Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the impact of social media algorithms on levels of extremism in the UK.

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

The Home Office invests resources in understanding extremism and radicalisation, including work with international partners and external academics. Through this we look closely at the impact of social media algorithms on levels of extremism in the UK, but it is difficult to prove empirically or universally. The Online Safety Act requires online platforms to consider, as part of their illegal content and child safety risk assessments, how their algorithms impact exposure to illegal content and content harmful to children.

The Government is closely monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the OSA and remains committed to strengthening our laws if it does not deliver the necessary protections to ensure a safer online environment.

The Home Office is committed to countering extremism in all its forms where it divides communities and inflames tensions. Regardless of the worldview it draws from, if an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism we will take action to prevent this and to safeguard susceptible individuals.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the current estimated waiting time is for an application for security under the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme; and what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting time.

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

This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to making our streets and communities safer.

Global and domestic events have heightened security concerns within Muslim communities, which has led to a significant increase in demand for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme since its launch.

Additionally, following the violent disorder last year, we set up rapid security services to safeguard mosques and other places of worship. Delivering this support to a large number of mosques has unfortunately contributed to delays in processing applications for longer-term security measures.

I can assure you the Home Office is working as quickly as it can to process applications to the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what legal power the Government seized the property belonging to Rifaat al-Assad in Mayfair, London following his conviction for money laundering and embezzling public funds in France in 2020.

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

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) provides law enforcement agencies with a wide range of powers to freeze, seize and recover criminal assets, such as property.

These include restraint orders, property freezing orders, recovery and confiscation orders. Over 250 agencies have had POCA powers extended to them, including the National Crime Agency, police forces, HMRC and the Serious Fraud Office.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, following the seizure of the property belonging to Rifaat al-Assad in Mayfair, London, in 2020 by UK authorities, who is currently the legal owner of that property and who is responsible for managing it.

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

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) provides law enforcement agencies with a wide range of powers to restrain and recover criminal assets, such as property.

Restraint orders ensure that suspected criminal property cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of whilst investigations and other proceedings are ongoing. In some circumstances the Court can appoint a receiver to manage the property during proceedings, including potential sale if a confiscation order is subsequently made, the defendant may also need to sell property without the involvement of a receiver as a result of a confiscation order.

The Home Office cannot comment on individual cases and questions relating to them should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency or prosecutorial body.

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 minimum salary floor as part of the Health and Care visa salary requirements on staff retention in the North West.

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

Higher pay encourages staff retention. Since the introduction of the Skilled Worker route, the salary requirements dictate that a migrant must be paid whatever is higher out of the general threshold for the route or the ‘going rate’ for that occupation, with an absolute minimum salary requirement an overseas worker has to be paid. This is designed to place a ‘premium’ on recruiting overseas, maintaining access to international talent for firms, but also ensuring this is never a cheaper alternative to fair pay and that UK resident workers undertaking skilled work are not undercut. It also helps ensure overseas workers can support themselves and any dependants without access to public funds.

We have commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to review the salary requirements for Skilled Workers, including Health and Care Workers, and we expect their recommendations to be published shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of her Department’s proposed refugee and asylum policies on community cohesion.

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

The principle that people genuinely fleeing danger and persecution should be welcomed, is one this government will always defend. The Asylum Policy Statement sets out a fair and firm approach to restoring order to the system, which is essential for building community cohesion. By increasing public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system, the reforms will help build trust and reduce tensions within communities. At the same time, they support successful integration for those granted protection, enabling them to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities. These measures will encourage and enable people granted protection to become self-sufficient, law-abiding members of UK society.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the document entitled Windrush Lessons Learned Review by Wendy Williams, published in March 2020, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of that review on her Department’s refugee and asylum policies.

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

We are grateful for the recommendations and insights provided in the Windrush Lessons Learned Review by Wendy Williams.

The UK has a long-standing commitment to protecting those in need, in line with our international obligations. We will never remove anyone to a country where they would face persecution or serious harm, and we remain firmly committed to this principle.

The reforms set out in the Asylum Policy Statement (Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy - GOV.UK) introduce a comprehensive package of measures designed to restore order, control, fairness, and public confidence in the system. These reforms are fully compliant with our international obligations.

Further policy development is needed on the details of these reforms. We will consult meaningfully with affected stakeholders and carefully assess equalities impacts.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what payments to asylum seekers are delivered via the Asylum Support Payments contract.

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

The Home Office has a legal obligation to meet the essential living needs of destitute asylum seekers. Support is usually provided in the form of accommodation and a weekly allowance, which is reviewed each year to ensure it covers essential living needs.

The standard weekly level of allowance for individuals in self-catered accommodation will remain at £49.18. For individuals in catered accommodation, the standard weekly allowance is £9.95.

Additional support is also available to pregnant women, young children, and individuals who can show they have exceptional needs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the (a) B2 language and (b) income requirement for BN(O) visa holders will apply to their settlement process.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Border Forces provides guidance on (a) working rights and (b) avoiding exploitation to people arriving on work visas at UK ports.

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

Border Force officers receive specialised training to identify signs of potential exploitation at the border. While it is not standard practice for Border Force to routinely provide arriving work visa holders with guidance on worker rights or advice on avoiding exploitation, officers are prepared to intervene when individuals are identified as being at risk. This includes taking action to support those who may be vulnerable to labour exploitation

In addition, Border Force have worked with Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) (Our Aims and Objectives - GLAA). As part of this cooperation, skilled worker applicants receive a leaflet when they visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide their biometrics. The leaflet outlines workers’ rights and steps they can take to identify the signifiers of, avoid, and report exploitation. The complete range of GLAA resources is available at Resources - GLAA and available to all.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of sponsors of social care visas whose activities have been flagged by (a) local authorities and (b) other bodies as (i) potentially and (ii) actually exploitative by region.

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

UKVI respond to referrals from a variety of agencies and individuals. The most recent published data (mid-2025) states that over 550 non-compliant care providers from across the UK have had their sponsor licences revoked. As live investigations are ongoing, this number is likely to increase further.

Investigations relating to the exploitation and the quality of patient care are regulated by the appropriate body, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safeguards her department are considering against instances where AI systems used to determine age produce incorrect results.

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

This government has commissioned work to further test and trial Facial Age Estimation technology with a view to integrating it into the age assessment system subject to the results of this testing and assurance.

Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. The need to protect against incorrect results will form a key part of our testing and assurance, and subsequent policy development.

The technology will not be used in isolation but is intended to provide additional information to the decision maker.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral statement of 20 November 2025 on Migration: Settlement Pathway, what criteria she is considering to define high earners and entrepreneurs.

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

We are currently holding a public consultation on the new earned settlement model. This is due to conclude on 12^th February 2026. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, how her Department will assess the tolerance levels of the Artificial Intelligence determining the ages of asylum seekers.

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

Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and trial this technology to understand its capabilities. The testing and assurance will be key in informing policy development and to ensure its use is proportionate.

The technology will not be used in isolation but is intended to provide additional information to the decision maker.

The Government will issue further information regarding testing and assurance in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what steps her Department will take to build the necessary capacity for ensuring that early legal advice is available.

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

Reforms to the appeals system, including the development of a new independent appeals body will help asylum seekers have access to justice, overcome delays and restore public confidence. Early legal advice will be embedded as a core part of these reforms.

We will work closely with the Ministry of Justice to understand and manage the justice impacts of all proposals, including ensuring there is sufficient capacity to deliver early legal advice.

Further details on these reforms will be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, whether artificial intelligence will ever be used as the sole evidence source for age assessment for migrants.

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

Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and trial this technology to understand its capabilities. The testing and assurance will be key in informing policy development and to ensure its use is proportionate.

The technology will not be used in isolation but is intended to provide additional information to the decision maker.

The Government will issue further information regarding testing and assurance in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, how her Department will evaluate Artificial Intelligence to determine the age of migrants prior to use.

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

Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and trial this technology to understand its capabilities. The testing and assurance will be key in informing policy development and to ensure its use is proportionate.

The technology will not be used in isolation but is intended to provide additional information to the decision maker.

The Government will issue further information regarding testing and assurance in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to use Artificial Intelligence to (a) determine and (b) confirm the age of groups other than asylum seekers.

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

Assessing age is a complex task and no method or combination of methods can definitively determine age. In order to strengthen the age assessment system, the Home Office is exploring facial age estimation technology. Work has been commissioned to test and trial this technology to understand its capabilities. The testing and assurance will be key in informing policy development and to ensure its use is proportionate.

The technology will not be used in isolation but is intended to provide additional information to the decision maker.

The Government will issue further information regarding testing and assurance in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which elements of the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme are a) sustainable and b) scalable.

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

One of the primary drivers behind the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme is to ensure a new model is both sustainable and scalable, with the flexibility required to respond to changes in demand. The work centred around Future Asylum Contract Transformation (FACT), and the replacement of the current Asylum Accommodation Support Contracts (AASC), will ensure that new arrangements meet the requirements for sustainability and scalability.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what process her Department will use to designate whether a country is a safe home country.

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

The asylum and returns policy statement sets out the intention to deal swiftly with protection claims that are made by nationals of manifestly safe countries in an attempt to frustrate their removal. This policy does not relate to any designation of a specific country as manifestly safe, but rather a holistic assessment of whether there is a basis on which a prolonged assessment of a claim is required, for example through an additional interview. This is distinct from existing legislative provisions (under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002) which allow all or part of a country to be designated as safe, for the purposes of assessing whether a claim should be certified as clearly unfounded.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what support will be provided to UK-based family members when making an asylum application for a non-UK based relative under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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

There is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

The refugee family reunion route has been temporarily suspended while the Government undertakes a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what support will be provided to a UK-based unaccompanied child making an asylum for a non UK-based family member under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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

There is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

The refugee family reunion route has been temporarily suspended while the Government undertakes a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November to Question 92336, on Asylum: Republic of Ireland, if she provide the exact date when her Department first briefed the Irish Government on her proposed changes on asylum.

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

The UK and Ireland share a unique relationship and a joint commitment to safeguarding the integrity and security of the Common Travel Area (CTA). This partnership includes close cooperation and the exchange of information on policies relevant to maintaining the CTA’s security and preventing abuse. Prior to the publication of the asylum and returns policy statement, Home Office officials engaged with their counterparts in Ireland on Friday 14th November 2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to support the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Services to help improve police data and to strengthen driver confidence in reporting crimes.

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

This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime. We are working with the automotive industry and police, to ensure the strongest response possible. NaVCIS is a national policing unit funded by industry, including finance and leasing companies, insurers and hauliers, to provide dedicated specialist intelligence. We have regular discussions with key partners, including Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, and NaVCIS about tackling organised vehicle crime. Whilst the Government does not fund NaVCIS, we provided £275,000 this year to law enforcement partners to help support enforcement at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including additional staff and specialist equipment. It is important that drivers report incidents to the police. We expect that all reported crimes should be taken seriously, and where appropriate, investigated by the police and taken through the courts.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, when she plans to announce further details on the Protection Work and Study route for refugees.

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

The full details of the Protection Work and Study route, remain subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what processes will be put in place to verify the legitimacy of (a) organisations and (b) communities wishing to act as sponsors for refugees.

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

The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is underway at pace to operationalise these new routes, and further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025. what support her Department is planning to give to communities to increase their (a) capacity and (b) ability to welcome refugees.

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

The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is underway at pace to operationalise these new routes, and further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what criteria her Department will use to define communities when considering community sponsorship for refugees.

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

The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is underway at pace to operationalise these new routes, and further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what criteria her Department will use to assess the capacity and ability of communities to welcome refugees.

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

The Government’s Asylum and Returns Policy Statement published on 17 November 2025 announced transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and receiving communities. Work is underway at pace to operationalise these new routes, and further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of replacing the Asylum Support Payments contract as part of the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme.

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

The Asylum Support Payment (ASP) contract was originally included in the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme (ASAP). However, the ASP contract did not terminate at the same time as ASAP, so a decision was taken to descope it. This does not mean this will not be considered in the future.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, what criteria her Department will use to determine whether an application's healthcare needs, including mental healthcare, cannot be fully met in their country of origin.

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

A claimant may claim that requiring them to leave the UK would breach their human rights due to a serious medical condition, which could be a physical illness or mental health issue. Such cases must be considered in accordance with our obligations under Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The threshold in Article 3 medical cases is very high, as set out in the UK Supreme Court case of AM (Zimbabwe) [2020] UKSC 17, which affirmed the Article 3 medical threshold as set out in the European Court of Human Rights case of Paposhvili v Belgium [2017] Imm AR 867.

We are committed to the ECHR and we believe that people should never be subject to torture. However, the interpretation of “inhuman or degrading treatment” has been expanded over time. As a consequence, we see examples of foreign national offenders who are being allowed to stay in the UK on the basis of an Article 3 protection claim, despite committing serious criminal offences in the UK. Others have blocked a deportation because their healthcare needs, including mental healthcare, cannot be fully met in their country of origin.

To retain public confidence, the ECHR and other instruments must evolve to face modern challenges. We are working with key partner countries over concerns that the interpretation of “inhuman or degrading treatment” has extended in scope, limiting their ability to make sovereign decisions on migration in their own democracies. The criteria, for considering healthcare needs, including mental healthcare, 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 implications for her policies of the number and proportion of Bangladeshi asylum seekers who arrived in the UK on a) visas or b) other leave in the year to June 2025.

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

This government has already taken action to stem the surge in asylum claims from visa holders, including record numbers of credibility interviews and mandating a genuine study requirement for short term student routes. The number of student visa holders claiming asylum has reduced every quarter since this government took office.

By changing our protection offer, we are making it fairer for those who comply with the Rules. A person who enters the UK on a visa and continues to qualify will be on a faster route to settlement if they remain on that route, rather than claiming asylum. Claiming asylum will no longer provide the advantages that it does under the current system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the number and proportion of people claiming asylum who entered the UK on a work visa.

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

This government has already taken action to stem the surge in asylum claims from visa holders, including record numbers of credibility interviews and mandating a genuine study requirement for short term student routes. The number of student visa holders claiming asylum has reduced every quarter since this government took office.

By changing our protection offer, we are making it fairer for those who comply with the Rules. A person who enters the UK on a visa and continues to qualify will be on a faster route to settlement if they remain on that route, rather than claiming asylum. Claiming asylum will no longer provide the advantages that it does under the current system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's publication entitled How many people claim asylum in the UK?, published on 21 August 2025, what assessment has she made of the potential implications for her policies of the number of asylum applications received from people with a study visa.

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

This government has already taken action to stem the surge in asylum claims from visa holders, including record numbers of credibility interviews and mandating a genuine study requirement for short term student routes. The number of student visa holders claiming asylum has reduced every quarter since this government took office.

By changing our protection offer, we are making it fairer for those who comply with the Rules. A person who enters the UK on a visa and continues to qualify will be on a faster route to settlement if they remain on that route, rather than claiming asylum. Claiming asylum will no longer provide the advantages that it does under the current system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under the Immigration Platform Technologies programme, what are the three integrated modern technology services that have been delivered.

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

The three integrated modern technology services that were delivered by IPT are:

• Access UK – Accessed via GOV.UK, this single online application service for all visa and immigration services allows our customers to complete their application, book an appointment, and pay for their service. It has taken large volumes of paper out of the system and integrates with Atlas, the caseworking system, preventing errors being made in the completion of applications. The Department uses Access to provide application services to all our core immigration routes including building emergency routes for crisis events such as Ukraine or Afghanistan.
• Atlas – This modern, resilient system is now the core immigration caseworking tool for HO. Atlas supports electronic documents, thereby taking significant amounts of paper out of the system. Because of increased automation, there are reduced handling costs, improved speed of processing and increased reliability of service.
• Person Identity Product – The Person Identity Product (PIP) is now the unified provider of all person related data services for Immigration Technology, showing the historic case information, co-ordinating the recording of Person & Identity related data, searching for an individual’s details, matching associated data and presenting data back to the end user.

Please see 6 September 2022: Immigration Platform Technologies (IPT) Programme Accounting Officer Assessment - GOV.UK for further details.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department took following the approval of the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme Delivery Model Assessment final report by the programme board on 30 June 2025.

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

Following the Delivery Model Assessment (DMA), the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme has been focussed on the high-level design of an operating model that uses recommendations from the DMA, alongside more recent market engagement. This process has now moved into a detailed design phase, to develop an operating model that is ready for implementation, whilst continuously validating the approach.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support do the police provide to judges if they experience (a) intimidation and (b) harassment (i) online and (I) in person.

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

The Secretary of State regards judicial office holders’ safety with great importance. There are a range of judicial security policies and procedures in place to protect judicial office holders in court, outside of court and online.

The Police work jointly with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Judicial Office to deliver appropriate safeguarding arrangements for judicial office holders who are the victim of a crime and/or subject to harassment, intimidation or threat as a result of their judicial role. The agreement between the three agencies which forms the framework for delivery of these safeguarding measures is known as the Judicial Harassment Protocol.

The Protocol enables appropriate and proportionate safeguarding measures to be applied where such as:

• Oversight by an appropriately senior police officer
• Bespoke threat assessments
• Home security assessments
• Provision of personal and online safety advice and support
• Provision, where appropriate, of personal safety device

The police are working alongside the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS as key members of the Security Taskforce, commissioned by the Lady Chief Justice and chaired by Deputy Senior Presiding Judge Mrs Justice Yip, to consider opportunities for further improvement in this crucial area.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how judges are protected if they experience (a) intimidation and (b) harassment.

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

The Secretary of State regards judicial office holders’ safety with great importance. There are a range of judicial security policies and procedures in place to protect judicial office holders in court, outside of court and online.

The Police work jointly with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Judicial Office to deliver appropriate safeguarding arrangements for judicial office holders who are the victim of a crime and/or subject to harassment, intimidation or threat as a result of their judicial role. The agreement between the three agencies which forms the framework for delivery of these safeguarding measures is known as the Judicial Harassment Protocol.

The Protocol enables appropriate and proportionate safeguarding measures to be applied where such as:

• Oversight by an appropriately senior police officer
• Bespoke threat assessments
• Home security assessments
• Provision of personal and online safety advice and support
• Provision, where appropriate, of personal safety device

The police are working alongside the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS as key members of the Security Taskforce, commissioned by the Lady Chief Justice and chaired by Deputy Senior Presiding Judge Mrs Justice Yip, to consider opportunities for further improvement in this crucial area.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of experiments using animals that were carried out in Wales in 2024; and whether she will be taking steps to reduce these numbers.

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

In 2024, 25,718 regulated scientific procedures involving living animals were carried out in Wales, a decrease from 31,940 in 2023.

The Home Office regulates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with the robust protections afforded to animals used in science and to administrate the licensing framework. Licences to test on animals are only granted where applicants comply with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement. Animals can only be used where there is no non-animal alternative, numbers are minimised, and where the most refined methods of testing are used to minimise harms.

The Government has published the strategy, "Replacing animals in science, A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods" which will accelerate the roll out of safe and effective alternatives to phase out animal testing in all but exceptional circumstances. Available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/replacing-animals-in-science-strategy/replacing-animals-in-science-a-strategy-to-support-the-development-validation-and-uptake-of-alternative-methods

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 number and proportion of asylum seekers who previously entered the UK on a) a visa or b) other leave with relevant documentation, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK since 2024.

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

This government has already taken action to stem the surge in asylum claims from visa holders, including record numbers of credibility interviews and mandating a genuine study requirement for short term student routes. The number of student visa holders claiming asylum has reduced every quarter since this government took office.

By changing our protection offer, we are making it fairer for those who comply with the Rules. A person who enters the UK on a visa and continues to qualify will be on a faster route to settlement if they remain on that route, rather than claiming asylum. Claiming asylum will no longer provide the advantages that it does under the current system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 78673 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, if he will publish his Department's engagements with the National Police Chief’s Council including (a) notes of meetings and (b) exchanges of correspondence.

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

The Home Office regularly engages with the National Police Chiefs’ on policy issues relating to operational policing.

The Government is working on a response to the Court’s judgment. In the Crime and Policing Bill Committee stage debate on 17 November, Home Office Minister Lord Hanson committed to set out the Government’s response to the judgment ahead of the Report stage of the Bill.

In considering the Court’s judgment, the Government will carefully balance the rights of individuals to live a private life without discrimination, while recognising the importance of protecting public spaces and communities affected by unauthorised encampments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story entitled Honour-based abuse crackdown in raft of new measures, published on the 26 August 2025, how many of the 2,755 honour-based abuse related offences recorded by police in England and Wales related to cases in which (a) men and (b) boys were victims.

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

'Honour’-based abuse is a serious form of abuse that nobody should have to experience. This is why we are tackling it through our mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.

To prevent and respond effectively to forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) it is essential that we understand the prevalence of these crimes.

Building on the feasibility study conducted by the University of Birmingham in 2023/24, the Home Office has commissioned a pilot research project to support the development of a national prevalence estimate for forced marriage and female genital mutilation. This work is already underway.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the proportionality of arrests under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018, particularly in cases involving low-level contact or where mental health or neurodivergence may be a factor.

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

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any unaccompanied migrant children are housed in hotels.

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

The Home Office closed the last of the Home Office-run unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children hotels on 31 January 2024 and since then arriving unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children have been accommodated by local authorities in line with their statutory duties.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in (1) England and Wales, (2) Scotland and (3) Northern Ireland.

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

There have been 52 prosecutions for offences under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in England and Wales since 2011, when data first became available. These statistics are routinely published by the Home Office as part of its quarterly reporting on the ‘Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act2000 and subsequent legislation’. Data on prosecutions in Scotland is covered by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Annual statistics regarding Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation are separately published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have regarding the future of Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales.

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

The Government announced on 13 November that it is abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales at the end of their current term of office in May 2028. PCC functions will transfer either to Mayors of Strategic Authorities, where possible, or to elected council leaders where it is not. We will create new Police and Crime Boards to bring local council leaders together to oversee the force in their area, supported by an appointed day to day Police and Crime lead.

In Wales, the Welsh government have no plans to create Mayors. We will work with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders on arrangements to transfer PCC functions to local government leaders, recognising the unique nature of devolved arrangements in Wales.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals arrested under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 were also arrested for other offences at the same time in each year since that Act's commencement; and in how many of those cases the other offences were subsequently dropped.

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

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were arrested under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 in each year since its introduction; and how many of those arrests resulted in no further action or were not charged.

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

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were arrested under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 in the most recent year for which data is available, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) ethnicity.

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

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 were made by each police force in England and Wales in the most recent year for which data is available.

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

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, regarding Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November, what approach they plan to take to granting licences for (1) pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing, (2) pharmacopoeial adventitious agent testing, (3) skin irritation testing, (4) eye irritation testing, (5) skin sensitisation testing, (6) fish acute toxicity tests for chemicals registered under UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, and (7) other tests not listed in the 'baskets'.

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

The Home Office regulates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with the robust protections afforded to animals used in science. Licences for animal testing are only granted when applicants demonstrate compliance with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs). This means, animals may only be used where there is no non-animal alternative, the number of animals is minimised, and the most refined methods of testing are used to minimise harms.

On 11 November 2025, the government published “Replacing animals in science: a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”. This strategy sets out a timeline to phase out specific animal tests including those referenced in the question.

Of these, tests 1-5 are in Basket 1 (where mature replacement technologies exist), and test 6 is in Basket 2 (where alternatives could be developed in the medium term). The strategy provides details on each of these tests. The government is committed to supporting the development and adoption of alternative methods for other tests wherever possible.

Until these deadlines are reached, the Home Office will continue to apply the same rigorous licensing framework to all project licence applications proposing these tests, ensuring animals are only used where no validated non-animal alternative exists.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is being taken to increase scam awareness in rural communities.

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

Whilst it is vital we continue to target the criminals behind fraud and make it harder for them to operate, we want to increase awareness across all communities to help people.

We are working with City of London Police (CoLP) to support their coordination of the Fraud Protect Network. The network is made up of local, regional and national law enforcement officers and is designed to reduce the threat of fraud and revictimisation by providing consistent protect messaging and safeguarding advice to the public, including those in rural communities.

Additionally, the Government has continued to fund the national ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ awareness campaign to equip the public with useful protective behaviours against fraud. The campaign, and supporting website, make it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the broadcaster LuaLua TV on national security.

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

We do not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats. But national security is the first duty of any government, and we take any malicious activity that might pose a threat to our security extremely seriously.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in addressing acts of animal sexual abuse, including non-penetrative and coercive activity; and, for each of the past five years, how many cases of potential animal sexual abuse were reported to the police, how many resulted in a charge, and how many led to a successful prosecution.

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

The number of offences of intercourse with an animal recorded by police each year since 2020 varies from 40 to 57. Specifically, police recorded 40 of these crimes in 2020, 48 in 2021, 49 in 2022, 57 in 2023, 51 in 2024, 54 in the year up to June 2024 and 42 in the year up to June 2025. The proportion of recorded cases that resulted in a charge or summons varied from 20% to 2%.

The Home Office do not hold information on non-penetrative or coercive activity against animals.

The court proceedings database shows that the number of individuals proceeded against by criminal courts where the offence of intercourse with an animal was the principal offence was 4 in the year to June 2021, 1 in the years to June 2022, 2023 and 2024, and 0 in the year to June 2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department, after being appointed on 5 September, has had introductory conversations with the interior ministers of (1) France, (2) Germany, (3) Italy, (4) Belgium and (5) the Netherlands, regarding international cooperation on tackling organised immigration crime.

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

International co-operation is vital to address organised immigration crime. The Home Secretary continues to engage with counterparts across the EU and further afield on what further can be done to tackle this issue. Most recently the Home Secretary chaired the 11^th Western Balkans Summit where the impact of illegal migration was discussed. This was attended by representatives of the European Union and its Member States including the Chancellor of Germany, alongside representatives from France and Italy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest available figures for (1) the number of refugees from Ukraine in the UK, (2) the number of refugees from Ukraine who have entered the UK in 2025, and (3) the number who have given up their refugee status and returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere during 2025.

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

The Home Office publishes data on the Ukraine schemes in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

As at the end of September 2025 229,900 individuals have arrived in the UK under the Ukraine schemes.

Whilst the number of Ukrainians currently within the UK is not published within the data tables, the statistics do refer to how many people are believed to be out of the UK at a snapshot in time (although some may later return to the UK) in the chapter ‘How many people come to the UK via safe and legal (humanitarian) routes?’

“Management information indicates that as of the end of September 2025, around 97,100 people (42%) who had previously arrived on the Ukraine schemes had exited the UK and were believed to be out of the country, although some may subsequently return.”

The Home Office does not publish information on how many on the Ukraine schemes have returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere during 2025.

The Ukraine Schemes do not confer refugee status; therefore, they would not lose their status if returned.

In addition to the Ukraine schemes, some Ukrainians have claimed asylum via the UK asylum process. Since the start of 2022 to the end of September 2025, 68 Ukrainians have been granted refugee status (main applicants and dependants). There is no published data to confirm how many of these remain in the UK, also whether those who were granted refugee status in the preceding years also remain in the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many civil society organisations received Prevent funding in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial years; what the cost of that funding was; and what her Department's budget is for Prevent funding for civil society organisations in the 2025-26 financial year.

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

It is vital that Prevent is well-equipped to counter the threats that we face and the ideologies that underpin them.

Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects

In the financial year 2023-24, the Home Office provided £26,294,582.59 in Prevent funding. This includes £2,790,047.15 in project delivery funding to a total of 63 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent programme.

In the financial year 2024-25, the Home Office provided £27,769,727.44 in Prevent funding. This includes £2,365,309.72 in project delivery funding to a total of 52 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent programme.

In the financial year April 2025 – March 2026, the Home Office is projected to provide £28,758,000 in Prevent funding. This includes a projected spend of £1,877,378.99 in project delivery funding to a total of 30 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent programme.

This financial year, we have an allocated budget of £2 million for project funding. The anticipated expenditure for this financial year was £1.8 million, based on the funding bids received from local authorities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to make any changes to the existing 5+1 route to Indefinite Leave to Remain for individuals already on the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years' residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement, including the English language requirement, are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals on the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route will have to meet B2 standard of English in order to achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years' residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement, including the English language requirement, are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals from Hong Kong who have been granted asylum or refugee status will be required to meet a 20-year settlement requirement.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK. We fully recognise the significant contribution that Hong Kongers have already made to the UK, and the role they will continue to play in the years ahead.

Those on the BN(O) visa route will receive a 5-year reduction under the new earned settlement model.

For those recognised as refugees, we will introduce a starting point of a 20-year qualifying period of settlement. Those who move from core protection onto the new core protection-work and study routes will be able to earn reductions.

Resettled refugees who have been granted protection and moved to the UK through official resettlement programmes are intended to start at 10 years, bringing them in line with other arrivals on planned migration routes.

Beyond this, full details of the new earned settlement model will be finalised following the currently ongoing public consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether registered social workers will be eligible for the 5 year pathway to settlement for skilled frontline public service workers.

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

In May 2025, the Immigration White Paper set out an increase in the baseline qualification period for settlement from five years to ten, which was collectively agreed across government.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement sets out the Government’s proposed model for earned settlement and accompanies the current public consultation on settlement reform, which is open until 12 February 2026.

The consultation seeks views on the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those working in vital public services, particularly where earnings are based on national pay scales and may not meet the proposed threshold for an income-based reduction in the qualifying period. This might include, for example, medical and teaching professionals working in public services. However, it is envisaged that the above reduction in the qualifying period for public service roles would apply only to those working in skilled occupations (at RQF Level 6 or above).

Full details on earned settlement will be finalised following the conclusion of the public consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend arrangements allowing UK-bound group travellers to use national identity cards to other major sending countries such as Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

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

EU national children are permitted to use their national identity cards instead of a passport when travelling to the UK as part of an organised French school group accompanied by documentation which has been authenticated by the relevant French authorities. This scheme has been in operation since 10 March 2023. A similar scheme is planned for German school groups.

The UK currently has no plans to extend the current arrangements allowing French and German groups to use national identity cards to other countries.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying the (a) proposed salary threshold and (b) RQF Level 6 requirements for Skilled Worker visas retrospectively to individuals already in the UK under existing visa conditions when they apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

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

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, sets out the Government’s proposed model for earned settlement, and accompanies the current public consultation on settlement reform, which is open until 12 February 2026.

This proposes a qualification period for settlement of 15 years for Skilled Workers in professions below RQF Level 6.

It is also proposed that paying income tax on per annum earnings above £50,217 or £125,140 might be rewarded with reductions to that qualification period of five and seven years, respectively.

Further detail on earned settlement will be finalised following the conclusion of the public consultation. This will include detail on any transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals currently residing on a UK Ancestry visa and working towards Indefinite Leave to Remain under the existing five-year residency requirement will be required to meet the proposed ten-year residency rule in proposed changes to immigration rules.

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

We are currently holding a public consultation on new settlement rules. Following that, we will provide details of how this initiative will work, including on any transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has she made in implementing the Police National Database programme.

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

The Police National Database (PND) has been operational for almost 15 years and continues to provide vital intelligence to policing and law enforcement. The replacement of the PND remains a core consideration for the Home Office and policing.

The Home Office is currently considering a variety of options for future delivery of the PND transformation programme and further information will be issued once a decision has been taken.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has she made in delivering the Emergency Services Mobile Communications programme.

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

Following the completion of two major re-procurements, the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) awarded the Mobile Services contract to BT/EE and the User Services contract to IBM in November and December 2024 respectively.

The programme has completed a revised Programme Business Case which has been endorsed by the Senior Users of the 3 Emergency Services and those of the devolved nations. The Programme Business Case is expected to complete departmental and treasury approvals in early 2026. Our user community continues to be closely engaged in planning the deployment and rollout of the service and the safe transition from Airwave to ESN. Early adoption of a service ready solution is on track for early 2028 with a further target for complete transition from Airwave by the end of 2029.

The main build of ESN masts to provide mobile coverage is largely complete - of a total of the extra 1047 masts due to be built, 987 are completed and operationally live. This is already providing a benefit to the public by enabling over one thousand additional 999 calls every month to be made in areas where previously there was no coverage. Work continues at pace to provide network access in areas where localised coverage is needed; these include densely populated communities, as well as sports stadiums, and shopping centres.

The programme’s priority is to achieve the right balance between credible plans that ensures user confidence and the need to deliver ESN as quickly and safely as possible to enable the shutdown of Airwave.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether B1 English-language qualifications will remain valid for current BNO visa holders approaching eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the requirement to B2 on carers, older applicants, and lower-income households.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

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 reducing the number of police community support officers in Cheshire on levels of crime in that area.

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

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this.

Based on their £3,009,490 allocation from the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, Cheshire Police is projected to grow by 48 FTE neighbourhood police officers in 2025-26.

It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions, to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. This includes how best to allocate the resources at their disposal to provide an effective service to local communities.

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 naturalisation fees on UK residents with Indefinite Leave to Remain who have not applied for British citizenship; and if she will reduce citizenship application fees to administration costs only.

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

No specific assessment has been made on the impact of naturalisation fees on those who are resident in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain and have not applied for British Citizenship. However, where changes to fee legislation are made, Impact Assessments are produced which identify potential impacts resulting from the changes. When fees for naturalisation applications were increased on 09 April 2025, an Equalities Impact Assessment was published, which can be viewed through this link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/363/pdfs/uksiod_20250363_en_001.pdf.

The Home Office acknowledges that whilst some individuals may wish to apply to become a British citizen, it is not mandatory, and many choose not to do so. This is because, in addition to lawful permanent residence in the UK, a person with Indefinite Leave to Remain enjoys the benefit of access to the UK labour market, state education and healthcare and the ability to sponsor family members’ residence in the UK.

The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review. However, the Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing is utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system, reducing reliance of taxpayer funding.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed Migration Quantitative Indicators and changes to existing exemptions, including the English-language waiver for applicants aged 65 and over, will apply to current BNO visa holders who are nearing eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the rules originally in place.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed requirement for a sustained economic contribution under the BNO visa application route will apply to all adult applicants, including non-working spouses, unpaid carers, full-time students and retirees.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young adults currently in full-time education, who were under 18 at the time of their initial BNO visa application, will be exempt from the proposed sustained economic contribution requirement.

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

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Found: Safeguarding and Violence against Women & Girls 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF www.gov.uk/home-office

Found: returns are labelled by pharmacists as ‘ordered in error’. 2) Controlled Drug Premise Licences – Home Office

Found: Conservative MPs submitted a higher proportion) and Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Home Office

Found: Jess Phillips MP Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Home Office

Found: This submission will address the inquiry question, ‘How effective is PSNI co-ordination with the Home Office

Found: Jess Phillips MP Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Home Office

Found: that the passport service has been underrecovering since 2017-18 without explicit approval from Home Office

Found: David Mundell: I would have thought it would have been the Home Office, in terms of some of the core

Found: Norris MP Minister for Border Security & Asylum 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF www.gov.uk/home-office

Found: , 29 October 2025 The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP Secretary of State for the Home Department Home Office

Found: including salary thresholds, sponsorship requirements, and eligibility criteria,” and that the Home Office

Found: comprehensive policy must also include cross- departmental coordination, bringing together the FCDO, Home Office

Found: If the Home Office succeeds in the drive to reduce in-country refugee hosting costs as quickly as possible

Found: number, and is particularly, but not only, a function of in-donor refugee costs managed by the Home Office

Found: Home Office & Border liaison: Large groups often travel with specialist equipment and under tight timelines

Found: asked to be set up again is the cross- ministerial working group on borders—made up of DEFRA, Home Office

Found: Will the Home Office failure to achieve those savings have an impact on the FCDO’s ODA spending, or

Found: was followed on 5 September by the commencement a handful of law enforcement measures led by the Home Office

Found: Having said that, there are areas where we are doing more work, for example with the Home Office, on

Found: served in three other Departments—the Foreign Office, the Lord Chancellor’s Department and the Home Office—and

Found: The Home Office refused to help.

Found: served in three other Departments—the Foreign Office, the Lord Chancellor’s Department and the Home Office—and

Found: Jake Richards: First, this is a Home Office-led initiative, so you will forgive me if I do not— Andy

Found: Letter from Lord Carlile of Berriew to Lord Hanson of Flint (Home Office) re Crime and Policing Bill,

Found: Letter from Lord Hanson of Flint (Home Office) to Lord Carlile of Berriew re: Crime and Policing Bill

Found: It is setting up a regulator for the cannabis industry and transferring responsibility from the Home Office

Found: We welcome the willingness of Home Office Ministers to give evidence to the Committee about the treaty

Found: Minister of State for Policing and Crime 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF www.gov.uk/home-office

Found: Correspondence to the Home Office relating to labour conditions and access in the rural economy, dated

Found: Correspondence to the Home Office relating to its approach to rural proofing policies, dated 2 December

Found: 5 Publish What You Fund (2025) UK aid transparency has improved, but the Home Office is not transparent

Found: primarily an outcome of systemic delays and backlogs in asylum case processing, requiring the Home Office

Found: director of the Office for Life Sciences had previously been a senior Private Secretary within the Home Office

Found: What this consultation is talking about is how, in those cases where the Home Office has decided that

Found: We now support a Home Office task and finish group looking specifically at AI in the criminal justice

Found: director of the Office for Life Sciences had previously been a senior Private Secretary within the Home Office

Found: The Home Office provides multi-agency statutory guidance on FGM for all professionals alongside a free

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new enquiries were opened into child benefit claims which were suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in the period 1st to 30th November 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

There were no new Child Benefit compliance enquiries opened using Home Office international travel data in the period 1st to 30th November 2025. This is because our focus during that time was on reviewing the c. 23,500 already opened.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to ensure there is adequate funding and checks at border security for veterinary and meat imports to protect the farming industry against importing issues like foot and mouth disease or African Swine Fever.

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

Border checks undertaken by competent authorities are an important element of the system designed to manage biosecurity risks.

The SPS controls at the border on EU goods implemented under the Border Target Operating Model provide assurance that the underlying systems of controls are working as intended. This includes import conditions, certification signed by veterinarian authorities in exporting countries, risk assessments, border checks, and other intelligence led controls.

Defra is working with the Home Office and Border Force and has provided significant funding for Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) to ensure operations around detecting illegal meat imports are as effective as possible.

Defra has committed £3.1m for DPHA to work in partnership with Border Force in seizing meat smuggled via the Port of Dover in 2025/26, additional to over £9m of funding provided to date. Defra is considering the recommendations in the EFRA Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

For Defra’s full response to the EFRA committee report, please see here.

Defra publishes assessments of the risk of animal diseases entering Great Britain through trade in animal products here.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an estimate of the costs incurred by police forces and courts as a result of the recent mistaken release of three prisoners.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address the issue.

Locating and re-apprehending suspects relate to policing and are a matter for the Home Office. There is no inherent court cost involved in the release in error cases.

The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps has his department has taken to mitigate the financial impact of the mistaken release of prisoners.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address the issue.

Locating and re-apprehending suspects relate to policing and are a matter for the Home Office. There is no inherent court cost involved in the release in error cases.

The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the risk of organised-crime groups targeting high-value freight loads during peak retail periods; and what steps she is taking to improve freight-security measures.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government recognises the serious threat that freight crime poses to businesses, drivers, and the wider economy.

Through the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme (MFGS), the Department for Transport and industry partners are projected to deliver up to £35.7m of joint investment to enhance driver facilities and improve security at truck stops across England.

Drivers are now seeing the improvements that the scheme has been able to support, with more in development. The scheme is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve driver facilities, including investment in security measures.

The Home Office is working closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime. The Home Office has regular discussions with key partners, including Opal, about tackling organised freight crime.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out whether (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools are required to conduct immigration checks when adding new children to their admissions register.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many child refugees have attended (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools in England since 2015, broken down by (i) local authority, and (ii) year.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what reporting mechanism is in place for (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools when they find an adult asylum seeker impersonating a child.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many adult asylum seekers have been found attending (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools by local authority annually since 2015.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to prevent adult asylum seekers from impersonating children in (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 28 October (HL10895), when will they publish a formal response to the Independent Review of Pornography, Creating a Safer World–the Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography (HC 592), published on 27 February; and whether its recommendations will feature in their Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.

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

The Home Secretary announced in Parliament the decision to continue the Pornography Review, and we are grateful for Baroness Bertin’s work.

We welcome the findings of the Independent Pornography Review and the valuable insights it has provided into the online pornography landscape. The Review highlights a set of complex and challenging policy and regulatory issues.

Where relevant to violence against women and girls they are being considered by the Home Office in the development of the new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which aims to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade. The government will provide a further update on how it is tackling the issues raised in the Review as part of its mission to tackle VAWG in due course. The VAWG strategy sits with Home Office and DSIT has been feeding in.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with (a) asylum seeker status, (b) refused asylum seeker status and (c) no lawful immigration status are in receipt of benefit support; and what the annual cost of that support is.

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

People without valid UK immigration status are prohibited from accessing public funds benefits, including asylum seekers and those refused asylum in the UK. People with a pending asylum application may be able to claim asylum support provided by the Home Office, which is separate to the mainstream welfare system.

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Found: security, trade and democracy 2 Commons Library Research Briefing, 5 December 2025 Similarly, the Home Office

Found: Announcing the ongoing operations, the Home Office Minister, Dan Jarvis, said that they were “some of

Found: On 13 November 2025, the Home Office announced the office of PCC would be abolished.53 The government

Found: Audit Office logo SESSION 2024–2026 10 DECEMBER 2025 HC 1517 An analysis of the asylum system Home Office

Found: Audit Office logo SESSION 2024–2026 10 DECEMBER 2025 HC 1517 An analysis of the asylum system Home Office

Found: 2025 Topics: Borders and immigration, Refugees and asylum Departments: Cross-government, Home Office

Found: The Home Office is the second highest ODA spender, spending 17% of the total in 2024, primarily on supporting

Found: It works with a range of other government bodies such as the Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service

Found: other partner agencies, including law enforcement, working to combat these activities. 4.2 The Home Office

Found: of daylight and sunlight currently received into habitable rooms including dining room/kitchen, home office

Found: It will be launched at Mansion House today, and its delivery will be overseen by the Home Office, Foreign

Found: NOTES TO EDITORS   Further details of the Anti-Corruption Strategy will be announced by the Home Office

Found: expanded the role of the Security Minister and appointed me to the Cabinet Office, as well as to the Home Office

Found: But as part of our work between the Foreign Office and the Home Office we are supporting the use of that

Found: The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced by the Home Office in the summer of 2025 includes a new youth

Found: Security & Net Zero NIL N/A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office £2.5bn WORK COMPLETE Home Office

Found: Security & Net Zero NIL N/A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office £2.5bn WORK COMPLETE Home Office

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