Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of mental health concerns as a ground for overturning asylum and immigration decisions; and what steps they have taken, if any, to remove mental health concerns as a criterion for asylum decisions to be overturned.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
When asylum and human rights applications are decided, it is necessary to consider the health of applicants, both physical and mental.
Over time, we have seen an expansion in the way human rights arguments are relied upon in some asylum and immigration cases, including those involving mental health issues. This can create barriers to the removal of individuals with no right to remain in the United Kingdom.
Through the Immigration and Asylum Bill, and in line with the Chişinău Political Declaration adopted by the Council of Europe, the Government is ensuring that human rights protections are applied as intended, with appropriate thresholds and proper weight given to the public interest.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they will put in place to screen refugees accepted on the new refugee community sponsorship scheme for security risks.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office will assess all applications to ensure that only those who meet the eligibility requirements can access the named sponsorship route. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all applicants will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many children aged 10 to 13 have been arrested for (1) common assault, (2) actual bodily harm, (3) inflicting grievous bodily harm, and (4) causing grievous bodily harm with intent, in each of the past five years.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests for notifiable offences in England and Wales as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK
Data are collected by age group, such as 10-17 years old, and more detailed breakdowns are not available. Additionally, data on arrests is collected by offence group only, for example ‘Sexual offences’. Data on arrests for the specific offences requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many children aged 10 to 13 have been arrested for (1) rape, (2) sexual assault, (3) assault by penetration, and (4) exposure, in each of the past five years.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests for notifiable offences in England and Wales as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK
Data are collected by age group, such as 10-17 years old, and more detailed breakdowns are not available. Additionally, data on arrests is collected by offence group only, for example ‘Sexual offences’. Data on arrests for the specific offences requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend the replacement of the Border Force cutters to be undertaken via domestic-only procurement.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Progress continues to be made on plans to procure a replacement maritime capability for the Border Security Command.
The procurement schedule has not yet been finalised but we are continuing to engage potential suppliers for future Border Security Command cutters on the basis of a UK-led build, using the Defence and Security provisions within the Procurement Act 2023 where appropriate. This approach is consistent with the government's commitment to back British businesses and a sustainable and successful shipbuilding and maritime technology sector and to ensure value for money and deliverability.
A dynamic UK shipbuilding sector has potential to play a key role in creating and sustaining jobs and in ensuring shared prosperity around the country. The Maritime Capabilities Replacement Programme procurement will require all bidders to deliver social value, with fair work and resilient supply chains identified as key priorities.
My officials are working closely with the National Shipbuilding Office.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they intend to give to UK content and social value in the procurement of Border Force cutters.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Progress continues to be made on plans to procure a replacement maritime capability for the Border Security Command.
The procurement schedule has not yet been finalised but we are continuing to engage potential suppliers for future Border Security Command cutters on the basis of a UK-led build, using the Defence and Security provisions within the Procurement Act 2023 where appropriate. This approach is consistent with the government's commitment to back British businesses and a sustainable and successful shipbuilding and maritime technology sector and to ensure value for money and deliverability.
A dynamic UK shipbuilding sector has potential to play a key role in creating and sustaining jobs and in ensuring shared prosperity around the country. The Maritime Capabilities Replacement Programme procurement will require all bidders to deliver social value, with fair work and resilient supply chains identified as key priorities.
My officials are working closely with the National Shipbuilding Office.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the procurement timelines for the replacement cutters for Border Force.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Progress continues to be made on plans to procure a replacement maritime capability for the Border Security Command.
The procurement schedule has not yet been finalised but we are continuing to engage potential suppliers for future Border Security Command cutters on the basis of a UK-led build, using the Defence and Security provisions within the Procurement Act 2023 where appropriate. This approach is consistent with the government's commitment to back British businesses and a sustainable and successful shipbuilding and maritime technology sector and to ensure value for money and deliverability.
A dynamic UK shipbuilding sector has potential to play a key role in creating and sustaining jobs and in ensuring shared prosperity around the country. The Maritime Capabilities Replacement Programme procurement will require all bidders to deliver social value, with fair work and resilient supply chains identified as key priorities.
My officials are working closely with the National Shipbuilding Office.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they have not published a Police Covenant Report for the 2024–25 financial year, pursuant to section 1 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, and when they will do so.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Police Covenant Annual Report for the 2024–25 financial year has been completed and we plan to publish the report as soon as possible.
The Government remains committed to the Police Covenant, ensuring that the physical protection, health and wellbeing of the police workforce, both serving and retired, are properly recognised and supported.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 22 July (HL Deb col 135), on what basis they calculated that 35,000 people who arrived in the UK specifically by small boats were removed last year.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - 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.’
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many returns of people who arrived by small boat there have been in each month since July 2023, broken down by nationality.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - 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’.