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.
Ministers of State
Tom Tugendhat (Con - Tonbridge and Malling)Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con - Life peer)Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Laura Farris (Con - Newbury)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
12:15
The Home Affairs Committee holds a two-part inquiry to examine the workplace culture in the Fire and Rescue Service, following …
To ask His Majesty's Government, following their press release on 1 May stating that detention capacity had been increased to …
This Order amends the Immigration (Exemption from Control) Order 1972 (“the principal Order”), made under section 8(2) of the Immigration …
Make provision about the removal of certain migrants to the Republic of Rwanda.
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.
Bills currently before Parliament
A Bill To amend the criminal law; to make provision about criminal justice (including the powers and duties of the police) and about dealing with offenders; to make provision about confiscation and the use of monies in suspended accounts; to make other provision about the prevention and detection of crime and disorder; to make provision about begging, rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour; to make provision about the police; and for connected purposes.
Acts of Parliament created in the 2019 Parliament
A Bill to amend the Investigatory Powers Act 2016; to make provision about information supplied by, or relating to, the Judicial Commissioners; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th April 2024 and was enacted into law.
Make provision about the removal of certain migrants to the Republic of Rwanda.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th April 2024 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about economic crime and corporate transparency; to make further provision about companies, limited partnerships and other kinds of corporate entity; and to make provision about the registration of overseas entities.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 26th October 2023 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to Make provision for and in connection with the removal from the United Kingdom of persons who have entered or arrived in breach of immigration control; to make provision about detention for immigration purposes; to make provision about unaccompanied children; to make provision about victims of slavery or human trafficking; to make provision about leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom; to make provision about citizenship; to make provision about the inadmissibility of certain protection and certain human rights claims relating to immigration; to make provision about the maximum number of persons entering the United Kingdom annually using safe and legal routes; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 20th July 2023 and was enacted into law.
Make provision about threats to national security from espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers; about the extra-territorial application of Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007; about the award of damages in proceedings relating to national security and the payment of damages at risk of being used for the purposes of terrorism; about the availability of legal aid to persons connected with terrorism; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th July 2023 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision for immigration restrictions to be disregarded for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1981 in historical cases in which such restrictions were in practice disregarded.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th June 2023 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision for new offences relating to public order; to make provision about stop and search powers; to make provision about the exercise of police functions relating to public order; to make provision about proceedings by the Secretary of State relating to protest-related activities; to make provision about serious disruption prevention orders; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 2nd May 2023 and was enacted into law.
Make provision about nationality, asylum and immigration; to make provision about victims of slavery or human trafficking; to provide a power for Tribunals to charge participants where their behaviour has wasted the Tribunal’s resources; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to Set up a register of overseas entities and their beneficial owners and require overseas entities who own land to register in certain circumstances; to make provision about unexplained wealth orders; and to make provision about sanctions.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 14th March 2022 and was enacted into law.
To make provision in relation to domestic abuse; to make provision for and in connection with the establishment of a Domestic Abuse Commissioner; to prohibit cross-examination in person in family proceedings in certain circumstances; to make provision about certain violent or sexual offences, and offences involving other abusive behaviour, committed outside the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about the application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises; and to confer power to amend that order in future for the purposes of changing the premises to which it applies.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision for, and in connection with, the authorisation of criminal conduct in the course of, or otherwise in connection with, the conduct of covert human intelligence sources.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 1st March 2021 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision to end rights to free movement of persons under retained EU law and to repeal other retained EU law relating to immigration; to confer power to modify retained direct EU legislation relating to social security co-ordination; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 11th November 2020 and was enacted into law.
A bill to create a power of arrest, without warrant, for the purpose of extraditing people for serious offences
This Bill received Royal Assent on 22nd October 2020 and was enacted into law.
To provide for the payment out of money provided by Parliament of expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State or a government department under, or in connection with, the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th June 2020 and was enacted into law.
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).
Petition Closed
closed 2 years, 9 months ago
The right to peaceful assembly and protest are fundamental principles of any democracy and the proposed part of this bill that gives the police new powers to tackle disruptive peaceful protests should be removed from The Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
Petition Closed
closed 1 year, 10 months ago
Join other nations in providing a route to safety for refugees. Waive all visa requirements for Ukrainian passport holders arriving in the UK.
Petition Closed
Release the Home Office's Grooming Gang Review in full
Gov Responded - 19 May 2020 Debated on - 3 Feb 2021closed 3 years, 10 months ago
The Government is refusing to release official research on the characteristics of grooming gangs, claiming it is not in the “public interest”.
We, the British public, demand the release of the official research on grooming gangs undertaken by the Government in full.
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: 10 Current Inquiries
Home Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
50 most recent Written Questions
(View all written questions)The Home Office currently operates seven immigration removal centres (IRCs) throughout the UK
As of 24 April the Home Office has the capacity to detain around 2,200 people in IRCs, including those liable for removal to Rwanda.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
During the Motion of Regret Speech on 14 May 2024, in answer to Baroness Lister’s question, I set out the evidence and advice that was taken in to account before making the decision to increase the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).
We did not seek further advice from the Migration Advisory Committee, but we did consider its previous advice and evidence regarding net fiscal contributions and access to benefits.
We also took into account reports about the impact of the MIR on families by the Migration Observatory, the Journal of Economics, Race and Policy and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
For the avoidance of doubt, this means the Family Test was not applied when making the decision to increase the MIR. There is no legal obligation for the test to be applied.
A full regulatory assessment and equalities impact assessment on the changes to the Immigration Rules laid on 14 March will be published in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Border Force are constantly improving our data capture in support of maritime operations to ensure an effective response across a range of threats that we deal with.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants by nationality are published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to 2023.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Those who need protection are normally granted refugee status or humanitarian protection.
All asylum and human rights claims lodged from within the UK and admitted to the UK asylum system, including those seeking asylum from Rwanda, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations, and against the background of relevant case law, policy guidance, and the latest available country of origin information.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
There are no caps on the number of international students permitted to come to the UK. The Student route is not a route to settlement. There are currently no plans to change this.
Upon course completion, students may apply to extend their leave in the UK, including under work routes if relevant requirements are met.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Home Office has been clear that the use of hotels is a temporary and short-term measure to ensure we meet our statutory obligation to accommodate destitute asylum seekers. We have made significant progress in returning 150 hotels to communities across the UK as of the beginning of May.
Our statutory accommodation needs are kept under continuous review, and we will write to MPs and local authorities as further decisions on hotels are made.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Data relating the performance against visa service standards are produced as part of the Migration Transparency publication.
These can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Home Office does not hold information on the number of forensic collision investigators employed in police forces in England and Wales.
The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the function of police workers, as at 31 March each year, in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales. Although it is not possible to identify “forensic collision investigators” specifically from the data.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office expects all applicants for naturalisation to meet the statutory requirements which are based on a period of residence in the UK, including being free from immigration time restrictions and being of good character.
The Government considers that those seeking to make a permanent home in the UK should be equipped to integrate successfully in society, with an appropriate level of English and an understanding of British life. All applicants are therefore required to pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirement. The aim is to ensure that those who intend to settle here develop both the language skills that enable them to make a success of living permanently in the UK and have an understanding of life here and society’s expectations.
There are no plans to change the requirements for citizenship.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
(Green Party - Life peer)
We are disappointed that the High Court has come to the decision it has. As with all decisions of this nature, we will now carefully consider the judgment and the options available to us going forward.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government keeps legislation under review to ensure it keeps pace with the evolving threat of crime.
Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is a strict liability offence. That means that, for the police to charge a case they need evidence that the suspect had paid for sexual services from an individual, and that that individual was subjected to force or control by another. They do not need to prove criminal intent. The penalty for a Section 53A offence is a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (up to £1,000). In gathering evidence of a Section 53A offence, the police will prioritise actions that may lead to charges for more serious offences, such as modern slavery or causing or inciting or controlling prostitution for gain. The penalty for modern slavery is up to life imprisonment and for the latter offence up to 7 years’ imprisonment.
The Home Office publishes police recorded crime data for the exploitation of prostitution offences (sections 52 and 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003) and modern slavery offences, but information about the facilitation of those crimes is not held centrally. Data is not available at the requested geographical level, however data by police force area can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables.
The Online Safety Act 2023 will place a duty on adult service websites to proactively identify and remove content linked to criminal activity and a duty to prevent illegal content relating to sexual exploitation appearing on their sites. Companies will need to adopt systems and processes to identify, assess and address sexual exploitation and human trafficking activity based on a risk assessment.
Law enforcement is also running an adult service website referral pilot where adverts are referred to the Tackling Organised Exploitation capability (housed in Regional Organised Crime Units) to gather intelligence and identify organised criminal activity.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
The Government keeps legislation under review to ensure it keeps pace with the evolving threat of crime.
Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is a strict liability offence. That means that, for the police to charge a case they need evidence that the suspect had paid for sexual services from an individual, and that that individual was subjected to force or control by another. They do not need to prove criminal intent. The penalty for a Section 53A offence is a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (up to £1,000). In gathering evidence of a Section 53A offence, the police will prioritise actions that may lead to charges for more serious offences, such as modern slavery or causing or inciting or controlling prostitution for gain. The penalty for modern slavery is up to life imprisonment and for the latter offence up to 7 years’ imprisonment.
The Home Office publishes police recorded crime data for the exploitation of prostitution offences (sections 52 and 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003) and modern slavery offences, but information about the facilitation of those crimes is not held centrally. Data is not available at the requested geographical level, however data by police force area can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables.
The Online Safety Act 2023 will place a duty on adult service websites to proactively identify and remove content linked to criminal activity and a duty to prevent illegal content relating to sexual exploitation appearing on their sites. Companies will need to adopt systems and processes to identify, assess and address sexual exploitation and human trafficking activity based on a risk assessment.
Law enforcement is also running an adult service website referral pilot where adverts are referred to the Tackling Organised Exploitation capability (housed in Regional Organised Crime Units) to gather intelligence and identify organised criminal activity.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
No applicants to the Windrush Compensation Scheme have been asked to do a DNA test.
The Windrush Compensation Scheme does not require claimants to complete a DNA test to confirm they are eligible under the scheme. If the evidence or information initially provided by a claimant is insufficient to confirm their eligibility for the Scheme, they may be sent a non-exhaustive list of further types of information or evidence that could be submitted. Decision Makers will work directly with individuals to support them with this.
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The student route launched in 2020 and provides a way for international students to apply to study in the UK. Some students have work rights such as those studying at degree level and above at higher education institutions, who can work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time, and full-time during vacations. Upon course completion, students may apply to extend their leave in the UK, including under work routes, if relevant requirements are met.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office do not make assessments specifically on the impact of gambling-related (a) fraud and (b) other acquisitive crimes on the finances of the victims of those crimes.
The Treasury and Home Office hold joint responsibility for publishing a periodic National Risk Assessment which sets out the money laundering and terrorist financing risks in the UK. This includes an assessment of the Gambling sector. The latest risk assessment was published in 2020 National risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Gambling Commission also conduct money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessments on the British gambling industry. The latest risk assessment can be found here: The 2023 money laundering and terrorist financing risks within the British gambling industry - National Strategic Assessment 2020 - Executive summary (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Home Office publishes data on asylum decisions in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ on gov.uk. The latest data relates to 2023. Data for the year ending March 2024 will be published on 23 May 2024. From October to December 2023, 69 asylum claims (relating to 84 people) from nationals of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, of which Gaza forms a part, were granted some form of protection.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office regularly engages with a range of stakeholders across the labour, education and legal sector to ensure they understand any changes that the department are making to the immigration system.
The Government is encouraging all sectors to adapt and make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers through offering training, career options, wage increases and to invest in increased automation technology.
We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the UK and reflect the public’s priorities, including filling skills gaps and growing the economy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
While the UK Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being considered for proscription.
To proscribe an organisation, the Home Secretary must have a reasonable belief that it is concerned in terrorism. This means the organisation participates or commits; prepares for; promotes, encourages or unlawfully glorifies; or is in some way otherwise concerned in terrorism. As well as considering whether the statutory test for proscription has been satisfied, the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe must be necessary and proportionate, having taken into account all relevant factors. HMG is unable to comment further on intelligence and security matters.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) was proscribed in June 2014. PFLP-GC is a left wing nationalist Palestinian militant organisation formed in 1968. It is based in Syria and was involved in the Palestine intifada during the 1970s and 1980s. The group is separate from the similarly named Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
While the UK Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being considered for proscription.
To proscribe an organisation, the Home Secretary must have a reasonable belief that it is concerned in terrorism. This means the organisation participates or commits; prepares for; promotes, encourages or unlawfully glorifies; or is in some way otherwise concerned in terrorism. As well as considering whether the statutory test for proscription has been satisfied, the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe must be necessary and proportionate, having taken into account all relevant factors. HMG is unable to comment further on intelligence and security matters.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) was proscribed in June 2014. PFLP-GC is a left wing nationalist Palestinian militant organisation formed in 1968. It is based in Syria and was involved in the Palestine intifada during the 1970s and 1980s. The group is separate from the similarly named Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
My Lords, the Home Office has made no recent assessment on identity cards. In 2010 the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition decided to end the ID card scheme and the associated National Identity Register. The Home Office has held no further discussions on the reintroduction of identity cards.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)