Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will reinstate a route to settlement by allowing time spent under the Ukraine Schemes to count towards the 10‑year settlement pathway.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.
From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.
The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will introduce a transition visa at the end of the Ukraine Permission Extension period.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.
From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.
The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is guidance on supporting victims of financial scams targeting older citizens.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Home Office funds Report Fraud Victims Services. This is a targeted service providing consistent support and a standard of care for victims of fraud and cybercrime, including older victims of financial scams.
Report Fraud Victims Services aims to ensure victims feel safer and more confident following contact, while supporting them to cope with and recover from the impact of the crime and significantly reducing the risk of repeat victimisation. Victims are triaged based on vulnerability and offered a tailored package of support, including signposting to appropriate specialist services.
The UK Government Stop! Think Fraud website also offers information on how to stay safe from fraud and how to recover if you are a victim. More information can be found here: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 6 March 2026 to Question HL14718 on Public Bodies: Human Rights, whether an (a) equality impact, (b) human rights, (c) regulatory impact and (d) environmental principles assessment has been produced for amending police powers on unauthorised traveller encampments.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government takes all necessary steps to ensure that legislation is developed in line with its statutory obligations and established processes, including the need to act compatibly with human rights.
In response to the declaration of incompatibility made by the High Court in May 2024, the Government brought forward an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to reduce the no‑return period from twelve months to three months, addressing the incompatibility identified by the Court while retaining appropriate enforcement powers in relation to unauthorised encampments.
The human rights implications of the amendment were considered as part of the usual Bill process, including through the published European Convention on Human Rights memorandum for the Crime and Policing Bill.
The Government will consider equality impacts and other statutory duties in line with its usual processes.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Police Chief's Council report entitled Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025-2028, what offences are classified under bat crime.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Under the NPCC Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025–2028, bat crime includes:
Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Regulation 43 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
Offer for sale or exchange any bat, alive or dead, or any part of a bat.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in (a) investigating and (b) supporting prosecutions in wildlife crime cases.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.
In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the implementation of the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.
In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 the National Wildlife Crime Unit on the number of wildlife crime cases.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.
In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.
Asked by: Seamus Logan (Scottish National Party - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on the number of complaints made to the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Unit on British citizens who have served in the Israeli Defence Forces since October 2023.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
No such discussions have taken place.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, by when the Animals in Science Regulation Unit will a) complete its Regulatory Reform programme and b) implement a new target operating model.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) launched its new organisational design and operating model in late 2025. This included increasing the size of the inspectorate from an average of 14.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts in 2023 to 22 FTE in 2026, strengthening the Regulator’s ability to scrutinise, monitor and assure compliance of regulated establishments with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. ASRU has also introduced specialist roles and functions to strengthen data analysis, quality monitoring and overall regulatory performance.
The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy ‘Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods’, later in 2026.