Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) Chief Constables, (b) Deputy Chief Constables and (c) Assistant Chief Constables across the 43 territorial police forces belong to staff networks, broken down by network.

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

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) the number of paid hours spent on staff network related activities by police officers and other staff across the 43 territorial police forces and (b) the cost of this time.

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

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of (a) staff networks in general and (b) specific staff networks on (i) the functioning of the police and (ii) public perceptions of the police.

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

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many paid roles there are focused on staff networks across the 43 territorial police forces; and what is the total renumeration of these roles.

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

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers of the rank of Superintendent (or equivalent) and above belong to staff networks; and to which staff networks they belong.

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

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) other police force staff are members of staff networks.

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

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people applied for a role, were assessed for a role signed a formal offer for a role in the Prison Service by nationality in each year between 2016 and 2026.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether there are any neurological conditions which would exempt people released early under the terms of the Sentencing Act 2026 from being fitted with an ankle tag.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Electronic monitoring and Sentencing Act 2026 guidance states that individuals may be exempted from electronic monitoring where wearing a tag is medically inappropriate. Poor mental health alone, such as anxiety, is not grounds for exemption.

Cases where a neurological condition makes tagging unsafe or impractical, or where an individual lacks the mental capacity to understand their electronic monitoring conditions may be exempt. Exemption decisions are made on a case by case basis, based on professional judgement and, where appropriate, relevant medical evidence.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether people being released early under the terms of the Sentencing Act 2026 may be exempted from ankle tagging on the grounds of being diagnosed with anxiety.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Electronic monitoring and Sentencing Act 2026 guidance states that individuals may be exempted from electronic monitoring where wearing a tag is medically inappropriate. Poor mental health alone, such as anxiety, is not grounds for exemption.

Cases where a neurological condition makes tagging unsafe or impractical, or where an individual lacks the mental capacity to understand their electronic monitoring conditions may be exempt. Exemption decisions are made on a case by case basis, based on professional judgement and, where appropriate, relevant medical evidence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people expected to travel to the United Kingdom under the newly announced resettlement routes for Afghan and Palestinian refugees.

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

As announced by the Home Secretary on 28 September, the Home Office has started receiving new referrals for the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) in 26/27. The Government expects a quarter of UKRS referrals to be Afghan women and girls, and Palestinians.

The Government expects the total arrivals across the UKRS and the 3 new community sponsorship routes to number in the low hundreds at first.

The Home Office works closely with the local authorities that volunteer to participate in the UKRS, and arrival is contingent on local authorities providing accommodation and agreeing to support a refugee family. The number of individuals resettled through the UKRS in any given year will depend on a range of factors, including the capacity of local authorities to welcome, accommodate and integrate refugees.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans she has made to support farmers in Runcorn and Helsby given that demand for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 exceeded the available budget.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the disappointment of farmers who were unable to submit an application before funding was allocated. The window remained open until sufficient applications had been received to allocate the available funding and regular budget updates were published during the day. Eligible farmers who did not obtain an SFI26 agreement will have another opportunity to apply in 2027. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier remains available through its expression-of-interest process for appropriate land and activities. Defra is also exploring improvements for SFI27, including alternatives to first-come, first-served allocation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be available to farmers in Runcorn and Helsby whose Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier or Higher Tier agreements expire in December 2026 and who were unable to secure a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 agreement.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Approximately 8,800 Window 2 applicants, around 72% of the total, had a Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship or SFI agreement due to expire on or before 28 February 2027. SFI26 introduced functionality allowing eligible businesses to apply early for actions on land covered by an expiring agreement. Eligible farmers who did not obtain an SFI26 agreement will have another opportunity to apply in 2027. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier remains available through its expression-of-interest process for appropriate land and activities. Defra is working to bring forward the 2027 SFI offer as early as possible.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department made before 22 September 2026 of the total value of applications to be made to Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra expected strong initial demand and made clear before the window opened that its duration would depend on the rate of applications. Ministers allocated an additional £50 million before opening and subsequently added a further £20 million, bringing Window 2 funding to £253 million. Around 12,200 applications were submitted in Window 2.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many reports the Rural Payments Agency received from farm businesses in Runcorn and Helsby of technical problems when applying to Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Rural Payments Agency is currently reviewing all reported technical issues relating to SFI 2026 Window 2 applications. We do not hold this data by constituency.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what completed but unpublished research and analysis reports her Department currently holds; and what research and analysis reports are in progress.

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

The Home Office is currently collating the answers to these questions in response to a Freedom of Information request (FOI2026/13664) received on 1st October 2026. We will communicate the answers to you once this work is complete

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders are in receipt of support under section 94 or section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

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

The information you have requested regarding the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) in receipt of support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is not published.

We make every effort to ensure that an FNO's removal coincides, as far as possible, with their release from prison on completion of their sentence. However, in some cases while their asylum claims are being considered under our international obligations, they may be granted support under section 95 and placed in asylum accommodation, to avoid them becoming destitute and, therefore, challenging to monitor while their asylum claim is progressed.

Earlier this year, the Home Office changed the law to revoke the statutory legal duty to provide asylum seekers with support and accommodation. This allows the Home Office to operate a more flexible approach to providing accommodation.

Any FNO granted section 95 support would still need to meet their specific immigration bail requirements and, while they remain subject to licence conditions, have their accommodation approved by probation before they move in. The accommodation would go through a risk management process to ensure the communities they reside in are safeguarded from harm.

Furthermore, if an FNO breaches the conditions of their support, they are no longer destitute, or their asylum claim has been concluded or withdrawn, their eligibility for support would be reassessed.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme