Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what national assessment they have made of drug-facilitated sexual assault within relationships; and whether they have a strategy to address the online facilitation of such crimes.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Individual police forces retain operational ownership of investigations. However, several international cooperation tools can support cross‑border enquiries. This includes engagement with INTERPOL and Europol, as well as other mechanisms such as international biometric exchange. Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) can be used where evidence is required from overseas jurisdictions. Eurojust can support coordination of prosecutions and judicial cooperation in relevant cross‑border cases, where appropriate.
We have limited data on the prevalence of drug-facilitated sexual assault within intimate relationships. We have however taken several steps to tackle spiking in England and Wales, including where it is linked to drug facilitated sexual assault. Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing a new criminal offence for spiking, which will give greater clarity to victims and raise the maximum sentence for the offence of administering a poisonous or noxious substance in section 24 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
We are working with three police forces to roll out a sample collection pilot in Spring 2026, which aims to improve the timeliness and accessibility of urine sample collection following suspected spiking incidents. We have commissioned the University of Birmingham to undertake academic research into the motivations of spiking perpetrators. finally, the Police are developing a new guidance and training package on spiking for frontline officers, which will enable better support to be provided to suspected victims, as well as more timely evidence-gathering which should help to bring perpetrators to justice.
Statutory guidance on controlling or coercive behaviour has been issued to the police and other agencies, which highlights that perpetrators of domestic abuse may use substances such as alcohol or drugs to control a victim through dependency. More details can be found here: Controlling or coercive behaviour: statutory guidance framework (accessible) - GOV.UK. The Government has committed to updating the controlling or coercive behaviour statutory guidance by the end of 2026.
All NHS staff receive national mandatory safeguarding training that is being strengthened for launch in December 2026. This will reinforce to staff their safeguarding responsibilities and support them in identifying and responding to victims of violence and abuse.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what mandatory training exists for police and health services on recognition and evidence capture regarding drug-facilitated sexual assault in intimate contexts.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Individual police forces retain operational ownership of investigations. However, several international cooperation tools can support cross‑border enquiries. This includes engagement with INTERPOL and Europol, as well as other mechanisms such as international biometric exchange. Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) can be used where evidence is required from overseas jurisdictions. Eurojust can support coordination of prosecutions and judicial cooperation in relevant cross‑border cases, where appropriate.
We have limited data on the prevalence of drug-facilitated sexual assault within intimate relationships. We have however taken several steps to tackle spiking in England and Wales, including where it is linked to drug facilitated sexual assault. Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing a new criminal offence for spiking, which will give greater clarity to victims and raise the maximum sentence for the offence of administering a poisonous or noxious substance in section 24 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
We are working with three police forces to roll out a sample collection pilot in Spring 2026, which aims to improve the timeliness and accessibility of urine sample collection following suspected spiking incidents. We have commissioned the University of Birmingham to undertake academic research into the motivations of spiking perpetrators. finally, the Police are developing a new guidance and training package on spiking for frontline officers, which will enable better support to be provided to suspected victims, as well as more timely evidence-gathering which should help to bring perpetrators to justice.
Statutory guidance on controlling or coercive behaviour has been issued to the police and other agencies, which highlights that perpetrators of domestic abuse may use substances such as alcohol or drugs to control a victim through dependency. More details can be found here: Controlling or coercive behaviour: statutory guidance framework (accessible) - GOV.UK. The Government has committed to updating the controlling or coercive behaviour statutory guidance by the end of 2026.
All NHS staff receive national mandatory safeguarding training that is being strengthened for launch in December 2026. This will reinforce to staff their safeguarding responsibilities and support them in identifying and responding to victims of violence and abuse.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government who owns the operational lead and what interagency co-ordination exists for cross-border aspects of drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Individual police forces retain operational ownership of investigations. However, several international cooperation tools can support cross‑border enquiries. This includes engagement with INTERPOL and Europol, as well as other mechanisms such as international biometric exchange. Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) can be used where evidence is required from overseas jurisdictions. Eurojust can support coordination of prosecutions and judicial cooperation in relevant cross‑border cases, where appropriate.
We have limited data on the prevalence of drug-facilitated sexual assault within intimate relationships. We have however taken several steps to tackle spiking in England and Wales, including where it is linked to drug facilitated sexual assault. Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing a new criminal offence for spiking, which will give greater clarity to victims and raise the maximum sentence for the offence of administering a poisonous or noxious substance in section 24 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
We are working with three police forces to roll out a sample collection pilot in Spring 2026, which aims to improve the timeliness and accessibility of urine sample collection following suspected spiking incidents. We have commissioned the University of Birmingham to undertake academic research into the motivations of spiking perpetrators. finally, the Police are developing a new guidance and training package on spiking for frontline officers, which will enable better support to be provided to suspected victims, as well as more timely evidence-gathering which should help to bring perpetrators to justice.
Statutory guidance on controlling or coercive behaviour has been issued to the police and other agencies, which highlights that perpetrators of domestic abuse may use substances such as alcohol or drugs to control a victim through dependency. More details can be found here: Controlling or coercive behaviour: statutory guidance framework (accessible) - GOV.UK. The Government has committed to updating the controlling or coercive behaviour statutory guidance by the end of 2026.
All NHS staff receive national mandatory safeguarding training that is being strengthened for launch in December 2026. This will reinforce to staff their safeguarding responsibilities and support them in identifying and responding to victims of violence and abuse.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Afghans have been accepted under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme whose resettlement is suspended; what is the cause of, and what steps are being taken to resolve, such suspensions; and what assistance is being provided to families pending resettlement.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We continue to honour our commitment to bring eligible Afghans to the UK and plans are underway to relocate families as soon as possible. Data on how many Afghans have been accepted on ACRS and are in third countries is internal operational data and not for release at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how are decisions made on, and what is the process for, resettling more Afghans from Pakistan who are facing expulsion in addition to the 3,000 already accepted under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and what steps they are taking in that regard, including on prioritising the 20 female Afghan judges who are in Pakistan.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Resettlement of eligible Afghans remains a top priority for this government. As of June 2023, around 24,600 vulnerable people affected by the events in Afghanistan have been brought to safety. This includes British Nationals and their families, Afghans who loyally served the UK and others identified as particularly at-risk, such as campaigners for women’s rights, human rights defenders, Chevening scholars, journalists, judges and members of the LGBT+ community.
We are aware of the recent Government of Pakistan announcements regarding Afghans in Pakistan and appreciate the impact of this on those awaiting resettlement. HMG has engaged intensively with the Government of Pakistan to secure assurances that none of those eligible under the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be subject to deportation.
Visas continue to be issued to individuals eligible for the ACRS and ARAP schemes and flights are continuing to bring eligible Afghans to the UK.
The ACRS is not open to applications. Instead, eligible individuals are prioritised and referred for resettlement to the UK through the existing pathways under this scheme. We are not certain which female Afghan judges the question refers to; however our Afghan schemes have been designed to be fair and equitable in identifying those in need of resettlement or relocation to the UK. As has been the practice under successive governments, the Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.
We recognise there are many vulnerable individuals who remain in Afghanistan and the region. Whilst the UK maintains a generous resettlement offer, we must recognise that the capacity of the UK to resettle people is not unlimited, and difficult decisions have to be made on who will be prioritised for resettlement.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to provide visas to Afghan women at risk, especially judges, lawyers, MPs, journalists and human rights defenders, and (2) to work with domestic and international partners on identifying such women.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), announced on 18 August, will provide those put at risk by recent events in Afghanistan with a route to safety. The scheme will prioritise:
In delivering the ACRS, the Government will work with the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR and other international partners in the region to identify and resettle people at risk, including women and girls.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan women at risk, including judges, lawyers, MPs, journalists and human rights defenders, were resettled to the UK in August and September.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The United Kingdom evacuated around 5,000 Afghan nationals under the ARAP scheme and around 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges, and many others. Around half of those resettled were women.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what practical assistance they are providing to Afghan women, particularly judges, lawyers, MPs, journalists, human rights defenders and others at particular risk.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
A bespoke new safe and legal route will welcome Afghans most at risk who have been forced to flee the country, including women, girls and religious and other minorities given their particular vulnerability, to the UK. The ACRS will prioritise:
Those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights and freedom of speech, rule of law (for example, judges, women’s rights activists, journalists); and vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+).
Under Operation Warm Welcome, we are taking a cross-government approach to ensuring Afghans arriving in the UK are able to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education and integrate with their local communities.
All those brought to the UK under ACRS will have the right to work, access to education and healthcare and be able to apply for public funds. To ensure they will be supported properly, changes will be made to legislation so that, if necessary, people arriving under ACRS do not need to meet the habitual residence test.
They will also receive comprehensive integration support as they start their new lives in the UK. A package of support to acclimatise to the UK, learn English, and find work, will enable rapid self-sufficiency and social integration in UK communities.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have frozen the assets of, and barred visas for, those Saudi nationals and their family members who have been identified as having been involved in, or as having been accessories to, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Asset Freezing is the responsibility of the FCO and HM Treasury, information on individuals whose assets have been frozen can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-financial-sanctions-implementation.
The Government has a long-established practice of not routinely commenting on the details of individual immigration cases.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which organisations they have commissioned to provide support to applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Details of the 57 organisations awarded EU Settlement grant scheme funding will be announced mid-May once the commercial activity has been concluded.