Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current operational capabilities of the Iranian intelligence services in the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
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 Iranian Intelligence Services and will not hesitate to take the most effective measures against the Iranian regime and its proxies.
Last year the Security Minister outlined the government’s response to the unacceptable threat we face from the Iranian state, and the steps we are taking to ensure that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to disrupt and degrade Iran’s malign activity on UK soil.
The National Security Act 2023 provides a significant toolkit for our intelligence services and law enforcement agencies in the fight against state threats, including those posed by Iran. This means that the UK is now a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts against the UK, including espionage, interference in our political system, sabotage and assassination.
The UK now has over 550 sanctions against Iranian linked individuals and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which has been sanctioned in its entirety. Over 220 designations have been imposed since Government came into office reflecting our ongoing commitment to countering Iran’s malign activity and safeguarding British citizens.
We take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms and safety in the UK very seriously. We will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from any Iran-linked threats.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what engagement they have had with Jewish community organisations following the arrests of four men on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence by spying on individuals linked to the Jewish community in London.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government have engaged with multiple Jewish leaders following the arrests of four men under the National Security Act. We continue to engage closely with these leaders to ensure that our communities are supported.
The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned by the arrests on Friday 6 March. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with those affected.
Our police and security services are world leading and won’t hesitate to take action to counter any threat to the UK. They will continue to use the full range of tools and powers available to them to keep this country safe. They have the government’s full support as they carry out their vital work. Given the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how often UK employer sponsors are reassessed for their suitability to assign certificates of sponsorship for a skilled worker visa.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
On each occasion a sponsor wishes to recruit a skilled worker and bring them to the UK from overseas, they must apply for a defined certificate of sponsorship. Every request is assessed against specific criteria, including ensuring the role is genuine and that appropriate salary levels will be paid.
Where a sponsor wishes to employ a skilled worker that is already working or studying legally in the UK, they require an undefined certificate of sponsorship. Some trusted sponsors receive an automated annual allocation of undefined certificates of sponsorship. Trusted sponsors are those that have robust HR systems and a positive track record of compliance with our policies and procedures. This is kept under constant review
However, any requests from those without an automated allocation or for additional certificates, requested in-year, are assessed in line with the process set out above
At each touch point a sponsor makes with the Immigration System, including the application for Certificates of Sponsorship, their suitability is assessed and if concerns are identified they are fully investigated. This has led to record numbers of revocations of Sponsor Licences during the tenure of this Government.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by charities and cultural centres operating in the UK with known or suspected links to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government does not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats. But we have been clear that we take threats to, and interference in, the functioning of our democracy and our civil society extremely seriously.
We work closely with a range of partners to tackle malign state-backed influence in our society. Where there is clear evidence that Iranian-linked or aligned organisations are undertaking unacceptable activity, the Government will respond accordingly.
Ministers and officials regularly meet with the Charity Commission to discuss a range of issues relating to the regulation of charities. The Charity Commission is alive to the risks of state threats to the charity sector and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited. The Charity Commission has consistently been clear that it will respond robustly where there has been wrongdoing.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the Defending Democracy Taskforce has met in the past 12 months.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Defending Democracy Taskforce has met six times in the last 12 months.
The Taskforce comprises of Ministers and senior officials from multiple government departments, alongside representatives from law enforcement, the Parliamentary authorities, the Electoral Commission, and the UK Intelligence Community.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by Iranian intelligence operations in the United Kingdom to the Jewish community.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK Government continually assesses potential threats to the UK and its residents. 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. It is no secret that there is a long-standing pattern of targeting Jewish and Israeli people internationally by the Iranian Intelligence Services.
We take any threat to these threats extremely seriously. Through the police and the security and intelligence agencies, we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to address any threat.
Last year, the Security Minister outlined the government’s response to the unacceptable threat we face from the Iranian state, and the steps we are taking to ensure that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to disrupt and degrade Iran’s malign activity on UK soil.
The UK now has over 550 sanctions against Iranian linked individuals and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which has been sanctioned in its entirety. Over 220 designations have been imposed since Government came into office reflecting our ongoing commitment to countering Iran’s malign activity and safeguarding British citizens.
More broadly, we are taking action to protect our Jewish communities including allocating up to £28 million to the Community Security Trust this year- providing security to schools, synagogues and Jewish communities.
The Government's top priority is national security, and we will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and its people, from any Iran-linked threats.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether additional resources will be allocated to counter-terrorism policing to address state-backed espionage activities linked to Iran.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Funding for counter-terrorism policing increased by £140 million in 2025-26 and will increase by a further £52 million in 2026-27, taking the budget to a record £1.2 billion.
This funds a range of capabilities, as well as approximately 800 live investigations, which allows policing to respond swiftly and decisively to hostile state and terrorist threats.
We do not disclose specific breakdowns of funding for security reasons.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the duplication of safeguarding requirements for volunteers working across schools, charities and community organisations.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
It is for employers and the sectors involved to set requirements for criminal record checks as part of their safeguarding requirements. However, the disclosure and barring regime does allow for transfer of criminal record certificates, provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, if the certificate is for the same workforce and at the same level.
For further information, I would refer the hon member to the response previously provided by the Home Office, UIN: 119660.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK visas were granted to Jeffrey Epstein following his conviction on 30 June 2008.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We do not routinely comment on individual cases. The Government stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of earned settlement proposals requiring applicants to meet B2 English proficiency on lower income groups.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
From 8 April 2026, the English language requirement for settlement will be raised from level B1 to level B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for most routes that currently require B1. This increase will take effect on 26 March 2027, allowing those already on a pathway to settlement a 12-month period in which to undertake any necessary learning or preparation. We believe this will strengthen long-term integration outcomes.
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.
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.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including the impact on changes to the qualifying residence period for settlement; and the proposal for those working in roles below RQF level 6 to have a 15-year qualifying period for 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.