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.
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Lord Davies of Gower (Con - Life peer)Shadow Minister (Home Office)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Alicia Kearns (Con - Rutland and Stamford)Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Home Office)
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
Seema Malhotra (LAB - Feltham and Heston)Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Jess Phillips (Lab - Birmingham Yardley)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
09:00
Digital ID can refer to many different aspects of a person’s identity which can be recorded and stored digitally, including …
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the delay to the police officer …
This Order amends the Extradition Act 2003 (Designation of Part 2 Territories) Order 2003 (“the Part 2 Order”) (S.I. 2003/3334).
A Bill to Make provision about the effect, during an appeal, of an order under section 40 of the British …
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
Home Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament
Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament
A Bill to require persons with control of certain premises or events to take steps to reduce the vulnerability of the premises or event to, and the risk of physical harm to individuals arising from, acts of terrorism; to confer related functions on the Security Industry Authority; to limit the disclosure of information about licensed premises that is likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 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).
(53,254 in the last 7 days)
(3,216 in the last 7 days)
(2,840 in the last 7 days)
(947 in the last 7 days)
(821 in the last 7 days)
(53,254 in the last 7 days)
(3,216 in the last 7 days)
(93 in the last 7 days)
(36 in the last 7 days)
Petition Closed
Ban immediately the use of dogs in scientific and regulatory procedures
Gov Responded - 5 Mar 2025 Debated on - 28 Apr 2025closed 6 days, 23 hours ago
As a first step to end animal testing, we want an immediate ban for dogs. They are commercially bred in what we see as bleak and inhumane factory-like conditions. We believe there is evidence suggesting that dogs are left being unattended for extended periods in a Government-licenced establishment.
Petition Closed
closed 2 months, 3 weeks ago
We believe our country is facing serious challenges both from legal and illegal migration, and think the only way to deal with this is to suspend all immigration temporarily for 5 years.
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.
11 Members of the Home Affairs Committee
Home Affairs Committee Member since 11th September 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Home Affairs Committee: 10 Current Inquiries
Home Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
50 most recent Written Questions
(View all written questions)The Home Office works closely with policing colleagues on a range of issues to ensure the protection of public order and safety.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office and, therefore, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to work alongside delivery firms to deepen our cooperation and, following last month’s successful roundtable, this measure is another important step to tackle illegal working hotspots and root out this criminality from our communities. For example, when this data is shared, firms will have more information to track down and suspend accounts of delivery riders working illegally.
Minister of State (Home Office)
On 1 August, the Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025. This decision reflected the PRRB’s assessment of the economic context, recruitment and retention data, and the specific challenges facing the police workforce. The full PRRB report and related Government response can be found here: Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales - GOV.UK
The Government is carefully considering the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) recommendations for Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and will set out its decision in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
On 1 August, the Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025. This decision reflected the PRRB’s assessment of the economic context, recruitment and retention data, and the specific challenges facing the police workforce. The full PRRB report and related Government response can be found here: Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales - GOV.UK
The Government is carefully considering the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) recommendations for Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and will set out its decision in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
On 1 August, the Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025. This decision reflected the PRRB’s assessment of the economic context, recruitment and retention data, and the specific challenges facing the police workforce. The full PRRB report and related Government response can be found here: Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales - GOV.UK
The Government is carefully considering the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) recommendations for Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and will set out its decision in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I provided to PQ UIN 41234 on 31 March.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Tackling mobile phone theft is a key priority for this Government. In February, the Home Secretary brought together police, the National Crime Agency, the Mayor of London, local government representatives, leading technology companies and others to drive greater collaboration in breaking the business model of mobile phone thieves.
The Summit resulted in commitments from attendees to work in partnership, including to significantly boost the sharing of data and intelligence on mobile phone theft to build a comprehensive picture of the problem, better understand the role of organised crime networks (both in the UK and overseas), and identify the most effective means of tackling these crimes.
While we have not held discussions with the government of China about the importation of stolen mobile phones from the UK, we are continuing to engage with international partners and multilateral organisations to share information and explore further opportunities for cooperation in order to most effectively tackle mobile phone theft.
The Home Secretary will reconvene relevant stakeholders in due course to review progress made and determine next steps to ensure that the police, technology companies and the Government continue to work together to tackle this criminality.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Home Office)
I would like to correct a statement I made in the House of Lords on 22 July 2025 whilst debating a Topical Question raised by Lord Empey; ‘To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the “pull factors” attracting migrants to enter the United Kingdom illegally’. [Illegal Migration: Pull Factors. Volume 848: debated on Tuesday 22 July 2025]
On 22 July 2025, I stated that, ‘35,000 failed asylum seekers who came on small boats were removed last year, which is 13% more than in the 12 months previous, when his Government were in charge. There has been a 51% increase in the number of people who have been arrested and prosecuted on illegal working visits.’
The correct information should have been, ‘35,000 people were returned last year, which is 13% more than in the 12 months previous, when his Government were in charge. There has been a 51% increase in the number of people who have been arrested on illegal working visits.’
Minister of State (Home Office)
There are separate routes of appeal depending on whether a police officer is appealing against the conviction of a criminal offence or the finding or outcome at disciplinary proceedings.
Where an officer believes they have been wrongly convicted of a criminal offence, they can appeal a criminal conviction in the normal way through the standard appeals process. Separately, police officers who wish to challenge a disciplinary finding or outcome may do so to the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT). Following the decision of the PAT, officers have a further appeal route through the judicial review process.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Everyone has the right to both feel safe and be safe going about their day-to-day lives. Harassment should be treated seriously by all police forces, with every victim treated with dignity, and every investigation and prosecution conducted thoroughly and professionally.
We are investing £13.1 million in a new Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Public Protection this year to help drive better national coordination in the response to VAWG and strengthened specialist training for officers across the country. In addition, we will be publishing a new cross-Government VAWG Strategy later this year which will set out the wider actions we will take to tackle these and other crimes.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Everyone has the right to both feel safe and be safe going about their day-to-day lives. Harassment should be treated seriously by all police forces, with every victim treated with dignity, and every investigation and prosecution conducted thoroughly and professionally.
We are investing £13.1 million in a new Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Public Protection this year to help drive better national coordination in the response to VAWG and strengthened specialist training for officers across the country. In addition, we will be publishing a new cross-Government VAWG Strategy later this year which will set out the wider actions we will take to tackle these and other crimes.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Section 95 support is provided to failed asylum seekers who have dependants under the age of 18 in their household at the time their asylum claim and any appeal is finally rejected (for as long as the youngest child remains under 18).
Other failed asylum seekers are supported under section 4(2) of the 1999 Act if they would otherwise be destitute and meet conditions set out in the Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Accommodation to Failed Asylum-Seekers) Regulations 2005.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the serious threat posed by cyber-attacks, which can have devastating consequences to UK people and businesses. The Home Office is committed to ensuring the Computer Misuse Act (CMA) remains up to date and effective to tackle cyber criminality.
The CMA is the main legislation that criminalises unauthorised access to computer systems and data. The Act already provides for a range of penalties, including life imprisonment for offences that cause or create a significant risk of serious damage to human welfare or national security (section 3ZA(7)).
The Home Office is considering the issue of sentencing for CMA offences as part of the ongoing review of the Act. An update will be provided once proposals are finalised.
Minister of State (Home Office)
As part of the UK-FR Joint Leaders’ Declaration, published on 23 March 2023, the United Kingdom has agreed to contribute €209m to reduce instances of irregular migration to the UK in the Financial Year 2025-26.
Minister of State (Home Office)
John Lamont
(Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
The Government does not currently publish the amount of cryptocurrency restrained or recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The Home office is reviewing plans to publish new statistics on Crypto assets as part of future annual statistics bulletins on asset recovery in response to the new powers that came into effect in April 2024.
Minister of State (Home Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July in response to Question 63031.
Minister of State (Home Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July in response to Question 63031.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We are currently reviewing the roles and remits of various bodies to ensure our resources are best placed to meet current challenges.
As is usual when public appointments come to an end, Ministers are considering next steps and will update the house in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown
(Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Information related to the type and location of accommodation used by individuals who have been granted refugee status is not routinely collated or published by the Home Office.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The requested information could only be collated and verified through manual checks by all grant making policy teams within the Home Office, something that could only be done at disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by visa type and nationality in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ on GOV.UK. Data on outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of March 2025.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ on GOV.UK.
The data shows that 1 Religious Worker (RW) and 1 Minister Of Religion (MOR) visa have been issued since July 2024 with a total of 1 RW and 3 MOR visas issued since March 2023. For GDPR reasons, we cannot reveal the identity of the visa holders.
The Home Office keeps all immigration routes under review, including the T2 Minister of Religion and Temporary Work – Religious Worker routes.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by visa type and nationality in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ on GOV.UK. Data on outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of March 2025.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ on GOV.UK.
The data shows that 1 Religious Worker (RW) and 1 Minister Of Religion (MOR) visa have been issued since July 2024 with a total of 1 RW and 3 MOR visas issued since March 2023. For GDPR reasons, we cannot reveal the identity of the visa holders.
The Home Office keeps all immigration routes under review, including the T2 Minister of Religion and Temporary Work – Religious Worker routes.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is not directly involved with any police training provided by Durham Constabulary to Bahrain.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not intend to introduce any such powers.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on returns in the Immigration System Statistics quarterly release. Quarterly data on enforced and voluntary returns of small boat arrivals can be found in Ret_06 of the ‘Returns summary tables’. This dataset covers the period 2018 to March 2025, with data up to June 2025 to be published on 21 August. Additionally, you can find more information on these returns in section 6.1 of the ‘How many people are returned from the UK?’ chapter of the Immigration System Statistics quarterly release.
Enforced and voluntary returns of small boat arrivals by quarter:
Date of return | Returns | Of which, Albanian nationals |
2018 Q1 | 0 | 0 |
2018 Q2 | 0 | 0 |
2018 Q3 | 4 | 0 |
2018 Q4 | 5 | 5 |
2018 Total | 9 | 5 |
2019 Q1 | 21 | 0 |
2019 Q2 | 25 | 0 |
2019 Q3 | 44 | 1 |
2019 Q4 | 38 | 0 |
2019 Total | 128 | 1 |
2020 Q1 | 21 | 0 |
2020 Q2 | 1 | 0 |
2020 Q3 | 76 | 0 |
2020 Q4 | 49 | 0 |
2020 Total | 147 | 0 |
2021 Q1 | 3 | 1 |
2021 Q2 | 6 | 0 |
2021 Q3 | 4 | 0 |
2021 Q4 | 16 | 2 |
2021 Total | 29 | 3 |
2022 Q1 | 36 | 5 |
2022 Q2 | 60 | 13 |
2022 Q3 | 86 | 45 |
2022 Q4 | 203 | 161 |
2022 Total | 385 | 224 |
2023 Q1 | 309 | 252 |
2023 Q2 | 460 | 390 |
2023 Q3 | 589 | 522 |
2023 Q4 | 695 | 624 |
2023 Total | 2,053 | 1,788 |
2024 Q1 | 572 | 512 |
2024 Q2 | 629 | 531 |
2024 Q3 | 571 | 470 |
2024 Q4 | 558 | 443 |
2024 Total | 2,330 | 1,956 |
2025 Q1 | 482 | 356 |
2025 Jan-Mar | 482 | 356 |
Note: This table is a combination of data from Ret_06 and the chart found in section 6.1 of the ‘How many people are returned from the UK?’ chapter of the ‘Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’.
Minister of State (Home Office)
When this Government came to office, we inherited a system where hotels were one of the primary means of providing asylum accommodation – with more than 400 in use in Autumn 2023 at a cost of almost £9 million per day – and where a 70 per cent collapse in asylum decision-making in the last months of the previous administration had driven that pressure up further.
We have taken rapid action to address that chaos, in particular by speeding up the volume of asylum decision-making so that fewer people are stuck in limbo, dependent on support from the state, and so that more failed asylum-seekers can be removed from the UK, along with foreign national offenders and others with no right to be in our country.
The number of hotels in use is now around half the peak reached under the previous Government, and we will take further action over the rest of this Parliament to end the use of asylum hotels entirely.
To support that goal, as allocated as part of the Spending Review, the Government will be investing £500 million in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and local councils, in order to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.
In particular, this fund will support local authorities to make available basic alternative accommodation so that it can be used on a temporary basis to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed. In the longer term, our ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets.
MHCLG and the Home Office are committed to continue working closely with devolved governments and local government to co-design this new model, building on the work undertaken to date. We will be writing to local authorities shortly to update them on this new model.
This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels. These reforms will also go hand-in-hand with the wider reforms set out in the Immigration White Paper to reduce inflow to the asylum system.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The National Security Act 2023 has provided a comprehensive suite of powers to counter the threat of Transnational repression (TNR). The Government, working alongside operational partners, have mature mechanisms in place to prevent, assess and respond to potential threats in the UK. We will continue to take action as necessary to tackle those threats.
The safety and security of Hong Kongers in the UK is of the upmost importance, and the UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. Any foreign state-directed crime against an individual in the UK will not be tolerated. TNR can take on many forms, but acts of TNR tend to be targeted and specific against individuals who a foreign state perceives as a threat or otherwise seeks to control. This often includes vocal critics, dissidents, or activists or those connected to that foreign state.
Minister of State (Home Office)
As referred to in the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July announcing the establishment of an inquiry into the events at Orgreave (HLWS860), the Home Secretary is currently in consultation with the Chair of the inquiry on its terms of reference. The Home Secretary has asked the Chair to engage with key stakeholders as part of that process, and a final copy of the terms of reference will be published at the earliest opportunity thereafter.
Further details will be set out in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
As referred to in the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July announcing the establishment of an inquiry into the events at Orgreave (HLWS860), the Home Secretary is currently in consultation with the Chair of the inquiry on its terms of reference. The Home Secretary has asked the Chair to engage with key stakeholders as part of that process, and a final copy of the terms of reference will be published at the earliest opportunity thereafter.
Further details will be set out in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
As referred to in the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July announcing the establishment of an inquiry into the events at Orgreave (HLWS860), the Home Secretary is currently in consultation with the Chair of the inquiry on its terms of reference. The Home Secretary has asked the Chair to engage with key stakeholders as part of that process, and a final copy of the terms of reference will be published at the earliest opportunity thereafter.
Further details will be set out in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Available data on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the quarterly immigration statistics release. Afghan Transparency data is released quarterly. These are available to view on GOV.UK.
The data published in the Immigration System Statistics release gives the number of individuals under ARAP as 21,316. Available rules and guidance on the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy can be found on GOV.UK.
The above is the best available operational data, as of 31 March 2025.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Available data on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the quarterly immigration statistics release. Afghan Transparency data is released quarterly. These are available to view on GOV.UK.
The data published in the Immigration System Statistics release gives the number of individuals under ARAP as 21,316. Available rules and guidance on the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy can be found on GOV.UK.
The above is the best available operational data, as of 31 March 2025.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The information requested is not currently available from published data and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Minister of State (Home Office)
As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office noted in the written answer to a question from the Hon. Member for Bridlington and The Wolds on 30 January 2025, details of MI5 and SIS internship schemes and their eligibility criteria are publicly available on their respective websites. Across Government, individual Departments and Agencies are responsible for recruitment decisions and required to meet all obligations of relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010.
These internships are designed to provide insight about what it is like to work in the UK intelligence community to individuals who have particular skills and expertise, want to work in a particular area and/or are from demographics and backgrounds currently under-represented in the intelligence services workforce.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK Government recognises Cornish as a minority language under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
There are no statutory requirements for the Home Office to provide official documents in Cornish. Responsibility for promoting and supporting the Cornish language sits with Cornwall Council, with UK-wide policy oversight led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Common Understanding signed on 19 May was a significant further step in our efforts to increase international cooperation to tackle the global challenge of organised immigration crime; a comprehensive partnership that will address all elements of the global challenge of irregular migration.
The first meeting with the Commission on Irregular Migration took place on 16 July. We discussed delivery options for each commitment and officials will use this information to work up delivery plans over the summer, anticipating further work with the EU from the Autumn.
We now have a formal structure in place to work jointly on this with the EU; to realise our ambition to coordinate actions in source countries, enhance cooperation with EU agencies, support information sharing and returns, and develop innovative approaches to stop small boat crossings and other forms of people trafficking across Europe.
Minister of State (Home Office)
All applications must conform with all legal requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This includes, applying the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement); the replacement of animals with alternatives, the reduction of the number of animals used to the minimum possible and the refinement of any techniques to reduce the harm suffered by the animals to the minimum.
The Home Office conducts a robust and rigorous harm benefit assessment which requires a detailed justification of the harms, and which demonstrates the 3Rs have been fully considered. All licence holders have a responsibility to fully implement the 3Rs throughout the lifetime of a licence and demonstrate this requirement at audit.
The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Home Office and DEFRA are engaging with stakeholders to finalise a strategy to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing which is scheduled for publication later this year.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Each application to use animals in science is subject to a robust and rigorous harm benefit assessment by a trained Home Office Inspector whom is a member of either the veterinary or medical profession. This ensures that any harm that may be caused to the animals is justified by the likely expected benefits for humans, animals or the environment.
All applications must conform with all legal requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This includes, applying the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement); the replacement of animals with alternatives, the reduction of the number of animals used to the minimum possible and the refinement of any techniques to reduce the harm suffered by the animals to the minimum. The Home Office conducts a robust and rigorous harm benefit assessment which requires a detailed justification of the harms and which demonstrates the 3Rs have been fully considered. All licence holders have a responsibility to fully implement the 3Rs throughout the lifetime of a licence and demonstrate this requirement at audit.
Licence holders are required to complete retrospective assessments for licences if the protocols in the studies are using non-human primates, cats, dogs and equidae and all those involving procedures classified as severe. Retrospective assessments must consider whether any lessons can be learnt from the programme of work which may contribute to the further implementation of the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.
The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Home Office and DEFRA are engaging with stakeholders to finalise a strategy to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing which is scheduled for publication later this year.
Minister of State (Home Office)
As set out in the Common Understanding from 19 May, our priority is to work with the EU to strengthen our cooperation to tackle people smuggling gangs, coordinate in our approach to upstream migration, explore innovative solutions, and enhance information sharing between our respective border agencies.
This Government is already getting on with the work of returning people who have no legal right to be here. Nearly 30,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and other immigration offenders were returned from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 18 May 2025. Of these total returns, 7,893 were enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. This compares with 6,414 enforced returns over the same period 12 months prior, an increase of 23%.
A key part of reducing irregular arrivals is deterring those from making dangerous journeys in the first place.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has an established assurance pathway for use of solutions including any algorithmic components. This includes complying with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards Hub and the Advanced Algorithms (including Artificial Intelligence) Policy.
The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement which will inform the contractual requirements which are currently in development. The tender will be conducted in accordance with the Sourcing Playbook and the Magenta book. Full details will be set out in the Tender Instructions.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is continuing to work at pace alongside our European counterparts to implement the agreement reached at the UK-EU Summit, including enhancing data exchange with the EU to respond to shared threats and support police investigations.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office recognises the importance of ensuring English Language Tests used across immigration and education services are fit for purpose.
We will continue to engage Other Government Departments as well as gathering insight and feedback to help shape the Home Office English Language Testing tender. The Home Office are working with the Government Digital Service within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of our procurement approvals process and will continue to do so throughout this procurement.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement to gather market insights on remote testing technology and its viability for the Home Office English Language Testing service. Before any decision can be made to formally include at-home English proficiency testing as part of the contract, the Home Office would ensure appropriate risk assessments are conducted to ensure compliance with Home Office policy.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to tackling all types of fraud, including online ticket fraud, and holding those who profit from it to account.
As of 17 March 2025, as part of its enforcement of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s illegal harm duties are now in force. Ofcom will now start assessing platforms’ compliance with their new obligations under the Act and will launch enforcement action where they uncover concerns. This includes making sure that in-scope companies take proactive measures to stop fraudulent content appearing on their platforms, and remove fraudulent material quickly when they become aware of it. This includes criminals offering fake or fraudulent tickets via these platforms and services.
Furthermore, the Government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign is improving public messaging and making it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to tackling all types of fraud, including online ticket fraud, and holding those who profit from it to account.
As of 17 March 2025, as part of its enforcement of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s illegal harm duties are now in force. Ofcom will now start assessing platforms’ compliance with their new obligations under the Act and will launch enforcement action where they uncover concerns. This includes making sure that in-scope companies take proactive measures to stop fraudulent content appearing on their platforms, and remove fraudulent material quickly when they become aware of it. This includes criminals offering fake or fraudulent tickets via these platforms and services.
Furthermore, the Government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign is improving public messaging and making it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to tackling all types of fraud, including online ticket fraud, and holding those who profit from it to account.
As of 17 March 2025, as part of its enforcement of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s illegal harm duties are now in force. Ofcom will now start assessing platforms’ compliance with their new obligations under the Act and will launch enforcement action where they uncover concerns. This includes making sure that in-scope companies take proactive measures to stop fraudulent content appearing on their platforms, and remove fraudulent material quickly when they become aware of it. This includes criminals offering fake or fraudulent tickets via these platforms and services.
Furthermore, the Government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign is improving public messaging and making it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.
Minister of State (Home Office)