Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of conflicts between protesters in Manchester following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, including reports of men on horseback wearing armbands and threatening individuals.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This government upholds the democratic right that people must be free to peacefully express their views, but they must do so within the bounds of the law.
Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the government’s backing to use their powers to respond.
It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.
The Home Secretary launched an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation on 5 October 2025 led by Lord Ken Macdonald of River Glaven KC. The review will ensure police powers remain fit for purpose, are used consistently, and strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest. It is expected to report in the spring.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Home Office officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national security and defence.
The Home Office is actively contributing to this work, with a range of directorates across the department engaging in matters related to defence and security, including in Homeland Security Group and Public Safety Group.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in cyber-enabled fraud in the last three years.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Using the latest data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, the survey estimates that 42% of fraud was cyber enabled in the year ending March 2023, rising to 48% in the year ending March 2024. However, this is likely to be an underestimate. The survey relies on victims self identifying whether the fraud they experienced involved any online or cyber element, and many victims may be unaware of how the offence was committed.
To tackle the levels of fraud in the UK, the Government launched a new Fraud Strategy on 9th March which will focus on disrupting fraud before it reaches a target, safeguarding individuals and businesses by building resilience and responding with victim support and justice.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which nationalities are included in the Enhanced Voluntary Returns offer pilot.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
This pilot is about fairness and control. The scheme is designed to get families out of costly hotels faster, remove incentives to delay, and save taxpayers money. We will see if it works and scale if it does.
We expect people to take the offer and leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, Immigration Enforcement will seek to enforce their departure
The offer is directed at failed asylum seeker families with no right to stay, who are currently being housed at public expense. It is not targeted at particular nationalities.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on which date will the Enhanced Voluntary Returns offer pilot end.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
This pilot is about fairness and control. The scheme is designed to get families out of costly hotels faster, remove incentives to delay, and save taxpayers money. We will see if it works and scale if it does.
We expect people to take the offer and leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, Immigration Enforcement will seek to enforce their departure
The offer is directed at failed asylum seeker families with no right to stay, who are currently being housed at public expense. It is not targeted at particular nationalities.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's proposed timetable is for responding to the A Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. Working at pace, the contributions will now be analysed, and the findings will support the development of the final model. The public will be informed when a response is produced.
Economic and equality impact assessments will be conducted on the final model and published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will proscribe the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the UK by the end of 2026.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Iranian regime has long brought horror to the world. Its actions have destabilised the region for decades, sponsored terrorism worldwide, targeted British shipping in the Red Sea, and supported Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Since the start of 2022, the UK has responded to over 20 Iran-backed plots presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents. We recognise the serious threat posed by the IRGC and will not hesitate to take the most effective measures against the Iranian regime.
It is the Government’s long-standing position, under successive administrations, not to comment on the detail of security and intelligence matters, including whether or not a specific organisation is being considered for proscription. However, we are acting decisively to disrupt threats posed by Iran here in the UK. We have placed the Iranian state on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), meaning that anyone working for or directed by the Iranian state to conduct activities in the UK must declare that activity, or risk up to five years in prison. The National Security Act 2023 also strengthens our powers to counter state threats, including from Iran, and provides the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt these threats.
Furthermore, we have committed to take forward plans recommended by Jonathan Hall KC for a proscription-like power for state and state-linked bodies to tackle malign activity more appropriately than is offered under the existing powers. This will enhance our powers to respond to state-based security threats from the most egregious organisations harming the UK.
The UK now has over 550 sanctions against Iranian linked individuals and entities, including the IRGC, which has been sanctioned in its entirety. Over 220 designations have been imposed since this Government came into office. In concert with international partners, we will use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and our interests, from state threats.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the announcement by the Home Secretary on 2 March that refugee protection is to be reviewed every 30 months, whether earned settlement will still exist for those with a legitimate right to be in the UK, seeking continuing leave to remain and a pathway to naturalisation.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
From 2 March 2026, adults and accompanied children who qualify for refugee status and humanitarian protection will be granted Core Protection for 30 months, which can be renewed as necessary. Those who remain on Core Protection can apply for settlement after 20 years.
However, refugees will be encouraged, where possible, to switch into a new, bespoke protection work and study route which will enable them to access settlement rights sooner. Settlement remains the normal route to naturalisation as a British citizen, which will continue to be available to those who meet the statutory requirements set out in the British Nationality Act 1981.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of earned settlement proposals on child poverty, young people’s opportunities and access to citizenship for long‑resident children.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on children which we are considering carefully.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has undertaken a Child Rights impact assessment of proposals to change indefinite leave to remain.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on children which we are considering carefully.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.