Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what non-privileged advice or guidance they have given to public bodies on whether a public body may exercise a legal power that is subject to a declaration of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act 1998, both specifically with reference to the High Court declaration of incompatibility directed to sections 60C(3), 61(4ZA)(a), 62(1A)(a) and 62B(2) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, made in May 2024, and more widely.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In May 2024 the High Court ruled that the twelve month no-return period in Part 5 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in relation to unauthorised encampments was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, due to the limited availability of authorised transit sites.
A government amendment has been tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill to reduce the period during which an individual who has been directed to leave an unauthorised encampment must not return, from twelve months to three months. This applies to sections 60C, 61, 62, 62B and 62C of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. This will rectify the incompatibility with Convention rights.
The Home Office has not provided advice to public bodies on whether they may exercise these legal powers in light of the High Court ruling. Police forces are operationally independent of government and any enforcement action against encampments is an operational matter for the police.
Statutory guidance issued by the Home Secretary under section 62F of the 1994 Act is published here: Statutory Guidance for Police on Unauthorised Encampments
The guidance will be updated when the Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent.
Asked by: Lord Hart of Tenby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a working relationship between the National Rural Crime Unit and the proposed National Police Service.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The National Police Service will take on the range of operational functions that currently sit with lead forces, coordinated through the NPCC. The Government will work closely with the NPCC on the transition of these functions.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the salary will be for the proposed Commissioner of the National Police Service.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The salary for the Commissioner of the National Police Service will be determined in due course.
The Government has started work to set up the National Police Service and will legislate for it as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on 7 March 2019 (HCWS1392), and the Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 813), published on 22 October 2020, what assessment they have made of the impact of the earned settlement proposals on Turkish European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA) legacy holders; and what estimate they have made of the number of ECAA legacy holders affected by the earned settlement proposals.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As the HCWS 1392 indicated and the explanatory memorandum to HC 813 set out, following the end of the EU exit transition period and the repeal of EU-derived directly effective immigration rights, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).
The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on 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 potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement, which set out the rules described in HC 813, will continue to apply.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential (1) risks, and (2) benefits, of adopting an entirely remote delivery model for the proposed Home Office English Language Testing service.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has carefully considered both the risks and benefits of an entirely remote delivery model as part of the procurement to replace current Secure English Language Testing arrangements.
The key risks centre on maintaining the integrity and security of the immigration system, including identity assurance, protection against impersonation, and confidence in the reliability of test results. The Home Office has engaged the market to understand what capability is available to maintain high standards of security and integrity and has developed a robust security schedule and solution requirements to ensure this remains at the heart of the digital by default solution. Following rounds of pre-market engagement, the ongoing procurement is explicitly designed to test bidders' ability to meet these standards, and the Department will adopt only those solutions that demonstrably maintain the high level of assurance required.
The expected benefits include improved accessibility and customer service by removing physical barriers for applicants, stronger protections against fraud through enhanced security measures, and better value for money for applicants and the taxpayer.
Asked by: Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many claims made to the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund they have determined to be (1) ineligible, and (2) fraudulent.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Windrush Compensation Scheme does not publish data about how manyclaims to the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund were found tobe ineligible or fraudulent.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan for the proposed National Police Service to be operational; and whether this is expected to be by the end of the present Parliament.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The salary for the Commissioner of the National Police Service will be determined in due course.
The Government has started work to set up the National Police Service and will legislate for it as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how frequently police officers will have to renew a licence to work under proposed policing reforms; and what training officers will need to do, if any, to secure the licence that they do not currently undertake in the course of their duties.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As set out in the White Paper ‘From local to national: a new model for policing’, a Licence to Practise will signify the unique position our officers hold through the Office of Constable while ensuring that all officers are provided with the right wellbeing support, training and development to succeed. It is important that we carefully consider all options for Licence model, including how a Licence is issued and renewed, and we will work closely with policing to make sure that we develop a model that is beneficial for officers and the public.
A Licence to Practise will provide a system that brings together mandatory training alongside consistent professional development. We will explore how a Licence can build on accreditations and licensing which are currently delivered by the College of Policing in specialist operational areas.
Our first priority is to ensure the service is set for a Licence model which includes developing a strong performance management system and delivering consistent leadership standards and wellbeing support.
Asked by: Lord Hart of Tenby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate the fitting of engine immobilisers to off-road vehicles prior to sale, under the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We have always been committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
The Act gives power for immobilisers to be fit as standard, but significant concerns were raised about the impact on existing Type Approval regulations, which are in place to ensure the safety of new vehicles before sale.
We absolutely cannot compromise vehicle safety and as a result, we will not be including the fitting of immobilisers to new ATVs at this time.
However, we will be introducing secondary legislation in relation to the property marking and the registration of all new ATVs onto a property marking database. Removable GPS units which are particularly vulnerable to theft will also be included within these provisions. This will assist police in identifying the rightful owner if they are recovered and also makes stolen vehicles and equipment harder to sell on, which has a deterrent effect.
Asked by: Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the terms of reference of the review of the Overseas Domestic Worker visa mentioned in paragraph 177 of the Immigration White paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025; who will carry it out; and when it is expected to report.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The review is being undertaken internally by officials in the Home Office and no formal terms of reference will be published. We are aiming to complete the review by the end of 2026.