Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her department plans to facilitate biometrics checks in Gaza following the statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to the House on 24th June 2026 regarding the resumption of medical evacuations and student pathways.
Answered by Mike Tapp
All individuals who enter the UK as part of the Medevac and Student processes will be subject to robust security checks and will be required to submit their biometrics ahead of travel. This is a vital way of protecting the UK public from individuals who pose any national security, criminality or safeguarding risks.
Where individuals are approved for travel from Gaza, the Government will work with the authorities of a third country to facilitate the enrolment of biometrics before onward travel to the UK. We may waive in-person biometric requirements only for individuals medically certified as too ill to enrol. All those accompanying such individuals must also provide their biometrics in person and present valid travel documentation for everyone.
We are not able to offer a running commentary on operational matters. HMG will work closely with authorities in a third country to ensure individuals undertake biometric checks before coming to the UK.
Supporting Medevac and Student departures is a coordinated effort across HMG. Departures from Gaza remain highly complex and dependent on factors outside the UK Government’s control. As such, travel and timelines cannot be guaranteed.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to end unethical and unnecessary animal testing.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office regulates the use of animals in science under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). Animal testing that is unethical, unnecessary or not scientifically justified is not permitted. The use of animals is only permitted where the statutory requirements are met, where there is no validated non-animal alternative, and where the expected benefits justify the likely harms.
Every project licence application must undergo a rigorous harm-benefit analysis and scrutiny of how the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs) have been applied. Applications must also undergo ethical and scientific review by local Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies before submission to the Regulator. The Regulator will not progress applications where the legal requirements are not met.
The Government has a long-term vision for a world where the use of animals in science is eliminated in all but exceptional circumstances. The Government’s published strategy, Replacing animals in science, is backed by £75 million in funding, and contains commitments to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of non-animal alternatives, including the creation of a UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much of their annual budget does the National Crime Agency spend on specifically investigating criminality in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
As a matter of longstanding policy the National Crime Agency does not providebreakdowns and estimates on the specific budget allocations by location.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, has the Research, Information and Communications Unit within the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism supported the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Policing Operations over the last 24 months.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
RICU conducts open source monitoring to highlight radicalisation risks. Its work supports the wider counter-terrorism system by providing analysis on terrorist and extremist use of propaganda and exploitation of the internet to inform the UK’s counter terrorism system. All activity complies with relevant legislation. RICU provides updates to a range of partners across HMG, including the Northern Ireland Office and national and regional Police forces.
RICU operates within the framework of Home Office governance, including ministerial accountability and established departmental oversight processes. Ministers have authorised RICU’s work since its establishment and receive its outputs as part of the Department’s wider counter-terrorism activity.
The team’s work is subject to appropriate internal assurance and external scrutiny, including by Parliament.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors were considered by her Department when launching the Ukrainian Visa Schemes; and whether this Department has made a similar assessment for any other state specific visa scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp
In response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Government set up three generous Ukraine schemes at pace; the Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme. The Government’s priority in setting up the schemes was to get Ukrainians to safety as quickly as possible.
The Ukraine Schemes were developed in close consultation with Ukrainian leaders and the diaspora community. We will continue to work closely together to ensure any changes are as accessible as possible for eligible Ukrainians and their families.
In any humanitarian situation, the UK must carefully consider its approach in response. Any decision to implement a bespoke visa scheme would need to consider a range of factors, including assessing the unique crisis and relevant impacts on security, compliance and returns.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including Palestinians within the Refugee Resettlement scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp
In the Restoring Order and Control statement, published in November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced students to come to the UK to study or for work.
Work is underway to deliver the new routes. Further details, including who will be eligible for the new routes, will be set out in due course.
The UK Resettlement Scheme is not currently taking new referrals. We are working through the role of the UKRS in the future landscape of safe and legal routes.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to establish a commissioner for covert law enforcement in Northern Ireland that could help ensure covert surveillance techniques are only used within the law.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
Oversight of the use of investigatory powers in Northern Ireland is provided by the UK-wide Investigatory Powers Commissioner.
The Commissioner’s role is to ensure that such use is necessary and proportionate and in accordance with the law. This arrangement also has the benefit of ensuring the scrutiny of these powers is consistent across the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methods are available to allow Syrians who arrived under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme to demonstrate their (a) right to (i) work and (ii) study in the UK and (b) recourse to public funds.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Syrians resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) were granted permission to work and recourse to public funds on arrival in the UK.
The UK has transitioned to a fully digital immigration system, replacing physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and visa vignettes with eVisas, which now serve as the primary proof of immigration status.
An eVisa shows an individual’s identity and immigration status, including right to work, rent or access public funds.
Individuals use their UKVI account to generate a share code to prove their status to employers, landlords or carriers, including when travelling.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of services for processing of asylum claims from Somali nationals.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Home Office provides a variety of services to facilitate the processing of all asylum claims, irrespective of nationality. This includes provision of interpreters, interviewing officers, decision makers, and legal representation on an entitlement basis. We have a legal obligation, as set out in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, to support asylum seekers (including any dependants) who would otherwise be destitute, with support payments and accommodation. No separate assessment of the adequacy of services for processing of asylum claims from Somali nationals has been completed.
We signpost to additional sources of support and advice as appropriate, including via the Asylum Safeguarding Hub. The Information booklet about your asylum application is provided to all asylum claimants and includes both telephone numbers and website addresses of various organisations that assist asylum seekers with specific needs. Migrant Help are also funded to provide independent support and advice to all asylum claimants about the asylum process in the UK and accessing relevant services.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on making provisions for Iranians seeking asylum in the UK.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
We are continuing to interview and decide asylum and human rights claims from Iranian nationals. Each claim continues to be assessed on its individual merits. The UK has experience in managing fastmoving country situations, and the current circumstances in Iran are not unique in that regard. The Home Office will continue to monitor developments closely and update relevant country information as appropriate.