Home Office

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office has been at the front line of this endeavour since 1782. As such, the Home Office plays a fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the United Kingdom.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Shabana Mahmood
Home Secretary

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Conservative
Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South)
Shadow Home Secretary
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Lord Davies of Gower (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Home Office)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Alicia Kearns (Con - Rutland and Stamford)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Home Office)
Ministers of State
Dan Jarvis (Lab - Barnsley North)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab - Life peer)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Sarah Jones (Lab - Croydon West)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Alex Norris (LAB - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Minister of State (Home Office)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Jess Phillips (Lab - Birmingham Yardley)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Mike Tapp (Lab - Dover and Deal)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Angiolini Inquiry
Commons Chamber
Select Committee Inquiry
Tuesday 21st October 2025
Routes to Settlement

The Government has announced major changes to eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement, and is …

Written Answers
Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Mothers: Homicide
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to help reduce instances …
Secondary Legislation
Thursday 27th November 2025
Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/233) and the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) …
Bills
Thursday 19th June 2025
Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Act 2025
A Bill to Make provision about the effect, during an appeal, of an order under section 40 of the British …
Dept. Publications
Wednesday 3rd December 2025
13:32

Home Office Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Nov. 17
Oral Questions
Nov. 24
Urgent Questions
Dec. 02
Written Statements
Dec. 02
Westminster Hall
Sep. 16
Adjournment Debate
View All Home Office Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Home Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament

Introduced: 30th January 2025

A Bill to make provision about border security; to make provision about immigration and asylum; to make provision about sharing customs data and trailer registration data; to make provision about articles for use in serious crime; to make provision about serious crime prevention orders; to make provision about fees paid in connection with the recognition, comparability or assessment of qualifications; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 2nd December 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 19th June 2025

A Bill to Make provision about the effect, during an appeal, of an order under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 12th September 2024

A Bill to require persons with control of certain premises or events to take steps to reduce the vulnerability of the premises or event to, and the risk of physical harm to individuals arising from, acts of terrorism; to confer related functions on the Security Industry Authority; to limit the disclosure of information about licensed premises that is likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 and was enacted into law.

Home Office - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations prescribe a new purpose under section 50A(1)(d) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47) (“the Act”). Section 50A(1)(d) of the Act enables the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to share information with a chief officer of police for other reasons which may be prescribed, in addition to the existing purposes of crime prevention, detection and investigation, apprehending and prosecuting offenders and appointing individuals under the officer’s authority.
These Regulations make amendments to provisions in the Public Order Act 2023 (c. 64) (“the Act”) concerning the meaning of “key national infrastructure”.
View All Home Office Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petition Open
219,253 Signatures
(15,641 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
2,960,460 Signatures
(4,651 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
638,917 Signatures
(2,852 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
6,736 Signatures
(1,943 in the last 7 days)
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Open
2,960,460 Signatures
(4,651 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
638,917 Signatures
(2,852 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
219,253 Signatures
(15,641 in the last 7 days)
Petition Debates Contributed
427,448
Petition Closed
20 Jul 2025
closed 4 months, 1 week ago

This petition is to advocate a cessation of financial and other support provided to asylum seekers by the Government. This support currently includes shelter, food, medical care (including optical and dental), and cash support.

As a first step to end animal testing, we want an immediate ban for dogs. They are commercially bred in what we see as bleak and inhumane factory-like conditions. We believe there is evidence suggesting that dogs are left being unattended for extended periods in a Government-licenced establishment.

The Labour Party pledged to end asylum hotels if it won power. Labour is now in power.

View All Home Office Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Home Affairs Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Home Affairs Committee
Karen Bradley Portrait
Karen Bradley (Conservative - Staffordshire Moorlands)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 11th September 2024
Bell Ribeiro-Addy Portrait
Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Joani Reid Portrait
Joani Reid (Labour - East Kilbride and Strathaven)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Chris Murray Portrait
Chris Murray (Labour - Edinburgh East and Musselburgh)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Margaret Mullane Portrait
Margaret Mullane (Labour - Dagenham and Rainham)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Robbie Moore Portrait
Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Ben Maguire Portrait
Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat - North Cornwall)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Paul Kohler Portrait
Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Jo White Portrait
Jo White (Labour - Bassetlaw)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Peter Prinsley Portrait
Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Lewis Atkinson Portrait
Lewis Atkinson (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Home Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Home Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Home Office preparedness for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Online Harms Gangs and youth crime The work of the Metropolitan Police Child sexual exploitation and the response to localised grooming: follow-up The work of HM Passport Office The work of the Immigration Directorates (2014 Q1) The work of the Border Force Home Affairs Committee - The work of the Home Secretary Radicalisation in schools Police, the media, and high-profile criminal investigations The work of the National Crime Agency 2014 Undercover policing: follow-up The work of the Immigration Directorates (2013 Q2-3) Leadership and standards in the police: follow-up The work of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector Of Constabulary Drugs Female Genital Mutilation The work of the Immigration Directorates (2013 Q4) Reform of the Police Federation The work of the National Crime Agency The work of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Police investigations and the role of the CPS The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q2 2015) Countering extremism inquiry Reform of the Police Funding Formula inquiry The work of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration Migration crisis inquiry Psychoactive substances inquiry Counter-radicalisation one-off session Immigration: the situation in Calais one-off session The work of the Home Office The work of the Home Secretary The work of the Metropolitan Police inquiry Immigration: skill shortages inquiry International exchange of criminal records Police National Database inquiry Police bail Policing in London Police Information Notices ("Harassment warnings") The work of the Immigration Directorates (2014 Q3) Counter-terrorism (2015) Female genital mutilation: follow-up The work of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary European Arrest Warrant The work of the Immigration Directorates (2014 Q2) Serious and organised crime The work of the Permanent Secretary Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 College of Policing Out-of-Court Disposals Statutory Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill Police and Crime Commissioners Tobacco smuggling EU Justice and Home Affairs opt-out Policing and mental health Police and Crime Commissioners The work of the Home Office Immigration Cap Firearms Control Policing Immigration Cap - Terms Of Reference Second evidence session on Immigration Caps Specialist Operations Firearms submissions received Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications Work of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre Rules governing enforced removals from the UK Extradition Lessons from the American experience of policing Impact of proposed restrictions on Tier 4 migration Government's review of Counter-Terrorism The work of the Home Secretary (2012) New Landscape of Policing Roots of Violent Radicalisation Policing Large Scale Disorder The work of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner (2012) The work of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police The work of the UK Visas & Immigration Section E-crime Private Investigators Independent Police Complaints Commission Localised child grooming Leadership and standards in the police service Policing in London Olympics security Asylum The work of the UK Border Agency Human trafficking Counter-terrorism (2014) Hate crime and its violent consequences inquiry Counter-terrorism inquiry Domestic abuse inquiry Serious violence inquiry Windrush Children inquiry Immigration detention inquiry Post-Brexit migration policy inquiry EU policing and security cooperation inquiry Modern slavery inquiry Post Brexit migration inquiry Government preparations for Brexit inquiry Asylum accommodation inquiry Work of the Home Office inquiry Islamophobia inquiry The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On inquiry English Channel crossings inquiry EU Settlement Scheme inquiry Home Office preparations for Brexit inquiry Police conduct and complaints inquiry Child migrants inquiry EU policing and security issues inquiry Immigration inquiry Brook House Immigration Removal Centre inquiry The work of the Home Secretary inquiry Policing for the future inquiry Home Office delivery of Brexit: immigration inquiry Home Office delivery of Brexit: policing and security cooperation inquiry Harassment and intimidation near abortion clinics Home Office delivery of Brexit: customs operations inquiry Immigration policy: principles for building consensus inquiry Antisemitism inquiry English-language testing inquiry Police diversity inquiry Prostitution inquiry The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q3 2015) inquiry College of Policing inquiry Police and Crime Commissioners inquiry Proceeds of crime inquiry Asylum accommodation The work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Policing for the future: changing demands and new challenges The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q2 2016) inquiry Female Genital Mutilation inquiry Sharia councils inquiry The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q4 2015) inquiry The work of the Immigration Directorates (Q1 2016) inquiry Implications of the UK's exit from the European Union inquiry Hate crime and its violent consequences inquiry Migration and asylum Policing priorities Channel crossings Human Trafficking Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Draft Bill Fraud Police and Crime Commissioners: 10 years on Policing of protests Non-contact sexual offences Fire and Rescue Service Summer 2024 disorder Asylum accommodation Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls: Funding Combatting New Forms of Extremism Violence and abuse towards retail workers Harnessing the potential of new digital forms of identification Post-Transition management of the border The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong Border security and irregular migration: The work of the Border Security Command Border security and irregular migration Routes to Settlement Asylum accommodation Counter-terrorism Domestic abuse English Channel crossings EU policing and security cooperation EU Settlement Scheme Government preparations for Brexit Home Office delivery of Brexit: policing and security cooperation Home Office delivery of Brexit: immigration Home Office preparations for Brexit Immigration detention Immigration policy: principles for building consensus Brook House Immigration Removal Centre The work of the Home Secretary Post Brexit migration Hate crime and its violent consequences Post-Brexit migration policy Islamophobia The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On Modern slavery Police conduct and complaints Policing for the future Serious violence Windrush Children Work of the Home Office

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

20th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 90289 on Offences against Children: Wales, if she will publish the correspondence with the First Minister of Wales.

As noted in PQ 90290, the National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse will cover England and Wales. The Home Secretary has written to the First Minister to confirm this. As the Hon Member will appreciate correspondence between the Home Secretary and the First Minister of Wales is confidential and I will not be publishing the letter.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
18th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Home Office has had since 4 July 2024.

The Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 24/25 includes information on how many times the Departmental Board met during that financial year. Information on the number of meetings held in the 25/26 financial year will be published in next year’s Annual Report and Accounts. Home Office Board met twice in the time mentioned.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to help reduce instances of matricide.

The scale of violence against women and girls (VAWG) is intolerable, and this Government has set out a mission to halve these crimes over the next decade.The Home Office is working to develop the evidence base on domestic abuse related deaths by funding the Domestic Homicide Project, which captures information all domestic abuse related deaths, including matricides, from all 43 police forces in England and Wales. The objective of this project is to improve our understanding of these cases and identify how the response to them can be improved. Further information about this research can be found at the following link: https://www.vkpp.org.uk/vkpp-work/domestic-homicide-project/. In addition, Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) offer a vital opportunity fornational and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths, including cases of matricide. We are currently reforming the DHR process to ensure learning is effectively identified and implemented to improve systems and ultimately, prevent future deaths.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her will can provide (a) an update on the progress of the grooming gangs inquiry and (b) a timeline for the commencement of the different stages of the inquiry.

We are working urgently to establish the inquiry and Baroness Casey of Blackstock is supporting this process.Our immediate priority is appointing a Chair with the credibility and experience to lead the inquiry, ensuring a trauma-informed approach to engaging victims and survivors throughout - from its design to reporting. We aim to announce a Chair as soon as possible.Once a Chair is appointed, in line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair will play a central role in shaping the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and will consult on a draft of these before they are finalised. It is the Terms of Reference that will determine the scope of the inquiry. Once inpost the Chair will set out an inquiry timeline based on the requirements of the Terms of Reference.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the financial capacity of regional organised crime units to investigate modern slavery.

The Government is committed to ensuring that law enforcement has there sources it needs to tackle crime effectively. Regional Organised Crime Units(ROCUs) are collaborations between three or more police forces and help support forces and partners to tackle serious and organised crime (SOC),including modern slavery.The Home Office provides c.30% of funding to supports the ROCUs intackling SOC, with the remaining c.70% coming from Police and Crime Commissioners in 2025-26. To improve the response to modern slavery, the Home Office also provides funding through the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit, for regional coordinators, based in theROCUs that act as a bridge between the ROCU and forces to provide specialist advice and support on investigations. In addition to this, the Home Office-funded Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) Programme is anintelligence capability that is increasing law enforcements capability to respond to organised exploitation, including modern slavery. As the spending review and subsequent allocations process is ongoing, funding for future years cannot be confirmed at this time.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals arrested under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 were also arrested for other offences at the same time in each year since that Act's commencement; and in how many of those cases the other offences were subsequently dropped.

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 were made by each police force in England and Wales in the most recent year for which data is available.

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were arrested under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 in the most recent year for which data is available, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) ethnicity.

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the proportionality of arrests under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018, particularly in cases involving low-level contact or where mental health or neurodivergence may be a factor.

The information requested is not held by the Home Office.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by financial year, sex, ethnicity, age group, offence group, and Police Force Area, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical series. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data is collected by broader offence group, e.g. ‘Violence against the person’, therefore data on arrests for more specific offences such as those under section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 are not available

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
18th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government, regarding Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November, what approach they plan to take to granting licences for (1) pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing, (2) pharmacopoeial adventitious agent testing, (3) skin irritation testing, (4) eye irritation testing, (5) skin sensitisation testing, (6) fish acute toxicity tests for chemicals registered under UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, and (7) other tests not listed in the 'baskets'.

The Home Office regulates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with the robust protections afforded to animals used in science. Licences for animal testing are only granted when applicants demonstrate compliance with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs). This means, animals may only be used where there is no non-animal alternative, the number of animals is minimised, and the most refined methods of testing are used to minimise harms.

On 11 November 2025, the government published “Replacing animals in science: a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”. This strategy sets out a timeline to phase out specific animal tests including those referenced in the question.

Of these, tests 1-5 are in Basket 1 (where mature replacement technologies exist), and test 6 is in Basket 2 (where alternatives could be developed in the medium term). The strategy provides details on each of these tests. The government is committed to supporting the development and adoption of alternative methods for other tests wherever possible.

Until these deadlines are reached, the Home Office will continue to apply the same rigorous licensing framework to all project licence applications proposing these tests, ensuring animals are only used where no validated non-animal alternative exists.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
19th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story entitled Honour-based abuse crackdown in raft of new measures, published on the 26 August 2025, how many of the 2,755 honour-based abuse related offences recorded by police in England and Wales related to cases in which (a) men and (b) boys were victims.

'Honour’-based abuse is a serious form of abuse that nobody should have to experience. This is why we are tackling it through our mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.

To prevent and respond effectively to forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) it is essential that we understand the prevalence of these crimes.

Building on the feasibility study conducted by the University of Birmingham in 2023/24, the Home Office has commissioned a pilot research project to support the development of a national prevalence estimate for forced marriage and female genital mutilation. This work is already underway.

Jess Phillips
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
18th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in (1) England and Wales, (2) Scotland and (3) Northern Ireland.

There have been 52 prosecutions for offences under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in England and Wales since 2011, when data first became available. These statistics are routinely published by the Home Office as part of its quarterly reporting on the ‘Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act2000 and subsequent legislation’. Data on prosecutions in Scotland is covered by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Annual statistics regarding Northern Ireland Terrorism Legislation are separately published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
14th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have regarding the future of Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales.

The Government announced on 13 November that it is abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales at the end of their current term of office in May 2028. PCC functions will transfer either to Mayors of Strategic Authorities, where possible, or to elected council leaders where it is not. We will create new Police and Crime Boards to bring local council leaders together to oversee the force in their area, supported by an appointed day to day Police and Crime lead.

In Wales, the Welsh government have no plans to create Mayors. We will work with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders on arrangements to transfer PCC functions to local government leaders, recognising the unique nature of devolved arrangements in Wales.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
18th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any unaccompanied migrant children are housed in hotels.

The Home Office closed the last of the Home Office-run unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children hotels on 31 January 2024 and since then arriving unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children have been accommodated by local authorities in line with their statutory duties.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost of shotgun licences on funding for youth activities.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This was the first increase in fees for 10 years and we intend to undertake more regular reviews in the future.

The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.

It is important that the additional revenue from firearms licensing fees is used to support improvements in police force firearms licensing teams, and my predecessor, Dame Diana Johnson MP, wrote to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the increased fees must be used for this purpose.

Whilst the Government’s manifesto commitment referred to the money raised by full cost recovery fees being used to support youth interventions to prevent serious violence, it was decided instead ahead of the February 2025 increase to fees, that firearms fees income must be retained by police forces to support improvements in police firearms licensing.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of stop and searches resulted in the seizure of (a) Class A drugs and (b) Class B drugs in each of the last three years.

The data requested is not held centrally.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of stop and searches for drugs. The latest data is available here: Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 - GOV.UK

However, data on the class of drug searched for is not collected, nor is information on the type of drugs seized following a stop and search.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Law Enforcement Data Service programme products are.

Further to my answer (20 October 2025) on the delivery progress made on the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS); there are five products within LEDS. There are Person, Vehicles, Drivers, Property and Audit.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the backlog of shotgun and firearm licence applications nationally.

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Government has recently taken action to increase the fees for firearms and shotgun applications that can be charged by police forces. On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams. This was the first increase in fees for 10 years and the Government will conduct more regular reviews of fees in the future.

In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council (NPCC) Lead for Firearms Licensing has also for the first time published performance data for firearms licensing teams in all police forces. This includes the performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months. This data is now being published by the NPCC on a quarterly basis.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the time taken to process shotgun licence renewals in (a) rural areas and (b) West Dorset constituency.

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Government has recently taken action to increase the fees for firearms and shotgun applications that can be charged by police forces. On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams. This was the first increase in fees for 10 years and the Government will conduct more regular reviews of fees in the future.

In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council (NPCC) Lead for Firearms Licensing has also for the first time published performance data for firearms licensing teams in all police forces. This includes the performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months. This data is now being published by the NPCC on a quarterly basis.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will take steps to prioritise shotgun licence applications where the applicant requires a firearm for work purposes.

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Government has recently taken action to increase the fees for firearms and shotgun applications that can be charged by police forces. On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams. This was the first increase in fees for 10 years and the Government will conduct more regular reviews of fees in the future.

In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council (NPCC) Lead for Firearms Licensing has also for the first time published performance data for firearms licensing teams in all police forces. This includes the performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months. This data is now being published by the NPCC on a quarterly basis.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide additional resource to Dorset Police to help process outstanding firearm and shotgun licence applications.

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Government has recently taken action to increase the fees for firearms and shotgun applications that can be charged by police forces. On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams. This was the first increase in fees for 10 years and the Government will conduct more regular reviews of fees in the future.

In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council (NPCC) Lead for Firearms Licensing has also for the first time published performance data for firearms licensing teams in all police forces. This includes the performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months. This data is now being published by the NPCC on a quarterly basis.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has she made in implementing the Police National Database programme.

The Police National Database (PND) has been operational for almost 15 years and continues to provide vital intelligence to policing and law enforcement. The replacement of the PND remains a core consideration for the Home Office and policing.

The Home Office is currently considering a variety of options for future delivery of the PND transformation programme and further information will be issued once a decision has been taken.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police (a) dogs and (b) horses were injured in the course of their duties in each year since 2015.

The Home Office does not hold centrally information on the number of police dogs or horses that were injured in the course of their duties.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support local enforcement action against antisocial vehicle use in Lincolnshire.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

Our Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles in anti-social behaviour with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.

The Government has consulted on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially quicker. The consultation closed on 8 July and we will publish the outcome in due course.

Combined, our measures will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially in Lincolnshire by sending a clear message to would be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
26th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying the (a) proposed salary threshold and (b) RQF Level 6 requirements for Skilled Worker visas retrospectively to individuals already in the UK under existing visa conditions when they apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, sets out the Government’s proposed model for earned settlement, and accompanies the current public consultation on settlement reform, which is open until 12 February 2026.

This proposes a qualification period for settlement of 15 years for Skilled Workers in professions below RQF Level 6.

It is also proposed that paying income tax on per annum earnings above £50,217 or £125,140 might be rewarded with reductions to that qualification period of five and seven years, respectively.

Further detail on earned settlement will be finalised following the conclusion of the public consultation. This will include detail on any transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals from Hong Kong who have been granted asylum or refugee status will be required to meet a 20-year settlement requirement.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK. We fully recognise the significant contribution that Hong Kongers have already made to the UK, and the role they will continue to play in the years ahead.

Those on the BN(O) visa route will receive a 5-year reduction under the new earned settlement model.

For those recognised as refugees, we will introduce a starting point of a 20-year qualifying period of settlement. Those who move from core protection onto the new core protection-work and study routes will be able to earn reductions.

Resettled refugees who have been granted protection and moved to the UK through official resettlement programmes are intended to start at 10 years, bringing them in line with other arrivals on planned migration routes.

Beyond this, full details of the new earned settlement model will be finalised following the currently ongoing public consultation.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to make any changes to the existing 5+1 route to Indefinite Leave to Remain for individuals already on the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years' residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement, including the English language requirement, are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals on the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route will have to meet B2 standard of English in order to achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years' residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement, including the English language requirement, are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether individuals currently residing on a UK Ancestry visa and working towards Indefinite Leave to Remain under the existing five-year residency requirement will be required to meet the proposed ten-year residency rule in proposed changes to immigration rules.

We are currently holding a public consultation on new settlement rules. Following that, we will provide details of how this initiative will work, including on any transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
27th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether registered social workers will be eligible for the 5 year pathway to settlement for skilled frontline public service workers.

In May 2025, the Immigration White Paper set out an increase in the baseline qualification period for settlement from five years to ten, which was collectively agreed across government.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement sets out the Government’s proposed model for earned settlement and accompanies the current public consultation on settlement reform, which is open until 12 February 2026.

The consultation seeks views on the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those working in vital public services, particularly where earnings are based on national pay scales and may not meet the proposed threshold for an income-based reduction in the qualifying period. This might include, for example, medical and teaching professionals working in public services. However, it is envisaged that the above reduction in the qualifying period for public service roles would apply only to those working in skilled occupations (at RQF Level 6 or above).

Full details on earned settlement will be finalised following the conclusion of the public consultation.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
27th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend arrangements allowing UK-bound group travellers to use national identity cards to other major sending countries such as Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

EU national children are permitted to use their national identity cards instead of a passport when travelling to the UK as part of an organised French school group accompanied by documentation which has been authenticated by the relevant French authorities. This scheme has been in operation since 10 March 2023. A similar scheme is planned for German school groups.

The UK currently has no plans to extend the current arrangements allowing French and German groups to use national identity cards to other countries.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
26th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of naturalisation fees on UK residents with Indefinite Leave to Remain who have not applied for British citizenship; and if she will reduce citizenship application fees to administration costs only.

No specific assessment has been made on the impact of naturalisation fees on those who are resident in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain and have not applied for British Citizenship. However, where changes to fee legislation are made, Impact Assessments are produced which identify potential impacts resulting from the changes. When fees for naturalisation applications were increased on 09 April 2025, an Equalities Impact Assessment was published, which can be viewed through this link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/363/pdfs/uksiod_20250363_en_001.pdf.

The Home Office acknowledges that whilst some individuals may wish to apply to become a British citizen, it is not mandatory, and many choose not to do so. This is because, in addition to lawful permanent residence in the UK, a person with Indefinite Leave to Remain enjoys the benefit of access to the UK labour market, state education and healthcare and the ability to sponsor family members’ residence in the UK.

The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review. However, the Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing is utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system, reducing reliance of taxpayer funding.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed requirement for a sustained economic contribution under the BNO visa application route will apply to all adult applicants, including non-working spouses, unpaid carers, full-time students and retirees.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of retrospective protections for BNO dependants unable to meet the sustained economic contribution requirement.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young adults currently in full-time education, who were under 18 at the time of their initial BNO visa application, will be exempt from the proposed sustained economic contribution requirement.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed Migration Quantitative Indicators and changes to existing exemptions, including the English-language waiver for applicants aged 65 and over, will apply to current BNO visa holders who are nearing eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the rules originally in place.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether B1 English-language qualifications will remain valid for current BNO visa holders approaching eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the requirement to B2 on carers, older applicants, and lower-income households.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the B1 English language requirement from which applicants aged 65 or over are exempt.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
20th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has she made in delivering the Emergency Services Mobile Communications programme.

Following the completion of two major re-procurements, the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) awarded the Mobile Services contract to BT/EE and the User Services contract to IBM in November and December 2024 respectively.

The programme has completed a revised Programme Business Case which has been endorsed by the Senior Users of the 3 Emergency Services and those of the devolved nations. The Programme Business Case is expected to complete departmental and treasury approvals in early 2026. Our user community continues to be closely engaged in planning the deployment and rollout of the service and the safe transition from Airwave to ESN. Early adoption of a service ready solution is on track for early 2028 with a further target for complete transition from Airwave by the end of 2029.

The main build of ESN masts to provide mobile coverage is largely complete - of a total of the extra 1047 masts due to be built, 987 are completed and operationally live. This is already providing a benefit to the public by enabling over one thousand additional 999 calls every month to be made in areas where previously there was no coverage. Work continues at pace to provide network access in areas where localised coverage is needed; these include densely populated communities, as well as sports stadiums, and shopping centres.

The programme’s priority is to achieve the right balance between credible plans that ensures user confidence and the need to deliver ESN as quickly and safely as possible to enable the shutdown of Airwave.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of police community support officers in Cheshire on levels of crime in that area.

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this.

Based on their £3,009,490 allocation from the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, Cheshire Police is projected to grow by 48 FTE neighbourhood police officers in 2025-26.

It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions, to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. This includes how best to allocate the resources at their disposal to provide an effective service to local communities.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessments she has made of trends in the levels of recruitment and retention in Cheshire Police; and how many officers have (a) left and (b) joined the force since July 2024.

Forces are expected to manage their recruitment and retention activities to ensure that they meet officer headcount targets linked to funding arrangements set out in the Police Funding Settlement.

Data on joiners and leavers is published annually in July, including data for the previous year to 31 March. For the last full year that data is available (April 2024 to March 2025) Cheshire Police saw an increase in joiners of 17.1% (178 full time equivalents) alongside an increase in leavers of 4.5% (7 full time equivalents).

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
26th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in parcel theft from goods left outside homes by delivery companies.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) provides estimates on the proportion of theft from outside dwellings by the type of item stolen. It is not possible to separately identify all incidents where parcels left outside by delivery companies were stolen.

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.

This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Settlement Pathway announced on 20 November 2025, if she will define the requirement for indefinite leave to remain applicants to have no debt in the UK, specifically in relation to mortgages, student loans and business loans.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, the statement accompanying our current public consultation on earned settlement, sets out that applicants seeking to settle in the UK should have no current litigation, NHS, tax or other government debt.

Further detail on the earned settlement model will be finalised following the conclusion of that public consultation.

Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
25th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that a national day to remember victims and survivors of terrorism is specifically for innocent victims.

This Government is committed to recognising and supporting victims and survivors of terrorism.

That is why, on 24 November, the Government announced plans to introduce a National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism to pay tribute to those whose lives have been lost or forever changed by terrorist attacks.

This followed a public consultation on these proposals from 19 March to 11 June which identified strong support for a national day.

The Government will continue to work with victims and survivors ahead of an inaugural event in 2026, to shape the format of the national day for future years.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in addressing acts of animal sexual abuse, including non-penetrative and coercive activity; and, for each of the past five years, how many cases of potential animal sexual abuse were reported to the police, how many resulted in a charge, and how many led to a successful prosecution.

The number of offences of intercourse with an animal recorded by police each year since 2020 varies from 40 to 57. Specifically, police recorded 40 of these crimes in 2020, 48 in 2021, 49 in 2022, 57 in 2023, 51 in 2024, 54 in the year up to June 2024 and 42 in the year up to June 2025. The proportion of recorded cases that resulted in a charge or summons varied from 20% to 2%.

The Home Office do not hold information on non-penetrative or coercive activity against animals.

The court proceedings database shows that the number of individuals proceeded against by criminal courts where the offence of intercourse with an animal was the principal offence was 4 in the year to June 2021, 1 in the years to June 2022, 2023 and 2024, and 0 in the year to June 2025.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department, after being appointed on 5 September, has had introductory conversations with the interior ministers of (1) France, (2) Germany, (3) Italy, (4) Belgium and (5) the Netherlands, regarding international cooperation on tackling organised immigration crime.

International co-operation is vital to address organised immigration crime. The Home Secretary continues to engage with counterparts across the EU and further afield on what further can be done to tackle this issue. Most recently the Home Secretary chaired the 11th Western Balkans Summit where the impact of illegal migration was discussed. This was attended by representatives of the European Union and its Member States including the Chancellor of Germany, alongside representatives from France and Italy.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
18th Nov 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest available figures for (1) the number of refugees from Ukraine in the UK, (2) the number of refugees from Ukraine who have entered the UK in 2025, and (3) the number who have given up their refugee status and returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere during 2025.

The Home Office publishes data on the Ukraine schemes in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

As at the end of September 2025 229,900 individuals have arrived in the UK under the Ukraine schemes.

Whilst the number of Ukrainians currently within the UK is not published within the data tables, the statistics do refer to how many people are believed to be out of the UK at a snapshot in time (although some may later return to the UK) in the chapter ‘How many people come to the UK via safe and legal (humanitarian) routes?’

“Management information indicates that as of the end of September 2025, around 97,100 people (42%) who had previously arrived on the Ukraine schemes had exited the UK and were believed to be out of the country, although some may subsequently return.”

The Home Office does not publish information on how many on the Ukraine schemes have returned to Ukraine or moved elsewhere during 2025.

The Ukraine Schemes do not confer refugee status; therefore, they would not lose their status if returned.

In addition to the Ukraine schemes, some Ukrainians have claimed asylum via the UK asylum process. Since the start of 2022 to the end of September 2025, 68 Ukrainians have been granted refugee status (main applicants and dependants). There is no published data to confirm how many of these remain in the UK, also whether those who were granted refugee status in the preceding years also remain in the UK.

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
24th Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the broadcaster LuaLua TV on national security.

We do not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats. But national security is the first duty of any government, and we take any malicious activity that might pose a threat to our security extremely seriously.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
21st Nov 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is being taken to increase scam awareness in rural communities.

Whilst it is vital we continue to target the criminals behind fraud and make it harder for them to operate, we want to increase awareness across all communities to help people.

We are working with City of London Police (CoLP) to support their coordination of the Fraud Protect Network. The network is made up of local, regional and national law enforcement officers and is designed to reduce the threat of fraud and revictimisation by providing consistent protect messaging and safeguarding advice to the public, including those in rural communities.

Additionally, the Government has continued to fund the national ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ awareness campaign to equip the public with useful protective behaviours against fraud. The campaign, and supporting website, make it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
28th Oct 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many civil society organisations received Prevent funding in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial years; what the cost of that funding was; and what her Department's budget is for Prevent funding for civil society organisations in the 2025-26 financial year.

It is vital that Prevent is well-equipped to counter the threats that we face and the ideologies that underpin them.

Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects

In the financial year 2023-24, the Home Office provided £26,294,582.59 in Prevent funding. This includes £2,790,047.15 in project delivery funding to a total of 63 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent programme.

In the financial year 2024-25, the Home Office provided £27,769,727.44 in Prevent funding. This includes £2,365,309.72 in project delivery funding to a total of 52 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent programme.

In the financial year April 2025 – March 2026, the Home Office is projected to provide £28,758,000 in Prevent funding. This includes a projected spend of £1,877,378.99 in project delivery funding to a total of 30 Civil Society Organisations under the Prevent programme.

This financial year, we have an allocated budget of £2 million for project funding. The anticipated expenditure for this financial year was £1.8 million, based on the funding bids received from local authorities.

Dan Jarvis
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)