Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many investigations into suspected phoenix company activity have been undertaken by the Insolvency Service in each of the last five years; and how many resulted in enforcement action.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Insolvency Service did not, before April 2025, record investigations in a way that consistently identifies every case where phoenix activity formed part of the misconduct. Partial management information may be identified, but it would not provide a complete picture because phoenix activity may have been recorded under wider misconduct allegations. Internal management information for 2025/26 shows 123 civil investigations and 50 criminal investigations connected with abusive phoenix behaviours. Enforcement outcomes connected with abusive phoenix behaviours in 2025/26 included 88 director disqualifications, 18 companies being wound up and 5 criminal convictions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what records his Department holds on incidents of damage to Ministry of Defence sites used for asylum accommodation since 2022; and what the estimated cost of rectifying that damage has been.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Any Defence sites currently or previously used for asylum accommodation are managed by the Home Office. Records and costs of damages to those sites are held by the Home Office and under the terms of the occupation agreement the Home Office is responsible for any costs arising from use of any MOD sites for asylum accommodation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of safeguards for male victims of false allegations of domestic abuse in criminal and family court proceedings.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Robust protections are in place for victims of false allegations in the criminal and family courts.

The family and criminal courts serve different purposes. The criminal courts determine whether a criminal offence has been proven, whilst in the family court where allegations of domestic abuse are relevant to the issues before it, the family court may determine whether those allegations are proved as facts and take any findings into account when making decisions. Therefore, the safeguards in place for victims of false allegations of domestic abuse differ between criminal and family court proceedings.

Making a false allegation of a criminal offence is a serious matter which may itself amount to the commission of an offence such as perverting the course of justice or wasting police time. Prosecutions for making malicious false allegations do take place, and those convicted may receive significant sentences, including custodial sentences in serious cases.

Proceedings in the family courts are governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and their associated Practice Directions. Rule 17.6 and Practice Direction 17A sets out that, where the family court concludes that a party has knowingly made false statements, including statements of violence or abuse, contempt proceedings can be commenced. Further, when disposing of an application for an order under the Children Act 1989, orders can be made under section 91(14) which restrict further applications without the court’s permission being made. In addition, where false allegations have been found to have occurred, they can impact the decisions the court makes for example in child arrangements, if this is in the best interests of the child.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders were made in each of the last five years; and how many were (a) granted, (b) refused and (c) subsequently breached.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Data on the number of applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders made in each of the last five years and how many were granted can be found in table 16 of the Family Court Statistics Quarterly: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a3b9c9230b491f55b3c482e/Family_Court_Tables__Jan-Mar_2026_.ods.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions and convictions for a wide range of offences in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, including breaches of a Forced Marriage Protection Order. This can be downloaded from the Criminal Statistics landing page: Criminal Justice Statistics.

Data on how many orders were refused could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Maintenance Service decisions have been revised, overturned, or amended following mandatory reconsideration or appeal since 1 January 2020; and what proportion of those cases resulted in a reduction of child maintenance liabilities.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department is committed to ensuring that Child Maintenance Service (CMS) decisions are made in a timely, accurate and fair manner, based on all relevant information provided by parents.

A Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) is the process by which a parent asks the CMS to review a decision. An MR may be requested at any stage during the lifetime of a case or following an unsuccessful application for child maintenance. Either parent can ask for an MR, but both parents will be asked to provide any information or evidence that they feel is relevant.

Where the CMS determines that the original decision was incorrect, or where additional relevant information is provided by a parent, the decision may be revised.

This process must be completed before a parent can appeal an appealable CMS decision to an independent tribunal administered by His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.

The Department publishes quarterly Child Maintenance Service (CMS) official statistics. Table 9 of the latest National tables includes information on the total number of mandatory reconsideration requests received by the CMS and the outcomes occurring each quarter, and the number and percentage cleared within 28 days of receipt, from quarter ending April 2015 to quarter ending March 2026.

Table 10 of the latest National tables includes information on the total number of appeals made by parents to His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service to review a decision made by the CMS and the outcomes each quarter, from quarter ending April 2015 to quarter ending March 2026.

Information on the proportion of cases resulting in a reduction in child maintenance liability is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases were included in the Universal Credit processing backlog on the most recent date for which data is available.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

However, monthly Universal Credit payment timeliness statistics to April 2026, for all claims and new claims, are published in the UC Households 5 - Payment Timeliness All Claims table and the UC Households 6 - Payment Timeliness New Claims table, in the Households on Universal Credit dataset on Stat-Xplore.

Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract information. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to undertake a review of the refugee status, humanitarian protection status and subsequent settlement grants of Bangladeshi nationals whose protection claims were based on a risk of persecution by the former Awami League government.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK’s asylum policy statement, published in November 2025, sets out a new approach to protection in the UK, which marks a significant change in direction away from an assumption of offering permanent protection, and towards protection that is granted for the duration of need, which we call ‘Core Protection’.   For people who claim asylum and are granted protection in the UK, we will provide support for refugees that is entirely in accordance with our international obligations but does not exceed them.

Refugee status will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home. Asylum seekers and refugees will not be offered the generous terms they currently receive.  We will no longer have a duty to support those who have the ability to support themselves, nor those who break our laws or rules.

The need for protection is not always permanent and we therefore reassess whether all individuals granted temporary protection, including nationals of Bangladesh, still require protection before granting them further permission to stay or settlement in the UK.

Each case is considered on its individual merits against the background of relevant caselaw and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Note. We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues such as challenges in Bangladesh. The CPIN for Bangladesh is available on GOV.UK at: Bangladesh: country policy and information notes - GOV.UK

All safe return reviews of those who have been granted protection in the UK, including nationals of Bangladesh, will continue to be carefully considered on their individual merits. This includes assessing whether there have been significant changes in country conditions or personal circumstances, which means that an individual no longer needs our protection.

Settlement is a privilege, not an automatic right, and provides permission to stay in the UK permanently and freedom from immigration control for those who still require protection. Once someone has been given settlement, protection status can potentially be revoked where evidence emerges that status was obtained by deception; where there is a significant and non-temporary change in the country situation and protection is no longer needed; or where someone commits a serious crime, represents a threat to our national security or demonstrates extremist behaviour.

All cases are considered on a case-by-case basis and protection status will only be revoked in these circumstances where there is no protection need on any grounds. We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of coach journeys used to transport asylum seekers from UK ports to reception or processing centres were booked (a) less than 24 hours, (b) between 24 and 72 hours, (c) between three and seven days and (d) more than seven days in advance in each year since 2020.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has interpreted these questions to apply to the arrangements for bringing migrants from Channel crossings to the Immigration Reception Centre at Manston in particular, rather than detainee escorting more generally.

People being moved from arrival locations to reception areas are escorted by appropriate security personnel on dedicated transportation, and movements are managed in accordance with established operational procedures designed to ensure safety, security and welfare.

The Home Office does not routinely publish detailed information relating to these transportation arrangements to avoid prejudicing security and operational effectiveness. Additionally, the specific information about bookings is not held by the Home Office in a readily retrievable form and therefore could not be provided except at a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether asylum seekers transported by coach from UK ports to reception or processing centres are accompanied by Home Office, Border Force, police, security, or welfare staff; and what guidance governs those arrangements.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has interpreted these questions to apply to the arrangements for bringing migrants from Channel crossings to the Immigration Reception Centre at Manston in particular, rather than detainee escorting more generally.

People being moved from arrival locations to reception areas are escorted by appropriate security personnel on dedicated transportation, and movements are managed in accordance with established operational procedures designed to ensure safety, security and welfare.

The Home Office does not routinely publish detailed information relating to these transportation arrangements to avoid prejudicing security and operational effectiveness. Additionally, the specific information about bookings is not held by the Home Office in a readily retrievable form and therefore could not be provided except at a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what risk assessment procedures are required before coach transport is used to transport asylum seekers from ports of arrival to reception or processing centres.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has interpreted these questions to apply to the arrangements for bringing migrants from Channel crossings to the Immigration Reception Centre at Manston in particular, rather than detainee escorting more generally.

People being moved from arrival locations to reception areas are escorted by appropriate security personnel on dedicated transportation, and movements are managed in accordance with established operational procedures designed to ensure safety, security and welfare.

The Home Office does not routinely publish detailed information relating to these transportation arrangements to avoid prejudicing security and operational effectiveness. Additionally, the specific information about bookings is not held by the Home Office in a readily retrievable form and therefore could not be provided except at a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms exist to protect motorists from excessive charges imposed by private parking companies; and whether the Government plans to strengthen those protections.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Private parking operators are currently self-regulated through their membership of either the British Parking Association or International Parking Community. These trade associations require their members to follow the Sector Single Code of Practice, which places a cap on private parking charges.

The government is committed to raising standards and intends to lay a new Code of Practice for private parking operators, replacing the Sector Single Code of Practice, in Parliament in autumn 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a cap on charges and associated debt recovery fees imposed by private parking companies; and what assessment she has made of the impact of such charges on consumers.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In July 2025, the government published a consultation document including parking charges and debt recovery fee caps. The government aims to publish a response alongside the new Code, which it is aiming to lay before Parliament in autumn 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is issued to Victim Liaison Officers regarding interactions between victims’ families and journalists, broadcasters, social media platforms and public relations advisers.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Victim Liaison Officers are not issued with specific guidance regarding interactions between victims’ families and journalists, broadcasters, social media platforms or public relations advisers.

Victim Liaison Officers provide information and support in relation to the Probation Service Victim Contact Scheme and may signpost victims' families to other organisations where appropriate. Decisions about whether and how to engage with media organisations, social media platforms or public relations advisers are a matter for victims and their families.

However, victims are advised not to share personal information about the offender obtained through the Victim Contact Scheme online or through social media channels.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test appointments were identified by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency as having been obtained through automated booking systems, bulk purchasing, or other practices intended for resale in each of the last five years; and what enforcement action was taken in each year.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In January 2023 the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) changed the terms and conditions for the online business service (OBS), used by driving instructors and trainers to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils, to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit. In 2023 and 2024, the DVSA issued 352 warnings, 751 suspensions, and closed 743 business accounts for misuse of its booking service.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced further terms and conditions for use of the service. From January 2025 to 11 May 2026, DVSA issued 337 warnings, 648 suspensions, and closed 669 business accounts.

Between April 2025 and 11 May 2026, for accounts that were suspended, there were 24,495 live test bookings linked to those accounts, at the point of suspension. For the same period, for accounts closed, there were 12,874 live test bookings linked to those accounts, at the point of closure. Please note that, prior to April 2025, DVSA did not hold the number of test appointments that existed at the point of warning, suspension or closure for any given business account.

DVSA has now taken further steps, including on 12 May removing access to OBS for the booking, changing and swapping of car driving tests and moving to a learner-only booking model through the Internet Booking Service. Where it detects activity that does not look like normal personal use, DVSA can suspend online access for 12 months meaning a driving test cannot be booked, changed, cancelled or rebooked online.

Since the changes to the booking system on 12 May, 6,799 suspensions have been applied and 1,310 tests have been cancelled.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department’s procedures permit special advisers to require that a proposed response to a Freedom of Information request is not issued pending their agreement, and which ministerial or official role has final responsibility for authorising disclosure.

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

Special advisers may be consulted as part of the Home Office's handling of Freedom of Information requests. Where a case has been referred as part of the Department's internal processes, the response would not normally be issued until that stage of the process has been completed. Consistent with Cabinet Office guidance, special advisers may provide advice but do not make decisions on whether information is released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Final decisions on the application of the Act and the disclosure of information are taken in accordance with the Department's delegated decision-making arrangements and ordinarily rest with the responsible official, although ministers may have a decision-making role in specific circumstances, including for the purposes of section 36 of the Act.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what time limits apply to consideration of proposed Freedom of Information responses by (a) the Communications Directorate and (b) special advisers; and what escalation procedure applies where clearance remains outstanding as the applicable statutory response deadline approaches.

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

The Home Office's Freedom of Information guidance provides that the Communications Directorate will undertake an initial review of referred cases within two working days. For cases referred to special advisers, the Central FOI Team maintains oversight of outstanding referrals and provides a daily list of those cases approaching their statutory deadline. Where a case is approaching its statutory deadline, outstanding cases may be escalated with the Communications Directorate or, in the case of Special Adviser referrals, through the Central FOI Team.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department’s current operational guidance setting out the criteria for referring proposed Freedom of Information responses to (a) the Communications Directorate and (b) special advisers for clearance.

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

The Home Office does not currently intend to place this operational guidance in the library.

The guidance is an internal operational document used to support officials in the handling and review of Freedom of Information requests. It is intended for internal use and decisions on whether information should be disclosed continue to be taken on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department applies different central clearance requirements to proposed Freedom of Information responses that (a) disclose information and (b) disclose no information.

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

Where a proposed response involves the disclosure of information, it may be referred for further review. Decisions on whether additional review is required are made on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the particular circumstances of the request and the information proposed for disclosure. Responses that do not disclose information will not routinely require the same level of review, although individual cases may still be considered for review where appropriate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department requires an audit trail where consultation with (i) the Communications Directorate and (ii) special advisers results in a change to the information proposed for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, recording the (a) original proposal, (b) change requested, (c) role requesting it, (d) reason given and (e) final decision.

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

The Home Office records the handling of Freedom of Information requests in accordance with departmental record-keeping requirements. There is no separate requirement based solely on consultation with the Communications Directorate or special advisers. Decisions on disclosure are taken by the department in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and relevant records are maintained as part of the handling of the request.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Ministers in her Department received management information between 1 March and 31 August 2026 on Freedom of Information responses awaiting clearance from the Communications Directorate and special advisers.

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

No. Ministers did not receive management information between 1 March and 31 August 2026 on Freedom of Information responses awaiting review from the Communications Directorate and special advisers. The Home Office does not routinely provide Ministers with management information of this nature.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to detect and prevent benefit claims made using fraudulent identities, fictitious households, or other forms of identity deception; and how many such cases were identified in the latest year for which figures are available.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Identity fraud is a serious criminal offence and one that the Department is committed to tackling.

DWP uses a range of data and analytics to identify claims at risk of fraud so that these claims can be reviewed by relevant DWP teams.

We have specialist teams and robust processes in place to detect fraudulent documents and fraudulent claims and to offer support to anyone who thinks that they may have been a victim of identity fraud. Some information around the losses attributed to fraudulent claims made using a hijacked identity can be found at page 294 of this year’s Annual Report and Accounts ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS 2025 to 2026, however, it would not be in the public interest to divulge further details of the information requested as it would compromise our ability to prevent and detect fraud.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total NHS expenditure on midazolam was in each year since 2016.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Publicly available data on the cost and volume of midazolam dispensed in the community in England year on year is maintained by the NHS Business Services Authority and is available at the following link:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england/prescription-cost-analysis-england-202526

Data from 2018 and earlier can be found at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/prescription-cost-analysis

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what processes are in place to identify non-UK nationals who are married overseas but fail to declare their marital status in immigration applications; and how many such cases were identified in the latest year for which figures are available.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Where an Entry Clearance Officer considers that information provided in the application is dishonest or false, they may refuse the application in accordance with Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Additionally, should relevant information about an individual’s marital status become available to the Department once the applicant has arrived in the UK, their status may be reviewed and if appropriate, withdrawn.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the subject matter of a Freedom of Information request concerning (a) immigration, (b) visas and (c) asylum is a criterion for referral to (i) the Communications Directorate and (ii) special advisers; and if she will publish any subject-specific referral criteria.

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

No. The subject matter of a Freedom of Information request is not, in itself, a criterion for referral to the Communications Directorate or special advisers. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be referred where appropriate. There is no automatic referral solely because a request concerns immigration, visas or asylum. The department has no current plans to publish its internal operational guidance on referral criteria.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures her Department has to ensure that when a proposed Freedom of Information response is resubmitted for internal clearance its original request receipt date, previous clearance referral dates and applicable statutory deadline remain recorded and visible to those handling the case.

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

The Home Office manages Freedom of Information requests through the eCase case management system. eCase records the date a request is received, the applicable statutory deadline and activity relating to the handling of the case, including referrals to the Communications Directorate and special advisers as part of the Department's review processes. This information remains visible within the system, allowing case owners to track the progress and history of a case throughout its lifecycle

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the NHS was of treatment provided to individuals recorded as asylum seekers who held a valid HC2 certificate in each year since 2020.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 June 2025 in response to Question 59410.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many individuals recorded as asylum seekers were in receipt of a valid HC2 certificate on the latest date for which data is available.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 June 2025 in response to Question 59410.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many individuals with refugee status were in receipt of a valid HC2 certificate on the latest date for which data is available.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 June 2025 in response to Question 59410.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether HC2 certificate holders are required to notify the NHS Business Services Authority of a change in immigration status.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 June 2025 in response to Question 59410.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what nationality data is held for individuals recorded as asylum seekers in receipt of a valid HC2 certificate.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 June 2025 in response to Question 59410.

Found: Warrington South) Lloyd Hatton (Labour; South Dorset) Chris Kane (Labour; Stirling and Strathallan) Rupert Lowe

Found: WRP0001 2 Dr Stephen Holden Bates, Dr Caroline Bhattacharya and Professor Stephen McKay WRP0002 3 Rupert Lowe

Found: Q12 Rupert Lowe: What modelling have you done of the demand for this?

Found: Rupert Lowe: The question is: where are the protections?