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
Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South)
Shadow Home Secretary
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)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Friday 11th July 2025
Select Committee Docs
Friday 11th July 2025
00:01
Select Committee Inquiry
Thursday 12th June 2025
Harnessing the potential of new digital forms of identification

Digital ID can refer to many different aspects of a person’s identity which can be recorded and stored digitally, including …

Written Answers
Monday 14th July 2025
Asylum: MOD Wethersfield
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to inform (a) Parliament and (b) the …
Secondary Legislation
Wednesday 9th July 2025
Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025
These Regulations bring into operation revised codes of practice that provide guidance to examining officers in the exercise of their …
Bills
Thursday 19th June 2025
Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Bill 2024-26
A Bill to Make provision about the effect, during an appeal, of an order under section 40 of the British …
Dept. Publications
Monday 14th July 2025
16:26

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. 07
Oral Questions
Apr. 29
Urgent Questions
Jul. 11
Written Statements
Jul. 10
Westminster Hall
Jul. 09
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

Introduced: 12th September 2024

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

These Regulations bring into operation revised codes of practice that provide guidance to examining officers in the exercise of their powers at ports and the Northern Ireland border area in relation to terrorism and hostile state activity.
Sections 89 and 90 of the Data (Use and Access) Act (c. 18) (“the DUAA”) amend the Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12) (“the DPA”) to enable joint processing between qualifying competent authorities and intelligence services, under Part 4 of the DPA. This enables the controllers, previously unable to process jointly, to process personal data within a single, common regime. The controls and safeguards under Part 4 of the DPA will apply to all such joint processing. Section 89(2) of the DUAA amends section 82 of the DPA, widening the scope of Part 4 of the DPA. Previously, Part 4 of the DPA only applied to processing by or on behalf of the intelligence services. As amended, section 82 also applies Part 4 of the DPA to the processing of personal data by a qualifying competent authority where the processing is the subject of a designation notice. Section 89(2) of the DUAA inserts new subsection (2A) into section 82 of the DPA, which grants a power to the Secretary of State to make regulations to specify and describe which competent authorities (as defined in section 30 of the DPA) are “qualifying competent authorities”, and so able to apply for or be issued with a designation notice.
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
Petition Debates Contributed

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.

229,774
Petition Closed
26 May 2025
closed 1 month, 2 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.

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.


11 Members of the Home Affairs Committee
Karen Bradley Portrait
Karen Bradley (Conservative - Staffordshire Moorlands)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 11th September 2024
Jake Richards Portrait
Jake Richards (Labour - Rother Valley)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Bell Ribeiro-Addy Portrait
Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Joani Reid Portrait
Joani Reid (Labour - East Kilbride and Strathaven)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Connor Rand Portrait
Connor Rand (Labour - Altrincham and Sale West)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Chris Murray Portrait
Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Margaret Mullane Portrait
Margaret Mullane (Labour - Dagenham and Rainham)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Robbie Moore Portrait
Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Shaun Davies Portrait
Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Ben Maguire Portrait
Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Paul Kohler Portrait
Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Home Affairs Committee: Upcoming Events
Home Affairs Committee - Oral evidence
Combatting New Forms of Extremism
15 Jul 2025, 1:45 p.m.
At 2:30pm: Oral evidence
Dr Joe Whittaker - Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Sociology, and Social Policy at Swansea University, and Director at Vox Pol Institute
Dr Daniel Allington - Reader in Social Analytics at King's College London, Senior Associate Fellow, Counter Extremism Group Fellow at London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, and Deputy Editor at Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism
Professor Laura G. E. Smith - Professor of Psychology at Department of Psychology, University of Bath, and Director at Bath Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour
At 3:30pm: Oral evidence
Robin Simcox - Commissioner at Commission for Countering Extremism
Lord Anderson KC, Interim Independent Prevent Commissioner

View calendar - Save to Calendar
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 Summer 2024 disorder Asylum accommodation Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls: Funding Combatting New Forms of Extremism Violence and abuse towards retail workers Harnessing the potential of new digital forms of identification 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

25th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many legal migrants have settled in Upper Bann constituency in the past five years.

The requested information is not held in a reportable format. To provide this information would require a manual review of case records, which could only be done for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
26th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the primary countries of origin for legal migrants in Upper Bann constituency in the last five years.

The requested information is not held in a reportable format. To provide this information would require a manual review of case records, which could only be done for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
30th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 21 October 2024 (HL1289), what steps they have taken to work closely with the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council to strengthen the training for officers on violence against women and girls; where is progress up to; and how they are monitoring this with specific regard to intimate image abuse.

As set out in the written answer of 21 October, the College of Policing set the curriculum for policing which includes educational outcomes on image-based abuse. At present, forces choose how to deliver this training, often by commissioning local experts and support services.

However, to ensure that every force has the right specialist capability to investigate Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) crimes, including Intimate Image Abuse, we have invested £13.1 million into the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection, which launched in April 2025. This included a £2 million uplift to support improvements in police training – this work is now under way, beginning with an extensive review of the current approach.

The Home Office will be working closely with the College and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to ensure the training covers all forms of VAWG, including intimate image abuse. In addition, innovative, data-driven and evidence-based police practices is being prioritised through ringfenced funding for academic input into the development of training and guidance.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a clear and affordable route for permanent leave to remain in the UK for Ukrainians who (1) hold visas, (2) are established in, and contributing to, their communities, (3) are employed, and (4) have children in education.

The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025, provides up to an additional 18 months’ permission to stay in the UK for those with existing Ukraine Scheme permission.

The scheme provides the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education as the existing Ukraine schemes.

This extension represents a generous and meaningful commitment. It aligns with the UK Government’s ongoing support for Ukraine and its people, while also respecting the Ukrainian Government’s strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens. It is for this reason that our offer of sanctuary through the Ukraine schemes remains temporary in nature and does not lead to settlement in the UK.

There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements, such as work routes and family routes. These routes are published on GOV.UK at: Work in the UK - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab) and Family in the UK - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The UK Government continues to keep both the Ukraine Schemes and the evolving situation in Ukraine under active review.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
9th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to establish an independent national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation.

On the 16 June the Home Secretary announced that she had accepted all 12 of Baroness Casey’s recommendations from her National Audit into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

As part of this, and as recommended by Baroness Casey, the Government is moving swiftly to establish an Independent Commission on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation under the Inquiries Act 2005.

We are working closely with partners across government and beyond to develop the Terms of Reference, which will be shaped through engagement with the appointed Chair, victims and survivors, and other key stakeholders.

Following the appointment of the independent Chair and the establishment of the inquiry structure, the Commission will begin considering evidence and data to select the first local areas for targeted investigations.

Further details will be announced in due course.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58059 on Street Trading: Licensing, what guidance he has given to local authorities on the use of Public Space Protection Orders to ban street stalls by political campaigners engaging in lawful free speech.

The statutory framework for PSPOs sets out clear conditions for their use.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) funding and (b) guidance has been given to (i) private contractors and (ii) local authorities on providing free (A) TV licences and (B) driving licences to asylum seekers.

None.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that French authorities uphold agreements on stopping asylum seekers attempting to cross the English Channel.

Our current cooperation with France on irregular and illegal migration is underpinned by the commitments made in the UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration - GOV.UK. Any future agreements will be published in the normal way in due course.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 23 June 2025, 30 June 2025 and 7 July 2025 to Questions 60413, 61747 and 63990 on Asylum: Northern Ireland, whether she plans to purchase (a) tower blocks and (b) student accommodation solely to house people already living in Northern Ireland and claiming asylum not the wider cohort living elsewhere.

I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 23 June 2025 to UIN 60413.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided (a) funding and (b) guidance to (i) private contractors and (b) local authorities for the provision of free TV licences to people seeking asylum.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question 65010.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to retain existing restrictions on the number of asylum seekers housed at the former RAF Wethersfield site.

Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to inform (a) Parliament and (b) the local community prior to any changes to the agreed cap on the number of asylum seekers at the Wethersfield site.

Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to propose an extension to the commissioning date of the Asylum Reception Centre at the former RAF Wethersfield.

Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
8th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether overseas NHS staff on band three Agenda for Change pay will be eligible for visa renewals under current immigration salary requirements.

Salary thresholds are an important way of ensuring those coming to work in the UK are able to support themselves. These workers do not have access to public funds so it is important a rate is set which will ensure people are earning sufficient income without having to rely on public funds. A number of health and care and education occupations are subject to lower rates of pay than other occupations.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been asked to consider whether there should continue to be a different threshold for health and care worker visas. We look forward to receiving the MAC’s recommendations in due course.

Individuals who are sponsored in roles at band 3 before the rules change on 22 July will be eligible to extend their visa providing they meet all the requirements at the time including being paid the appropriate salary. Salary thresholds and going rates are routinely updated and sponsored workers will need to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply for their visa to be renewed.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
8th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of immigration salary thresholds for staff currently employed in the social care sector.

Salary thresholds are an important way of ensuring those coming to work in the UK are able to support themselves. These workers do not have access to public funds so it is important a rate is set which will ensure people are earning sufficient income without having to rely on public funds. A number of health and care and education occupations are subject to lower rates of pay than other occupations.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been asked to consider whether there should continue to be a different threshold for health and care worker visas. We look forward to receiving the MAC’s recommendations in due course.

Individuals who are sponsored in roles at band 3 before the rules change on 22 July will be eligible to extend their visa providing they meet all the requirements at the time including being paid the appropriate salary. Salary thresholds and going rates are routinely updated and sponsored workers will need to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply for their visa to be renewed.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 60473 on Defending Democracy Taskforce, if she will publish a redacted version of the findings.

The Written Ministerial Statement I issued on 14 May provided a transparent and comprehensive overview of the Review’s key findings and recommendations, while protecting sensitive national security information which could be of use to our adversaries.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
25th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether (a) officials and (b) Ministers in her Department have had recent meetings with (i) the Israeli Embassy and (ii) Elbit Systems.

I refer the Hon Member to the response I gave to UIN 41686 on 14 April.

The Home Office engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry partners and diplomatic counterparts to support its departmental objectives, ensure the effective delivery of its responsibilities, and engage on stakeholder matters of concern.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has (a) had communications with and (b) met with representatives of Elbit Systems UK (i) in the last five years and (ii) since July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the response I gave to UIN 41686 on 14 April.

The Home Office engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry partners and diplomatic counterparts to support its departmental objectives, ensure the effective delivery of its responsibilities, and engage on stakeholder matters of concern.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62853 on National Security: Reviews, when he plans to introduce the State Threats Proscription-like Tool.

Following a review of state threats and terrorism legislation by Jonathan Hall KC, the Home Secretary pledged to take forward his recommendations.

This included a proscription-style tool to tackle state-based security threats in the UK. The Home Secretary has committed to introduce legislation to this effect as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty across her Departmental responsibilities.

The Home Office greatly values the contribution of all service personnel and remains committed to upholding its moral obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Department already embeds the principles of the Covenant, specifically within the provisions of the Appendix HM Armed Forces route which ensures that service personnel and their families are not disadvantaged in immigration matters due to their service.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of people engaged in county lines activity.

According to the NCLCC’s latest Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment, 13,084 individuals were identified by the police as linked to County Lines between April 2023 and March 2024.

These individuals had a variety of roles, including offenders, drug users and victims.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department holds on the total value of stock lost through shoplifting in each of the last five years.

The Home Office has published data from the Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) which collects data from business premises in England and Wales about their experience of crime.

The data includes an assessment, made by the business, of the level of the financial impact of crime they experienced in the previous year as a result of being the victim of crime. This includes incidents theft committed by customers. Separate estimates were published for the retail sector. Data is not collected on the exact value of any goods stolen by customers, or the impact of customer theft separate from other types of crime. The most recent data is from 2023, and can be found here: Crime against businesses statistics - GOV.UK

Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are committed to ensuring that people feel safe on our streets and in their communities. To help tackle retail crime, we will provide £5 million over the next three years to continue to fund Opal, the national policing intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime.

We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime.

Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We will also end the effective immunity for shop theft of and below £200 sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on tackling county lines gangs in schools.

The Home Office works closely with the Department for Education to tackle knife crime and the criminal exploitation of children.

Ministers from both Departments met recently for a targeted conversation on tackling child criminal exploitation and county lines.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
27th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, whether it is her policy to maintain the original terms of the British National (Overseas) visa route.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.

Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in due course.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
8th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the average market value of off-road bikes that have been (a) seized and (b) destroyed under powers introduced in 2025 to help tackle antisocial behaviour.

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

The Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles, including off-road bikes, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Crime and Policing Bill is expected to secure Royal Assent around the turn of the year.

On 28 May 2025, we published a consultation on amendments to secondary legislation on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles such as off-road bikes, which have been used anti-socially from 14 days to 48 hours. We expect any changes to secondary legislation to come into force in early 2026.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number or value of off-road bikes that have been seized or destroyed under existing powers.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
4th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that ensure that (a) refugees and (b) stateless people are not penalised for their irregular (i) entry or (ii) arrival.

Irrespective of someone’s method of entry or arrival to the UK, all asylum claims that are admitted to the UK asylum system are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been rejected on the grounds of dual nationality in each of the last five years.

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.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ascertain previous offences of people claiming asylum in the UK.

All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks. For further information regarding security checks during the asylum screening process, please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-screening-and-routing/asylum-screening-and-routing-accessible.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people claiming asylum had a criminal record before entering the UK in the most recent period for which data is available.

All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks. For further information regarding security checks during the asylum screening process, please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-screening-and-routing/asylum-screening-and-routing-accessible.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of asylum seekers have had their DNA taken on arrival in the UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 9 July to Question 63301. The current procedures are the same as those that were in place under the previous government.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the list of geographical areas in which her Department will encourage private landlords to house asylum seekers..

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 23 June to Question 60155.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
3rd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department shares information with local police forces on the criminal records of asylum seekers placed in their area.

The Home Office communicates regularly with local police forces, and with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, to assess the operational implications of housing asylum seekers in different areas and regions around the country, and will always do what is necessary to protect the safety and security of each local community affected.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
26th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people with EU Settlement Scheme status are currently living in the UK.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure (a) guidance and (b) standards are followed on the operation of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure (a) structured training programmes and (b) required materials are provided to new volunteers in the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to take steps to ensure guidance is followed on the operations of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the operations of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to make amendments to existing legislation on the operation of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a review into the operations of the Independent Custody Visiting Association (a) in Hampshire and (b) nationally.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to increase its oversight of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with the Independent Custody Visiting Association on the effectiveness of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme in Hampshire.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to appoint an independent ombudsman to provide oversight of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.

Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in her Department have permission to work remotely outside the UK; and in which countries those staff are based.

The Home Office has a clear policy on International Remote Working (IRW), which is only permitted in very limited circumstances, either on compassionate grounds for up to four weeks where an employee has a seriously ill relative abroad, or to enable an employee to accompany their spouse/partner on a Diplomatic or other Government posting abroad. No other IRW is permitted.

Since January 2025 9 employees have been allowed a period of remote working on compassionate grounds. We also have 11 employees currently working remotely while they accompany their spouse/partner on an international posting.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many football bans have been given to offenders in the last (a) 12 and (b) 18 months.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on football banning orders in England and Wales in the ‘Football-related arrests and banning orders, England and Wales’ Official Statistics release. The most recent data covering the 2023 to 2024 football season and can be accessed at the following link: Football-related arrests and banning orders: 2023 to 2024 season - GOV.UK

Data on football banning orders for the 2023 to 2024 domestic season are available in the accompanying ‘detailed football banning order statistics data tables’.

Data for the 2024 to 2025 football season will be released on 17 July 2025: Football-related arrests, banning orders: 2024/25 domestic season - Official statistics announcement - GOV.UK.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been rejected on the grounds of disputed nationality in each of the last five years.

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.

The Home Office uses several processes and tools to identify a claimant’s nationality and other identifying features.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been rejected on the grounds of unknown nationality in each of the last five years.

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.

The Home Office uses several processes and tools to identify a claimant’s nationality and other identifying features.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on recording the (a) DNA and (b) fingerprints of migrants who arrive in the UK illegally.

As per the practice under successive governments, the Home Office collects biometric data, in the form of facial images and fingerprints, from all people who enter the UK illegally where they are aged over five, for the purpose of verifying identity and evaluating risk to public safety.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
2nd Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her plans are for the asylum seekers housed in hotels, in the context of the Chancellor’s recent pledge to end all hotel accommodation for asylum seekers by 2029.

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders to fulfil our statutory obligations and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels by the end of this Parliament.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
7th Jul 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49682 on Deportation, what estimate she has made of the number of those 24,000 people that entered the UK illegally.

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.

More detailed published data on returns activity is published in the ‘Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’. Data on the number of foreign national offender returns from the UK can be found in Ret_D03 of the ‘Returns detailed datasets’ and enforced and voluntary returns of small boat arrivals can be found in Ret_06 of the ‘Returns summary tables’. This data goes up to March 2025.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)