparently, and ensure its use is necessary and proportionate. Where used for identification, FRT involves biometric data, which is classified as special category personal data and is subject to stricter legal safeguards. Organisations must also carry out data protection impact assessments where use of such technologies is likely to pose high risks to individuals’ rights and freedoms.

The Government recognises that the use of artificial intelligence, including in FRT, continues to evolve. It therefore keeps the existing legislative framework under review, working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the scale of spoofing scams using UK telephone numbers; and whether she plans to strengthen obligations on network operators to prevent fraudulent number allocation and misuse.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The most recent Ofcom research on the scale of spoofing calls reveals that in February 2025, two in five phone users said they received a suspicious call in the last three months. Tackling fraud and pursuing the criminals behind it is a priority for the government. We are working closely with industry and regulators to reduce spoofing and other forms of telecoms-enabled fraud.

In November 2025, the Government published the second Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter, signed by major mobile network operators including BT EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree. Through the Charter, signatories' committed to measures to tackle spoofing, including adopting common standards to reduce fraud and abuse across all network-originated messaging channels.

As the independent regulator, Ofcom also consulted in 2025 on proposals to strengthen rules on overseas calls that falsely present UK numbers, including updates to its Calling Line Identification Guidance. The Government supports this work and continues to engage with Ofcom and industry to protect customers. More recently, on 9 March 2026, the Home Office also published its new Fraud Strategy which sets out how the Government will work with all partners, including law enforcement and industry, to make the UK a much harder place for criminals to operate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of enabling British National (Overseas) visa holders to access apprenticeship programmes in (a) the health and social care sector and (b) other sectors before completing three years’ residence in the UK.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department regularly reviews the apprenticeship funding rules, often in consultation with others, including the Home Office and the Department for Education.

This includes the requirements for ordinary residency. This three-year residency requirement is longstanding within the apprenticeship programme. It applies to both UK and non-UK nationals. It is applied consistently to ensure that the individuals have a connection to the UK and are committed to living in the country before they are eligible for training funded by the taxpayer.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Licensing Reform Programme's call for evidence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on society of rapid alcohol delivery services.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption within licensed venues (on-trade) and outside of licensed venues (off-trade), which is the responsibility of the Home Office.

The Licensing Reform Programme’s call for evidence focused on the operation of the on‑trade, and the National Licensing Policy Framework applies exclusively to premises authorised under the Licensing Act 2003 for the sale and consumption of alcohol on-site, regulated entertainment or late‑night refreshment.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, it is already an offence to sell alcohol to someone who is intoxicated. The Home Office is looking at how current licensing rules apply to home alcohol delivery services and speaking to experts and stakeholders to ensure these are effective.

Although the evidence base is still emerging, the Government is aware there are some concerns that rapid online alcohol delivery may be contributing to increased alcohol harm by significantly expanding availability and ease of access. Faster delivery times can reduce the natural friction that moderates consumption, potentially enabling higher risk and more impulsive drinking, including among vulnerable groups. The Government is committed to ensuring that the licencing regime remains fit for purpose and able to meet emerging challenges.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on applying only validated alternative methods for pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Rabbit pyrogen tests were removed from the British Pharmacopeia in 2025 under this Government, meaning that no rabbit pyrogenicity testing should now be conducted in the UK for any pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing purposes. International (ISO) standards for medical devices may require the use of rabbit pyrogen testing for market authorisation for non-UK markets. Where this is the case Prospective Authorisation would need to be granted by the Home Office, no such tests were carried out in 2025. We are working with the Home Office to ensure that no new licences are approved that include the use of the rabbit pyrogen tests where validated alternatives are available.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on replacing the rabbit pyrogen test.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Rabbit pyrogen tests were removed from the British Pharmacopeia in 2025 under this Government, meaning that no rabbit pyrogenicity testing should now be conducted in the UK for any pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing purposes. International (ISO) standards for medical devices may require the use of rabbit pyrogen testing for market authorisation for non-UK markets. Where this is the case Prospective Authorisation would need to be granted by the Home Office, no such tests were carried out in 2025. We are working with the Home Office to ensure that no new licences are approved that include the use of the rabbit pyrogen tests where validated alternatives are available.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on working with regulatory agencies to accelerate the replacement of the Rabbit Pyrogen Test with the Monocyte Activation Test across UK guidelines.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Rabbit pyrogen tests were removed from the British Pharmacopeia in 2025 under this Government, meaning that no rabbit pyrogenicity testing should now be conducted in the UK for any pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing purposes. International (ISO) standards for medical devices may require the use of rabbit pyrogen testing for market authorisation for non-UK markets. Where this is the case Prospective Authorisation would need to be granted by the Home Office, no such tests were carried out in 2025. We are working with the Home Office to ensure that no new licences are approved that include the use of the rabbit pyrogen tests where validated alternatives are available.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Fraud Strategy 2026 to 2029, published by the Home Office on 9 March 2026, to tackle online scams advertising on social media.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

While the Online Safety Act continues to be implemented, fraud is a ‘priority offence’ under the Act, with platforms already required to mitigate against criminals using their services and to remove scam content where appearing. Ofcom has existing robust powers to act where services do not fulfil regulatory obligations.

In the Summer, Ofcom intends to publish its register of Category 1 and 2A services and consult on additional duties for these platforms to tackle paid-for fraudulent advertising.

The Home Office’s Fraud Strategy was published on 9 March and so Government has not yet conducted a review of its impact.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Merron on 24 November 2025 (HL Deb col 1107), when they intend to launch the consultation on emergency police powers of detention.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

On 24 November, the Department announced its commitment to consult on the powers available to different professionals in different situations and settings, in particular, but not limited to, the operation of the emergency powers in sections 135 and 136. The consultation will seek views on powers and joint working approaches to ensure that health and social care professionals and police have the appropriate powers to act in order to prevent people harming themselves and others when in a mental health crisis.

The Department also set out plans to work closely with a range of stakeholders to shape the scope of that consultation. Officials at the Department of Health and Social Care have started engagement with Home Office officials and stakeholders from the police, health, and social care to consider the options to consult on that support better outcomes for patients and services, and we will set out further detail on the timing of the consultation in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many individuals were assessed or monitored by the Joint Extremism Unit in each calendar year from 2017 to 2025 inclusive, broken down by the extremism or risk classification category used internally by the Unit.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Data on the number of people serving custodial sentences for terrorist offences are published by the Home Office as part of its quarterly statistical bulletin Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes, and stop and search, Great Britain, which is available at: Operation of police powers under TACT 2000, to December 2025 - GOV.UK

Details of the risk classification are withheld on the grounds of national security.

The Joint Extremism Unit also monitors and assesses individuals who have not been convicted of terrorism or terrorism-connected offences, but nevertheless represent terrorist risk. Data regarding these individuals are also withheld on national security grounds.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the proportion of companies paying ransoms to hackers following cyber-attacks; and what steps her Department is taking to improve cybersecurity across industry sectors.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The government considers ransomware a serious threat to the UK’s national security and economic prosperity. The Home Office recently consulted on a package of proposals to reduce the threat ransomware poses to the UK economy and will continue to develop these measures in collaboration with industry. Due to under-reporting there is no single authoritative estimate of ransomware payment rates. Recent industry reports suggest that payment rates are declining. The government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey finds around half of businesses (52%) have a rule or policy to not pay ransomware demands.

Improving cyber security across industry sectors is critical to national security and the resilience of our wider economy. The government has developed a wide range of free tools, guidance, training and standards to help organisations of all sizes implement cyber security measures. The government's highly effective Cyber Essentials scheme helps organisations implement critical cyber security controls and protect against the most common cyber attacks. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will boost UK cyber defences and protect our essential and digital services. In October government ministers and senior security officials wrote an open letter to the UK’s leading companies urging them to take three specific actions to improve their cyber resilience: use the government’s Cyber Governance Code of Practice, register for the National Cyber Security Centre’s Early Warning System, and adopt Cyber Essentials in their supply chains. In 2026 the Government will publish a new National Cyber Action Plan that will set out how we will respond to the growing cyber threat and work with industry to raise cyber resilience levels across the economy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on commissioning the Animals in Science Committee to recommend corporate responsibility reporting expectations by establishments using animals on their use of alternatives.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We are engaging with the Home Office to agree the most effective way to work with the ASC to deliver this commitment, aligned with existing ASC programmes of work. The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 15 April 2026 to question 125651 on Animal Experiments, which Ministers sit on the Ministerial Board overseeing delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Ministerial Board overseeing delivery of the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy is chaired by Lord Vallance. Its membership includes Baroness Hayman, Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Lord Hanson, Minister of State at the Home Office.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his department has made in implementing the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommendation to reduce barriers to research into promising treatments for cluster headaches.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care is working with officials in the Home Office to support the changes agreed to in the letter from the Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health from July 2025. The group has met with stakeholders from the clinical trials community who gave advice and assurance on the proposed changes to the legislation.

The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and delivering better patient care, to make the United Kingdom a world-leading destination for clinical research. We are working to fast-track clinical trials, reducing barriers and unnecessary bureaucracy to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of the medicines and therapies of the future, including treatments for cluster headaches. We expect these efforts to attract more commercial investment in clinical research and to yield a broad and diverse portfolio of clinical trials in the UK.

The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with cluster headaches, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many reported cases of fraudulent visa sponsorship offers linked to the Homes for Ukraine scheme have been recorded since its launch.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Ukrainian guests arriving under the Homes for Ukraine scheme are supported by a robust programme of safeguards. All sponsors and adults living in a sponsors’ household are subject to stringent security checks before an applicant is allowed to travel to the UK. Local authorities conduct further checks as a second layer of safeguarding.

Local authorities are responsible for the detection and prevention of sponsor payment related fraud on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The Home Office does not hold data on refusal reasons and, as such, numbers of applications that were refused on the basis of being fraudulent cannot be provided.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will set out what support is available to small businesses to strengthen cybersecurity to prevent economic disruption.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Improving the cyber security of our nation's small businesses is critical to the resilience of our wider economy. We recognise many small businesses lack the resources to invest in their cyber security. As such, the government has developed a wide range of free tools, guidance and training to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implement cyber security measures, including the Cyber Action Toolkit which provides SMEs with tailored advice on protecting their business.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)-certified Cyber Advisors are available to provide advice and guidance on commercial terms and SMEs are eligible for a free 30- minute consultation. Additionally, the government's Cyber Essentials scheme helps all organisations, including SMEs, implement critical cyber security controls, protecting them from most common cyber attacks and provides them with free insurance. All of this information is available on the NCSC website.

More broadly across government, the Home Office funds a network of Cyber Resilience Centres which provide free resources, guidance and training to SMEs to strengthen their cyber security.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reoffending rate is for foreign national offenders convicted of sexual or violent offences against women in Great Yarmouth, compared with UK nationals convicted of comparable offences.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data which would enable us to identify sexual or violent offences committed against women in Great Yarmouth.

Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. We refer all foreign national offenders (FNOs) in receipt of custodial sentences to the Home Office where they are considered for removal under the Early Removal Scheme (ERS). The ERS enables the removal of FNOs at an earlier point in their sentence than would otherwise be possible. It is the most effective mechanism for removing eligible FNOs as quickly as possible, freeing up prison spaces and saving taxpayer money.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the Earned Settlement proposals on recruitment and retention rates in the NHS.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on a range of subjects including immigration policy.

The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This analysis will inform the development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following analysis of the consultation responses, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to the National Health Service, will be undertaken. Once the final model has been agreed, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has the Department made of the potential impact of the Earned Settlement proposals on NHS waiting lists.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on a range of subjects including immigration policy.

The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This analysis will inform the development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following analysis of the consultation responses, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to the National Health Service, will be undertaken. Once the final model has been agreed, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2026, to Question HL14714, on MHCLG: Public Consultation, what the policy approach of his Department is on this matter.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As the Department with responsibility for Counter Extremism policy since 2024, Home Office oversees the engagement principles for government and will advise and share information to help inform the decisions of other departments, including MHCLG. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with respective departments and the appropriate policy areas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on public service exemptions for Earned Settlement proposals.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on a range of subjects, including immigration policy.

The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This analysis will inform the development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following analysis of the consultation responses, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to the National Health Service, will be undertaken. Once the final model has been agreed, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to the NHS from Earned Settlement proposals.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on a range of subjects, including immigration policy.

The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This analysis will inform the development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following analysis of the consultation responses, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to the National Health Service, will be undertaken. Once the final model has been agreed, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of the Earned Settlement proposals on NHS patient care.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on a range of subjects including immigration policy.

The Home Office consultation on Earned Settlement closed in February 2026 and responses are currently being analysed. This analysis will inform the development of the final Earned Settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Following analysis of the consultation responses, the necessary impact assessments, including those relating to the National Health Service, will be undertaken. Once the final model has been agreed, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Home Office about reciprocal VISA rights with Thailand.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

None.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the expected increase in public funds claimed by migrant workers.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Ministers and officials at DWP and the Home Office regularly discuss a range of matters.

Most migrants with temporary visas cannot access the benefit system. Access to public funds and benefits is usually at the point of settlement, which for most people will be after they have lived in the UK legally for five years, and the Home Office Earned Settlement policy consultation is looking at increasing this to ten years.

The Home Office are also consulting on changing the default position to maintain No Recourse to Public Funds at settlement and lifting this only at the point of British citizenship.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what was the average number of days in advance that victims were informed of a Foreign National Offender's deportation in 2025.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The HMPPS Victim Contact Scheme provides a service to victims of offenders convicted of specified violent, sexual, or terrorism offences who receive a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. The Victim Contact Scheme enables eligible victims to make representations regarding licence conditions and supervision requirements, and to receive relevant information as appropriate to the circumstances of the case, such as details about the offender’s sentence.

In accordance with policy, victims must be informed about the offender’s immigration status and their eligibility for schemes including the Early Removal Scheme Tariff Expired Removal Scheme, Prisoner Transfer Agreements, or extradition. Eligible victims who have opted into the Victim Contact Scheme are informed by their Victim Liaison Officer if an offender is being considered for deportation or removal, and when deportation or removal has taken place. The Home Office are responsible for the arrangements for deportation of the offender and as a result, victims are not informed of the date in advance and, therefore, the data requested cannot be provided. In addition, information relating to victim contact is not routinely collected or published.

For victims not eligible or engaged with the Victim Contact Scheme, the Victims’ Code sets out that you have the Right to ask for updates regarding the immigration case of the Foreign National Offender directly from the Home Office’s Victim Support Team.

Through the Victim and Courts Bill, we will be updating the legislative framework that establishes the Victim Contact Scheme to bring victims currently served by different post-conviction communication schemes into the Victim Contact Scheme and provide a new route for other victims to request information via a dedicated helpline.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the unlawful (a) sale and (b) supply of nitrous oxide.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force on 8 November 2023, classifying nitrous oxide as a Class C drug. It is illegal to produce, supply, import or export nitrous oxide where a person knows, or is reckless as to whether, it will be consumed for its psychoactive effects. The Home Office is responsible for drug policy and legislation.

Schedule 20 to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 includes a provision prohibiting advertisements directly encouraging children to buy, or persuade their parents or other adults to buy, products for them. This prohibits retailers from advertising nitrous oxide to those under the age of 18 across any medium, including online.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2026, to Question 117891, on Electoral Register: EU Nationals, whether automatic registration systems will have access to Home Office immigration data.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are working with departments across Whitehall to explore the range of data-enabled opportunities available to supporting the overall objective of improving registration. This includes working with the Home Office to explore whether its data could help to identify individuals who are eligible to register.

We will work closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure that any use of data is supported by appropriate safeguards.

Any permanent changes to the registration process will be informed by robust evidence, user research and careful testing before being implemented.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of enforcement powers available to Trading Standards authorities at county level to take action against premises engaged in persistent breaches of consumer protection and trading laws; whether he has considered devolving powers to county-level Trading Standards authorities to enable them to apply for the closure of premises in cases of serious or repeat offending; and what discussions he has had with the (a) Home Office and (b) Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on aligning enforcement powers between licensing authorities, the police, and county-level enforcement bodies.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales are responsible for delivering trading standards services, aiming to ensure fair trading and safeguard both consumers and reputable businesses. Trading standards services operate independently from central government and enforce a wide range of laws, tailored to local needs.

Where issues impact on a wider group of consumers or businesses, or the detriment is particularly high, other regulators have power to take action. For instance, National Trading Standards plays a role in delivery of broader national and regional enforcement issues, supported by local trading standards services.

We keep this system under review, and the Department for Business and Trade is reviewing the current duties of Trading Standards to ensure that consumers remain protected from harm. My department is working with the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and other Whitehall Departments in this work.

The Business Secretary and the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister recently wrote jointly to Cabinet colleagues to ask them to set out what further action they plan to take in this Parliament to address consumer harms in their areas, including on toughening enforcement actions against conduct and businesses that do the most harm to the community.

We will report back on this work in due course.

Found: Home Office guidance also sets out when embryonic, foetal and larval forms of animals become protected

Found: into Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics Key considerations 8 Home Office

Found: Electronic Monitoring Contract Management, Electronic Monitoring policy (x2), Press Officers (x3) Home Office

Found: For further information on what constitutes public funds, please see Home Office guidance : https://www.gov.uk

Found: Independent Commission for Aid Impact HM Treasury Chair, Crown Estate Commissioners Home Office

Found: Home Office fees); and • bank transaction fees, but excluding Counsel’s fees.

Found: Home Office fees); and • bank transaction fees, but excluding Counsel’s fees.

Found: Additional guidance with regard to fire-resisting doors is expected to be published soon by the Home Office

Found: For further information on immigration sanctions contact the Home Office.

Found: The application service transferred to MOJ from the Home Office in 2007 and this is a statutory function

Found: Legal Department 2025-07-22 00:00:00 Ext Serv:Security Clearances Chief Operating Officer Group Home Office

Found: Mr Al-Roumi was exhumed on 9 February 2004 and a post -mortem examination was conducted by a Home Office

Found: data-sharing agreement for sharing safeguarding data: NHS England and DHSC are working with DfE and the Home Office

Found: or been issued with a Risk of Sexual Harm Order and the details have been provided to DBS by the Home Office

Found: Autobar (with & without representations)Cases Referrals received (pre-filter) are from the Home Office

Found: Received Pre-filter figures = those received from Home Office PNC for Autobar, those received via Disclosure

Found: or been issued with a Risk of Sexual Harm Order and the details have been provided to DBS by the Home Office

Found: payroll and non-payroll) costs Comments 2026 March National Crime Agency Non-Ministerial Department Home Office

Found: Legal Department 2025-07-22 00:00:00 Ext Serv:Security Clearances Chief Operating Officer Group Home Office

Found: to pass a competence assessment, but they must have attended the EUSS training provided by the Home Office

Found: For further information on immigration sanctions contact the Home Office.

Found: Deception You must tell us if you have practised deception in your dealings with the Home Office or

Found: Returns, Enforcement and Detention General instructions Page 1 of 44 Published for Home Office

Found: Page 1 of 94 Published for Home Office staff on 28 January 2026

Found: Page 1 of 65 Published for Home Office staff on 21 April 2026

Found: other referee • your solicitor or agent representing you with this application • employed by the Home Office

Found: This guidance will inform you about how the Home Office deals with ex-gratia payments.

Found: These payments are made at the discretion of the Home Office and depend on the individual circumstances

Found: holding a PCV driver licence Call to a hearingSuspensionCivil Penalty imposed for breaching the Home Office

Found: hearingAsk for an explanation and letter from Commanding OfficerCivil Penalty imposed for breaching the Home Office

Found: Page 1 of 24 Published for Home Office staff on 13 April 2026

Found: A movement order is produced by the Home Office and this notified the prison of Mr Kebatu’s movement

Found: Home Office guidance in relation to this scheme is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine