Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce illegal migration.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Last November, we announced the most significant reforms to the asylum system in a generation, and on 30 June introduced the Immigration and Asylum Bill to deliver them.

We are already backing these reforms with action: by December 2025, returns had increased by 27% and illegal working visits by 77% compared with the previous 18 months, while small boat arrivals are down 40% in 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has undertaken, or plans to undertake, any review of enforcement actions, civil penalties or criminal proceedings that may have been affected by concerns regarding the reliability, authorisation, provenance or evidential status of material relied upon in those cases.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

Evidence gathering within HMRC criminal investigations is subject to strict legal and procedural requirements as set out in legislation and related Codes of Practice and is in line with the standards expected across the Criminal Justice System.

Decisions to instigate criminal proceedings are made by an independent prosecuting authority following an assessment of the evidential sufficiency in the case.

HMRC's forensic activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, the Criminal Procedure Rules and the principles of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice. Accredited forensic activities meet the relevant requirements, including ISO/IEC 17025. For forensic activities pending accreditation, appropriate mitigations, quality controls and documented procedures are in place to ensure the work is carried out to the same forensic standards and remains auditable, reproducible and capable of independent review.

HMRC keeps its procedures and controls under regular review to ensure legal compliance and best practice. Amendments and updates will be applied following internal assurance activity conducted to ensure HMRC delivers to a constant standard. Changes may also be made following case feedback from either the Tax Tribunal or Criminal Courts.

The use of criminal powers by HMRC is routinely subject to external scrutiny. The HMRC's criminal investigation powers and safeguards at 2.2 Oversight of communication data powers and 2.3 External safeguards on the use of HMRC’s criminal investigation powers set out this external oversight.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures are in place to ensure that forensic testing, intelligence, analytical methodologies and other evidence relied upon by HMRC in enforcement action and criminal proceedings are lawfully obtained and independently validated where appropriate.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

Evidence gathering within HMRC criminal investigations is subject to strict legal and procedural requirements as set out in legislation and related Codes of Practice and is in line with the standards expected across the Criminal Justice System.

Decisions to instigate criminal proceedings are made by an independent prosecuting authority following an assessment of the evidential sufficiency in the case.

HMRC's forensic activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, the Criminal Procedure Rules and the principles of the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice. Accredited forensic activities meet the relevant requirements, including ISO/IEC 17025. For forensic activities pending accreditation, appropriate mitigations, quality controls and documented procedures are in place to ensure the work is carried out to the same forensic standards and remains auditable, reproducible and capable of independent review.

HMRC keeps its procedures and controls under regular review to ensure legal compliance and best practice. Amendments and updates will be applied following internal assurance activity conducted to ensure HMRC delivers to a constant standard. Changes may also be made following case feedback from either the Tax Tribunal or Criminal Courts.

The use of criminal powers by HMRC is routinely subject to external scrutiny. The HMRC's criminal investigation powers and safeguards at 2.2 Oversight of communication data powers and 2.3 External safeguards on the use of HMRC’s criminal investigation powers set out this external oversight.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mechanisms exist to ensure independent oversight of allegations of serious misconduct or criminality involving HMRC investigators, including compliance with referral requirements and the effectiveness of arrangements for external scrutiny.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)

In England & Wales, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has the authority to investigate the most serious complaints and conduct matters in connection with the enforcement activities of HMRC. The statutory requirement for HMRC to refer such matters and oversight from the IOPC is governed by the Revenue and Customs (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2010.

In Scotland, there is similar oversight of alleged criminal conduct by a HMRC officer under agreement with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. This includes the requirement to refer certain serious allegations to the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner who carry out a similar oversight role in Scotland.

In Northern Ireland HMRC is seeking oversight of HMRC enforcement activities from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland following enabling legislation that was secured in March 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential for artificial intelligence technology to allow police forces to securely integrate information from across agencies to identify risk and support earlier intervention.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government does not determine which technology police forces procure or deploy. This is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, held accountable by directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Home Office does recognise the importance of better linking data across multiple systems and using technology to ensure improved operational outcomes. In the recent Government White Paper From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published in January, we set out our ambitious plans for police reform. This includes launching a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service and a new National Centre for AI in Policing (“PoliceAI”) which is investing £115 million over the next 3 years.

The Government has been working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to produce a system which will provide forces with automated intelligence alerts from the Police National Database (PND) on individuals working in policing. The Home Office has provided £1.5m for a proof of concept and an additional approximately £2m towards development of a pilot for this work, known as ‘Continuous Integrity Screening’, which some forces are planning to run before the end of this year. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also considering how it may apply AI and automation capability in its processes’

In addition, the Government provides ongoing funding to the National Police Wellbeing Service to provide support to forces and individuals, including a National Police Workforce and Wellbeing Survey. This provides evidence-based insights into wellbeing, helping forces identify patterns in welfare issues and broader organisational risks, benchmark against national findings, and inform targeted wellbeing interventions. On top of ongoing funding, the Government is providing additional funding of £2.4m this year to the National Police Wellbeing Service to increase support to forces as set out in the Police Reform White Paper, including measures to help monitor and prevent welfare issues.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department is providing to police forces in adopting modern technologies to the identification of trends across complaints, misconduct, training, supervision and welfare data.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government does not determine which technology police forces procure or deploy. This is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, held accountable by directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Home Office does recognise the importance of better linking data across multiple systems and using technology to ensure improved operational outcomes. In the recent Government White Paper From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published in January, we set out our ambitious plans for police reform. This includes launching a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service and a new National Centre for AI in Policing (“PoliceAI”) which is investing £115 million over the next 3 years.

The Government has been working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to produce a system which will provide forces with automated intelligence alerts from the Police National Database (PND) on individuals working in policing. The Home Office has provided £1.5m for a proof of concept and an additional approximately £2m towards development of a pilot for this work, known as ‘Continuous Integrity Screening’, which some forces are planning to run before the end of this year. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also considering how it may apply AI and automation capability in its processes’

In addition, the Government provides ongoing funding to the National Police Wellbeing Service to provide support to forces and individuals, including a National Police Workforce and Wellbeing Survey. This provides evidence-based insights into wellbeing, helping forces identify patterns in welfare issues and broader organisational risks, benchmark against national findings, and inform targeted wellbeing interventions. On top of ongoing funding, the Government is providing additional funding of £2.4m this year to the National Police Wellbeing Service to increase support to forces as set out in the Police Reform White Paper, including measures to help monitor and prevent welfare issues.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to equip police forces to identify patterns of misconduct, welfare issues, and organisational risks through analysis of existing workforce data.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government does not determine which technology police forces procure or deploy. This is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables, held accountable by directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Home Office does recognise the importance of better linking data across multiple systems and using technology to ensure improved operational outcomes. In the recent Government White Paper From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published in January, we set out our ambitious plans for police reform. This includes launching a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service and a new National Centre for AI in Policing (“PoliceAI”) which is investing £115 million over the next 3 years.

The Government has been working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to produce a system which will provide forces with automated intelligence alerts from the Police National Database (PND) on individuals working in policing. The Home Office has provided £1.5m for a proof of concept and an additional approximately £2m towards development of a pilot for this work, known as ‘Continuous Integrity Screening’, which some forces are planning to run before the end of this year. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also considering how it may apply AI and automation capability in its processes’

In addition, the Government provides ongoing funding to the National Police Wellbeing Service to provide support to forces and individuals, including a National Police Workforce and Wellbeing Survey. This provides evidence-based insights into wellbeing, helping forces identify patterns in welfare issues and broader organisational risks, benchmark against national findings, and inform targeted wellbeing interventions. On top of ongoing funding, the Government is providing additional funding of £2.4m this year to the National Police Wellbeing Service to increase support to forces as set out in the Police Reform White Paper, including measures to help monitor and prevent welfare issues.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to apply the Project Octopus model of manufacturing Ukrainian-designed systems in the UK to other capability areas, including electronic warfare and marine autonomy.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Project OCTOPUS is our first collaborative capability project with Ukraine under Programme LYRA, which the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy launched last June. Programme LYRA enables the bilateral exchange of battlefield technology and intellectual property between the UK and Ukraine, under which we will continue to collaborate with our Ukrainian partners to identify the most beneficial projects which support Ukraine's fight and stimulate industrial partnerships of mutual benefit.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Kyiv Business Centre will be fully operational; and if he will set how UK SMEs will be able to access its services.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence has now placed a contract with Audere Group to deliver the Kyiv Business Centre. Initial operating capability is expected in summer 2026, with the Centre moving to full operating capability later in the year, aligned with wider UK-Ukraine defence industry engagement and subject to the prevailing security and operational environment.

The Centre will provide UK defence companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, with access to secure working and meeting facilities in Kyiv, alongside support to understand Ukrainian requirements, identify opportunities, engage with Ukrainian government, military and industry stakeholders, and navigate local operating and compliance requirements.

Access will be managed through the delivery partner in coordination with the Ministry of Defence, and wider UK Government networks. The Department will communicate further details to industry as the Centre reaches initial operating capability, including through targeted engagement with UK companies and trade bodies, to ensure that SMEs are aware of the offer and able to participate on a fair and transparent basis.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the defence technology export mechanism recently approved by the Government of Ukraine on UK defence companies; and what steps he is taking to support UK companies establish co-production arrangements with Ukrainian manufacturers under the mechanism.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence continues to identify and exploit defence and industrial collaboration opportunities with Ukraine. Under our 100-Year Partnership, we are establishing stronger and closer defence cooperation both on a governmental and industrial basis.

Through Programme LYRA, launched by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy in June 2025, we have facilitated co-production arrangements, including the development of new, shared, intellectual property and cutting-edge capability. The recent update to Ukraine's export control regime, earlier this month is welcomed.

Under our 100-Year Partnership we will build an enduring alliance between our two countries and deliver maximum benefit for both the UK and Ukraine's long-term security and prosperity.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department provides to Ukrainian defence technology companies seeking to establish production facilities in the UK, including through initiatives including the UK/EU-Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK is committed to deepening its defence industrial partnership with Ukraine, including by helping Ukrainian defence technology companies engage with UK industry, innovation networks, and potential routes to production, especially where these align with UK capability priorities and national security requirements.

The Ministry of Defence works across Government, including with the Department for Business and Trade, Task Force Kindred, DASA, Dstl and UK Defence Innovation, to connect Ukrainian companies with UK commercial, research, testing, and investment pathways. They also highlight trade opportunities, engage with Ukrainian government, military, and industry stakeholders, and support the navigation of operating and compliance requirements. Officials have engaged with representatives of the UK/EU-Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor and provided advice on how that early-stage proposal could align with existing UK-Ukraine defence innovation activity.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan published on 30 June 2026, what milestones have been set for the delivery of counter-drone and electromagnetic warfare capabilities.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The pace of technological innovation and development of uncrewed aerial systems means the threat is in a state of constant change. To keep pace with this rapid evolution of the threat, counter drone capability needs to focus on spiral development, flexibility and modularity, rather than on specific milestones for capability development. Within the UK, there is a thriving drones and autonomous systems ecosystem which enables our ability to meet the changing threat. There are a wide range of Electromagnetic Warfare capabilities in the current and planned force, across all domains. We do not release details of in service dates for individual capabilities and where it would compromise operational security to do.

Richard Pengelly

Memorial plaque for Ann Widdecombe