Home Office

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office has been at the front line of this endeavour since 1782. As such, the Home Office plays a fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the United Kingdom.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Yvette Cooper
Home Secretary

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Conservative
James Cleverly (Con - Braintree)
Shadow Home Secretary
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Tom Tugendhat (Con - Tonbridge)
Shadow Minister (Home Office) (Security)
Ministers of State
Angela Eagle (Lab - Wallasey)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Diana Johnson (Lab - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Dan Jarvis (Lab - Barnsley North)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab - Life peer)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Seema Malhotra (LAB - Feltham and Heston)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Jess Phillips (Lab - Birmingham Yardley)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Tuesday 10th September 2024
Select Committee Inquiry
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Fire and Rescue Service

The Home Affairs Committee holds a two-part inquiry to examine the workplace culture in the Fire and Rescue Service, following …

Written Answers
Tuesday 10th September 2024
Sex Establishments: Licensing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the …
Secondary Legislation
Thursday 5th September 2024
Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) (Amendment) (Transitional Provisions) Order 2024
This Order amends the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Welsh Language) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/884) (“the 2024 Regulations”) …
Bills
Thursday 7th December 2023
Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024
Make provision about the removal of certain migrants to the Republic of Rwanda.
Dept. Publications
Wednesday 11th September 2024
10:00

Statistics

Home Office Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Jul. 29
Oral Questions
Sep. 10
Written Statements
Sep. 10
Westminster Hall
Jul. 23
Adjournment Debate
View All Home Office Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Home Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

Home Office has not passed any Acts during the 2024 Parliament

Home Office - Secondary Legislation

This Order amends the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Welsh Language) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/884) (“the 2024 Regulations”) to insert transitional provisions. It comes into force on the same day as the 2024 Regulations.
This Order amends the Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885) (“the 2024 Regulations”) to insert transitional provisions. It comes into force on the same day.
View All Home Office Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petitions with most signatures
Home Office has not participated in any petition debates
View All Home Office Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Home Affairs Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


0 Members of the Home Affairs Committee
Home Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Home Office preparedness for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Online Harms Gangs and youth crime The work of the Metropolitan Police Child sexual exploitation and the response to localised grooming: follow-up The work of HM Passport Office The work of the Immigration Directorates (2014 Q1) The work of the Border Force Home Affairs Committee - The work of the Home Secretary Radicalisation in schools Police, the media, and high-profile criminal investigations The work of the National Crime Agency 2014 Undercover policing: follow-up The work of the Immigration Directorates (2013 Q2-3) Leadership and standards in the police: follow-up The work of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector Of Constabulary Drugs Female Genital Mutilation The work of the Immigration Directorates (2013 Q4) Reform of the Police Federation The work of the National Crime Agency The work of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Police investigations and the role of the CPS The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q2 2015) Countering extremism inquiry Reform of the Police Funding Formula inquiry The work of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration Migration crisis inquiry Psychoactive substances inquiry Counter-radicalisation one-off session Immigration: the situation in Calais one-off session The work of the Home Office The work of the Home Secretary The work of the Metropolitan Police inquiry Immigration: skill shortages inquiry International exchange of criminal records Police National Database inquiry Police bail Policing in London Police Information Notices ("Harassment warnings") The work of the Immigration Directorates (2014 Q3) Counter-terrorism (2015) Female genital mutilation: follow-up The work of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary European Arrest Warrant The work of the Immigration Directorates (2014 Q2) Serious and organised crime The work of the Permanent Secretary Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 College of Policing Out-of-Court Disposals Statutory Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill Police and Crime Commissioners Tobacco smuggling EU Justice and Home Affairs opt-out Policing and mental health Police and Crime Commissioners The work of the Home Office Immigration Cap Firearms Control Policing Immigration Cap - Terms Of Reference Second evidence session on Immigration Caps Specialist Operations Firearms submissions received Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications Work of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre Rules governing enforced removals from the UK Extradition Lessons from the American experience of policing Impact of proposed restrictions on Tier 4 migration Government's review of Counter-Terrorism The work of the Home Secretary (2012) New Landscape of Policing Roots of Violent Radicalisation Policing Large Scale Disorder The work of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner (2012) The work of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police The work of the UK Visas & Immigration Section E-crime Private Investigators Independent Police Complaints Commission Localised child grooming Leadership and standards in the police service Policing in London Olympics security Asylum The work of the UK Border Agency Human trafficking Counter-terrorism (2014) Hate crime and its violent consequences inquiry Counter-terrorism inquiry Domestic abuse inquiry Serious violence inquiry Windrush Children inquiry Immigration detention inquiry Post-Brexit migration policy inquiry EU policing and security cooperation inquiry Modern slavery inquiry Post Brexit migration inquiry Government preparations for Brexit inquiry Asylum accommodation inquiry Work of the Home Office inquiry Islamophobia inquiry The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On inquiry English Channel crossings inquiry EU Settlement Scheme inquiry Home Office preparations for Brexit inquiry Police conduct and complaints inquiry Child migrants inquiry EU policing and security issues inquiry Immigration inquiry Brook House Immigration Removal Centre inquiry The work of the Home Secretary inquiry Policing for the future inquiry Home Office delivery of Brexit: immigration inquiry Home Office delivery of Brexit: policing and security cooperation inquiry Harassment and intimidation near abortion clinics Home Office delivery of Brexit: customs operations inquiry Immigration policy: principles for building consensus inquiry Antisemitism inquiry English-language testing inquiry Police diversity inquiry Prostitution inquiry The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q3 2015) inquiry College of Policing inquiry Police and Crime Commissioners inquiry Proceeds of crime inquiry Asylum accommodation The work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Policing for the future: changing demands and new challenges The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q2 2016) inquiry Female Genital Mutilation inquiry Sharia councils inquiry The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q4 2015) inquiry The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q1 2016) inquiry Implications of the UK's exit from the European Union inquiry Hate crime and its violent consequences inquiry Migration and asylum Policing priorities Channel crossings Human Trafficking Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Draft Bill Fraud Police and Crime Commissioners: 10 years on Policing of protests Non-contact sexual offences Fire and Rescue Service Violence and abuse towards retail workers Post-Transition management of the border The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong Asylum accommodation Counter-terrorism Domestic abuse English Channel crossings EU policing and security cooperation EU Settlement Scheme Government preparations for Brexit Home Office delivery of Brexit: policing and security cooperation Home Office delivery of Brexit: immigration Home Office preparations for Brexit Immigration detention Immigration policy: principles for building consensus Brook House Immigration Removal Centre The work of the Home Secretary Post Brexit migration Hate crime and its violent consequences Post-Brexit migration policy Islamophobia The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On Modern slavery Police conduct and complaints Policing for the future Serious violence Windrush Children Work of the Home Office

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to remove exceptions to licensing laws that allow sexual entertainment to take place in premises without a sexual entertainment licence.

The 1982 Act gives local authorities who adopt the legislation the ability to regulate lap dancing clubs as sexual entertainment venues. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (legislation.gov.uk)

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for tackling violence against women and girls in York Outer constituency.

This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence.

We will dramatically improve the police and wider criminal justice response, including a relentless pursuit of dangerous perpetrators and sustained support for victims.

We will tackle the root causes of these crimes, including supporting our education system to teach children about respectful and healthy relationships and consent.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Biometric Residence Permits will expire with the move to eVisas.

During the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers. The total volume will be dictated by ongoing approvals under BRP generating routes through to the end of 2024. This data requires detailed assurance before it can be published externally, but we plan to make it available on gov.uk in due course.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many eVisa applications have been received as of 2 September 2024.

During the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers. The total volume will be dictated by ongoing approvals under BRP generating routes through to the end of 2024. This data requires detailed assurance before it can be published externally, but we plan to make it available on gov.uk in due course.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department have taken to inform residents with Indefinite Leave to Remain visas about the transition to e-visas.

The Home Office is delivering a substantial communications and engagement campaign to advise customers of the transition to eVisas and the need for BRP holding customers to register for a UKVI account by the end of 2024, if they were not automatically provided with a UKVI account and eVisa when their most recent immigration application was approved.

This includes, but is not limited to, direct messaging to customers via email and text message where contact details are available, information on gov.uk/eVisa, and how-to videos available on YouTube and via gov.uk/eVisa. We have regular engagement with other government departments, immigration representatives, the education sector, employers, landlords, local authorities, foreign embassies, Home Office advisory groups, devolved administrations and migrant support organisations as part of the engagement process.

A 'partner pack’ of readily shareable content, including factsheets and social media content, has been developed and shared with other government departments and third party support networks which they can use to disseminate eVisa information to customers/clients with whom they engage. In April this year we issued a press notice about the transition to eVisa, and delivered detailed media briefings with UK and International media outlets.

For customers granted settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain) prior to the introduction of BRPs, we have recommended through this campaign that they should make a No Time Limit application in order to secure an eVisa. Customers with these older forms of evidence of immigration status, such as ink stamps in passports, will still be able to prove their rights as they do today, using their legacy documents where these are permitted. However, we still encourage those individuals to transition to an eVisa, given the range of benefits it offers to customers and status checkers.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that time spent in residence in the UK on any visa is counted towards the five-year period required for an application for indefinite leave to remain.

Many visa routes, such as those for family and skilled work, are intended to allow a path to settlement in the UK. Other routes, such as those for study and temporary work, are intended for visa holders to be able to come to the UK for a specific, time-bound purpose, and therefore do not count towards the qualifying period for settlement.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people had their application for asylum (a) accepted and (b) declined (i) with and (ii) without an appeal since 5 July 2024; and how many of those who had their application asylum declined have been returned, broken down by country.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions on asylum claims by nationality is published in table Asy_D02 of the 'Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets' and data on asylum-related returns by nationality is published in Ret_04 of the ‘Returns summary tables’.

Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of each workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2024.

Data up to September 2024 will be released on 28 November 2024. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

The Home Office also publishes data on asylum appeals by nationality in tables Asy_D06 and Asy_D07 of the ‘Asylum appeals lodged and determined detailed datasets’. Appeals data for April 2023 onwards is not available due to ongoing work on a new case working system. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration System Statistics release.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum hotels were in operation on (a) 1 January, (b) 4 July and (c) 31 August 2024.

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the use of hotels over time. Additionally, the government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and deliver value for money.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Home Office remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of the process to accommodate asylum seekers.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of hotels that will be required to accommodate asylum seekers in the period between now and the end of 2024.

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the use of hotels over time. Additionally, the government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and deliver value for money.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Home Office remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of the process to accommodate asylum seekers.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of linking the minimum income requirement for spousal visa applications to the National Living Wage.

The financial requirements for the Family Immigration Rules include the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) which is currently set at £29,000 and is intended to maintain the economic wellbeing of the UK whilst respecting family life.

The Home Secretary has announced her intention to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules. Conducting a review of the financial requirements across the family routes will ensure we have a clear and consistent system.

There will be no changes to the current threshold of £29,000, or the ways in which the MIR can be met, until the MAC review is complete.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of support provided to terrorism victims.

This government understands the devastating impact terrorism has on individuals and their families and is determined to make sure victims and survivors receive the support they deserve

Since October 2020, the government has funded support services to provide practical and emotional support to victims and survivors of attacks. The services include a 24/7 support line, mental health assessments and referrals and access to long-term peer support networks.

The Home Office has reviewed the support provisions and is considering options for future improvements.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will reduce the cost of visas for overseas graduates who are able to fill gaps in the labour market.

Overseas students who successfully complete an eligible course in the UK are entitled to remain on a graduate visa for two years after their studies end, or three for PHDs, to work, live and contribute to society.

The Home Office keeps visa fees under review but has no current plans to reduce fees for overseas graduates. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing are utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system. Taking this approach helps to meet the costs of maintaining an effective Migration and Borders system which benefits everyone.

The Government have also been clear that net migration is too high and must be reduced. Employers are encouraged to look to the domestic labour market to nurture and develop the skills they need where they can.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to incentivise recruitment of (a) domestic graduates from overseas and (b) overseas graduates to fill shortages in the labour market.

Overseas students who successfully complete an eligible course in the UK are entitled to remain on a graduate visa for two years after their studies end, or three for PHDs, to work, live and contribute to society.

The Home Office keeps visa fees under review but has no current plans to reduce fees for overseas graduates. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing are utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system. Taking this approach helps to meet the costs of maintaining an effective Migration and Borders system which benefits everyone.

The Government have also been clear that net migration is too high and must be reduced. Employers are encouraged to look to the domestic labour market to nurture and develop the skills they need where they can.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to house asylum seekers in Tricorn House in Stroud constituency.

For the safety and security of those we accommodate and our staff, the Home Office does not comment publicly on sites which may or may not be utilised to accommodate asylum seekers. Should a decision be made to use a site then the local MP will be notified in writing.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants attempting to enter the United Kingdom illegally in small boats have died in the English Channel in each of the last five years: how many such fatalities were children; and how many occurred in (a) UK and (b) French territorial waters.

There have been 31 tragedies, since August 2019, where 97 people are confirmed to have died and at least 14 people have been reported as missing at sea, presumed dead, as a result of or linked to attempting these dangerous crossings.

Numbers of fatalities

Date

Confirmed fatalities

2024 (to 05/09/24)

37

2023

12

2022

4

2021

34

2020

6

2019

4

TOTAL

97

A total of eight minors are reported to have died in the fatal incidents that have occurred this year. Prior to this, the only known minor fatalities occurred as a result of an incident in October 2020 when an entire family group, including 3 children, died following the capsizing of a migrant vessel.

Almost all fatalities have occurred in French Territorial Waters (TTW). There has been one incident (on 14 December 2022), involving the deaths of 4 people, which undoubtedly took place within UK TTW. However, an earlier tragedy – the loss of 27 people in a single incident in November 2021 – was proven after investigation to have partially occurred within UK TTW. It is subject to an ongoing Art.2 Human Rights Inquiry led by Sir Ross Cranston.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many irregular migrants are housed in the Great Yarmouth Borough Council area; what accommodation is used to house those migrants; and what the cost is of housing those migrants.

In accordance with the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and subsistence support whilst their application for asylum is being considered.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in different areas is routinely published by the Government in table ASY D_11 here:

Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office does not publish asylum support data disaggregated by method of arrival.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that people who have recently acquired refugee status do not experience homelessness after leaving asylum accommodation.

Individuals granted asylum have access to the labour market and to mainstream services that support their integration, including benefits and healthcare. We are working across Government to ensure these services meet the needs of all newly granted refugees.

Migrant Help or their partner organisation support all individuals when they receive a decision on their asylum claim.  This support includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.

We continue to work with colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand rough sleeping and homelessness pressures within local authorities (LAs). In our continued commitment to supporting LAs and statutory partners in planning for move on, we have shared enhanced data sets (The Place Based Visibility tool - PBVT) which we are continuing to develop further. The PBVT is complimented by the Discontinuation Prediction Tool (DPT) which is shared weekly; this data provides real time view of discontinuation notices likely to be served in the next following 4-6 weeks and the volume of people (including whether it is families, single males or single females) who may seek LA assistance following a positive decision.

Where a decision is made on an individual's asylum claim, the Asylum Accommodation Support Contract (AASC) provider notifies the relevant local authority within 2 days of notification by the Home Office.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2024 to Question 454 on Asylum: LGBT+ People, when her Department last reviewed the level of the risk of (a) discrimination, (b) harassment and (c) violence towards LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum in immigration detention centres.

The level of risk for LGBT+ individuals within immigration detention is subject to ongoing monitoring. As set out in Detention Services Order 02/2016 ‘Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Detainees in the Detention Estate’, Immigration Removal Centre suppliers undertake regular equality monitoring and trend analysis for residents with protected characteristics.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to fund accommodation for asylum seekers once the use of hotels is stopped.

The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly, and is reviewing the current arrangements for accommodation to ensure efficiency and value for money, including reducing the use of hotels.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the activities of hostile states on levels of illegal immigration.

The Government’s first duty is to protect our national security and keep our country safe. We keep potential threats to the UK under constant review and, where necessary, we use all the tools at our disposal to mitigate these threats including at the border and those seeking to enter the UK through irregular means.

As a matter of long-standing policy, we do not comment on the detail of security and intelligence issues.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the time taken for DBS checks to be carried out for employers in England.

The DBS measures its progress using a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets agreed by its Board. The KPIs are grouped into four themes: quality, timeliness, value for money, and people. There is a strong focus on the quality and timeliness of its products and services as these are the issues that customers tell DBS are important to them and it is these that ensure the DBS supports the safeguarding of vulnerable groups including children, as effectively as possible. The 2024/25 DBS Business Plan can be viewed at: DBS business plan: 2024-25 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The most recent quarterly datasets showing statistics against internal performance standards can be viewed at: DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, the DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The data applies to DBS checks, the Update Service, and disputes.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the citizenship status of individuals with British National (Overseas) visas.

British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders may apply for a BN(O) visa which entitles them and their dependent family members to reside in the UK. After completing 5 years’ qualifying residence in the UK, and being free from immigration time restrictions for a further year, BN(O) visa holders and their dependent family members may apply for British citizenship.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the independent report into child sexual exploitation in Telford, published on 12 July 2022.

The findings of the independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford exposed shocking cases of the most vulnerable in our society being abused and let down by adults who were supposed to protect them. The Government recognises the important role local inquiries like this, and others in Rotherham, Oldham and elsewhere, play in improving our response to child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The report of the independent inquiry in Telford did not make any direct recommendations for national government. However, we review the findings of all local inquiries, and other reports such as the Final Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and HMICFRS’ inspection of policing’s response to group-based child sexual exploitation, to ensure we are constantly reviewing and updating national policies.

At a national level, the Government continues to drive national action to better safeguard children, provide support and care to victims and survivors, and ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law. This includes funding the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce, which is giving practical, expert, on the ground support for local forces investigating child sexual abuse, with a focus on complex and organised child sexual exploitation; and the Tackling Organised Exploitation programme, which is helping forces to uncover more of this offending.

As you know, I have had contact with Telford survivors and will ensure that their voices are part of any future progress.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what documentation is required to obtain a UK passport for people born in the Irish Republic who are living in Northern Ireland.

His Majesty’s Passport Office must satisfactorily complete its checks upon an applicant’s nationality, identity, and eligibility before a passport can be issued, and will request additional evidence as necessary to support the completion of these checks.

The evidence required will change depending upon individual circumstances, and whether it is an application for a first passport or a renewal. Further information about the information needed when applying for a first passport can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/what-documents-you-need-to-apply

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the (a) average and (b) target time taken for a DBS check to be completed in England.

The Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) target is to issue 85% of Basic checks within 2 days, 85% of Standard checks within 3 days, and 80% of Enhanced checks within 14 days.

DBS publishes its performance data every quarter. The most recent data for April to June 2024 records the following performance for all applications processed within England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man:

Basic check target attained with an average of 88.1%. The 85% target was met on day 2 and the average turnaround time was 0.7 days.

Standard check target attained with an average of 88.2%. The 85% target was met on day 3 and the average turnaround time was 1.4 days.

Enhanced check target not attained with an average of 75.1%. The 80% target was met on day 21 and the average turnaround time was 12.4 days.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to appoint a new anti-corruption champion.

The government is considering a range of appointments following the election. When there are appointments to announce, this will be done in the usual way.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) police forces prioritising community engagement at the neighbourhood level, (b) public meetings,(c) ward walks, (d) strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and (e) deploying specialist (i) youth and (ii) other engagement teams on public confidence in the police.

The Government has committed to restoring confidence in policing, so it is vital that we rebuild the connection between the police and the communities they serve.

Research shows there is strong evidence that community engagement is important for building trust in the police and that higher visibility of local police increases public confidence, see for example the Home Office Public perceptions of policing: A review of research and literature.

That is why the Government has committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission. We will be working with policing to introduce a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, restoring patrols to town centres, recruiting thousands of extra police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables, and providing every community with a named local officer to turn to.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of not having a permanent Chief Constable since 2023 on the governance of West Mercia Police; and what discussions she has had with (a) the force and (b) the Police and Crime Commissioner on that matter.

Strong and consistent leadership is essential in ensuring high standards in police forces. In the absence of a permanent Chief Constable, regulations allow for an acting Chief Constable to be in place on an interim basis, in order to provide for consistency in leadership.

The recruitment of Chief Constables is a matter for locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). Schedule 8 to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 sets out the requirements that PCCs must follow when appointing a Chief Constable. This includes a requirement for the local Police and Crime Panel to review and report on the proposed appointment, as well as the Panel’s right to veto the proposed appointment with a two-thirds majority. PCCs should use the national guidance set out by the College of Policing for appointing chief officers, which includes advice on encouraging applications and generating a strong and diverse pool of applicants.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to support the availability of bleed control kits in (a) Central Bedfordshire and (b) the UK.

The use of bleed control kits is determined at the local level and the Government does not provide specific funding for bleed control kits.

Where decisions have been made by police forces to deploy bleed control kits, these would have been done as part of their operational decision making, including how to allocate resources based on their local knowledge and experience.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to directly incorporate the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings into domestic law.

The UK Government’s response to modern slavery and human trafficking is compliant with both domestic and international obligations, including those set out in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT).

This response includes the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) which identify and support victims respectively.

This Government is committed to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking, in line with our international and domestic legal obligations. I will update on future policies in due course and am committed to taking an approach that puts victims first.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will establish a review of knife (a) advertising and (b) sales including the strengthening of (i) ID and (ii) age checks by delivery services.

Tackling the illegal sales of knives online is a very important part of the Government’s mission to make our streets safer and reduce knife crime we will make further announcements in due course about our review into this area.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to repeal the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

Certain sections of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 are currently being reviewed by the Government in line with commitments made in Parliament when the Act was passed. In addition, the entirety of the Act will be subject to post-legislative parliamentary scrutiny. This usually occurs between 3 and 5 years after Royal Assent.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the conclusions of the Senior Coroner for Surrey’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the murder of Emma and Ellette Pattison, published on 12 August 2024, whether she plans to review how licensing authorities could obtain details about an applicant’s history of coercive controlling behaviour.

The Home Secretary, alongside others, has received a Prevention of Future Deaths report from the Senior Coroner for Surrey regarding the deaths at Epsom College in February 2023. The Government will be responding to the Coroner’s recommendations in due course.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the conclusions of the Senior Coroner for Surrey’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the murder of Emma and Ellette Pattison, published on 12 August 2024, whether she plans to take steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure licensing authorities are made aware of online GP consultations as a further safeguard.

The Home Secretary, alongside others, has received a Prevention of Future Deaths report from the Senior Coroner for Surrey regarding the deaths at Epsom College in February 2023. The Government will be responding to the Coroner’s recommendations in due course.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that survivors of modern slavery feel safe to report exploitation and abuse regardless of their immigration status.

The Government is committed to tackling all forms of modern slavery; ensuring that victims, regardless of their nationality and immigration status, are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery, of all nationalities, and ensuring they receive the appropriate support. If a First Responder thinks that modern slavery has taken place, the individual should be referred to the NRM so that the relevant competent authority can fully consider the case in line with the published Statutory Guidance. If an adult potential victim does not consent to entering the NRM, the first responder must notify the Home Office (in England and Wales) via a Duty to Notify (DtN) report.

The statistics for the NRM are published quarterly here: National Referral Mechanism statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to take steps to amend the statutory guidance entitled Non-crime hate incidents: code of practice, published on 3 June 2023, on only recording personal data relating to non-crime hate incidents if it is deemed proportionate and necessary to do so in order to mitigate a real risk of harm.

It is vital that the police can capture data relating to non-crime hate incidents when it is proportionate and necessary to help prevent serious crimes which may later occur.

We are carefully considering how best to protect individuals and communities from hate whilst balancing the need to protect the fundamental right to free speech, and ensuring the police can spend their time dealing with issues that matter most to communities.

We will set out next steps in due course.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for publishing details of the locations of youth hubs.

The Government is committed to rolling out a network of Young Futures Hubs which will bring together local services to improve the delivery of support for young people at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges.

We will require input and expertise from across the sector to design these hubs and will be engaging with local communities, the police, charities and other key partners over the coming weeks to seek views on the design of the programme and explore options for their delivery. This will include considerations around their location and how best to engage with those young people who would benefit most from the support.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect workers travelling home late at night who are at risk of sexual violence.

This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence on our streets.

We want women to feel safe and will use every lever to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, across the whole of government, with policing and other experts.

To make our streets safe, we must drastically reduce serious violent crime and violence against women and girls, increase confidence in the police, stop young people falling into crime, and make our criminal justice system work for victims.

No one should ever have to face the risk of violence or harassment when travelling. This government is taking action to make sure our transport network is safe for all. The Department for Transport is working closely with transport partners, including the British Transport Police, on a range of initiatives to address the problems faced by different users, including women and girls, on the transport network.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans that access to the Croasdale Emergency Services mobile mast in Whitehaven and Workington constituency will be shared with all mobile network operators.

The build of the Croasdale Extended Area Services (EAS) mast was completed in November 2023. Since then work has been underway to complete power and network connections to the mast, and it is now envisaged that all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), as part of the Shared Rural Network programme, will be able to activate their services by end of July 2025.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to protect (a) workers who support the night time economy, (b) shift workers, (c) NHS workers, (d) people enjoying a night out and (e) other people travelling at night who are at risk of (i) violence and (ii) sexual violence.

This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence on our streets.

We want women to feel safe and will use every lever to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, across the whole of government, with policing and other experts.

To make our streets safe, we must drastically reduce serious violent crime and violence against women and girls, increase confidence in the police, stop young people falling into crime, and make our criminal justice system work for victims.

No one should ever have to face the risk of violence or harassment when travelling. This government is taking action to make sure our transport network is safe for all. The Department for Transport is working closely with transport partners, including the British Transport Police, on a range of initiatives to address the problems faced by different users, including women and girls, on the transport network.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to support the availability of bleed kits.

The use of bleed control kits is determined at the local level and the Government does not provide specific funding for bleed control kits.

Where decisions have been made by police forces to deploy bleed control kits, these would have been done as part of their operational decision making, including how to allocate resources based on their local knowledge and experience.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help protect workers travelling home late at night who are at risk of sexual violence.

This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence on our streets.

We want women to feel safe and will use every lever to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, across the whole of government, with policing and other experts.

To make our streets safe, we must drastically reduce serious violent crime and violence against women and girls, increase confidence in the police, stop young people falling into crime, and make our criminal justice system work for victims.

No one should ever have to face the risk of violence or harassment when travelling. This government is taking action to make sure our transport network is safe for all. The Department for Transport is working closely with transport partners, including the British Transport Police, on a range of initiatives to address the problems faced by different users, including women and girls, on the transport network.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the proposed 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers will be (a) warranted police officers, (b) Police Community Support Officers and (c) Special Constables; and how many of each such officer will be allocated to the Cambridgeshire constabulary.

The Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is supported by a commitment to introduce additional 13,000 police personnel into neighbourhood policing. This will be achieved through the recruitment of thousands of additional Police Constables, Police Community Support Officers, and Special Constables, as well as the redeployment of thousands of current Police Constables, into neighbourhood policing roles across England and Wales.

This will provide every community a named local officer to turn to and ensure that there is appropriate resource to tackle the crimes that most impact communities, including anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.

We want to deliver this additional support as quickly as possible and are working at pace alongside policing partners to devise the right model for implementation. We will set out further plans shortly.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to help tackle anti-social behaviour in York Outer constituency.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

​We will put thousands of new neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities, and provide residents with a named officer they can turn to when things go wrong.

​We will also crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets by introducing tougher powers via a Crime and Policing Bill, including a new Respect Order to tackle repeat offending.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in town centres.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

​We will put thousands of new neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities and provide residents with a named officer they can turn to when things go wrong.

​We will also crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets by introducing tougher powers via a Crime and Policing Bill, including a new Respect Order to tackle repeat offending.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 5.6 of the Spring Budget 2024 red book, whether it is her Department's policy to continue with the commitment of £230 million to spend on new Police technology over the next four years.

This Government will continue to invest in improving productivity and efficiency with new technology for policing.

Funding for future financial years will be agreed as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review the Government's guidance on police use of water cannons.

The Home Office does not issue guidance on police use of water cannons.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the adequacy of section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act in preventing the use of forced labour products in net zero supply chains.

The Home Office works across government to tackle modern slavery in supply chains and holds regular discussions with other government departments on legislative and non-legislative measures to enhance our approach.

The Home Office is currently updating the Section 54 statutory guidance to support businesses with more practical guidance on how to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains. We are setting up the Forced Labour Forum, which will include representatives from government, civil society organisations, businesses and academics to ensure the guidance is fit for purpose and is applicable across sectors.

The Government is committed to improving our response to modern slavery and will set out next steps more broadly in due course.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help protect workers travelling home late at night who are at risk of sexual violence.

This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence on our streets.

We want women to feel safe and will use every lever to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, across the whole of government, with policing and other experts.

To make our streets safe, we must drastically reduce serious violent crime and violence against women and girls, increase confidence in the police, stop young people falling into crime, and make our criminal justice system work for victims.

No one should ever have to face the risk of violence or harassment when travelling. This government is taking action to make sure our transport network is safe for all. The Department for Transport is working closely with transport partners, including the British Transport Police, on a range of initiatives to address the problems faced by different users, including women and girls, on the transport network.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)