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.
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)
14:30
Written Evidence
The Government has announced major changes to eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement, and is …
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Key Performance Indicators and service standards are contained within …
Part 4 of the Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22) (“the 2014 Act”) established a scheme for the referral of proposed …
A Bill to Make provision about the effect, during an appeal, of an order under section 40 of the British …
10:17
News and Communications
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.
Bills currently before Parliament
Home Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament
Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament
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.
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.
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
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).
(35,330 in the last 7 days)
(7,933 in the last 7 days)
(2,363 in the last 7 days)
(2,232 in the last 7 days)
(2,130 in the last 7 days)
(1,323 in the last 7 days)
(2,363 in the last 7 days)
(1,620 in the last 7 days)
(2,130 in the last 7 days)
(289 in the last 7 days)
Petition Closed
closed 3 weeks, 4 days ago
We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.
Petition Closed
Stop financial and other support for asylum seekers
Gov Responded - 23 Jun 2025 Debated on - 20 Oct 2025closed 6 months, 2 weeks 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.
Petition Closed
Ban immediately the use of dogs in scientific and regulatory procedures
Gov Responded - 5 Mar 2025 Debated on - 28 Apr 2025closed 5 months, 2 weeks ago
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.
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
Home Affairs Committee Member since 11th September 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Home Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Home Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Home Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Home Affairs Committee: Upcoming Events
Routes to Settlement
3 Feb 2026, 2 p.m.
View calendar - Save to Calendar
Home Affairs Committee - Oral evidence
The work of the Home Office
4 Feb 2026, 9:30 a.m.
View calendar - Save to Calendar
Home Affairs Committee: 10 Current Inquiries
Home Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
50 most recent Written Questions
(View all written questions)The national digital ID will not be mandatory for individuals to obtain. However, digital right to work checks will be mandatory by the end of the Parliament
Currently, for British and Irish citizens, many right to work checks are paper based. This is vulnerable to fraud and does not create a clear record of when and where checks have been carried out
The digital ID will provide a modern, secure and trusted way for people to prove who they are and access services across the public and private sectors
We will issue the new digital ID, for free, to everybody who wants one and has the right to be in the UK, including the around 10% of UK citizens without traditional forms of ID
We will be consulting imminently - in a range of ways – to ensure the introduction of Digital ID is as effective and inclusive as possible.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Hotel closure will be prioritised based on a wide range of criteria. The hotel exit plan will continue to be carefully managed to ensure that all supported asylum seekers are accommodated in suitable alternative accommodation. The department operates a Full Dispersal model which works to ensure that asylum accommodation is equitably and fairly spread out across the country, meaning that a small number of local authorities are not unduly burdened.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The current service delivery model for immigration escorting is to locate vehicle bases at or near Immigration Removal Centres, where most escorting movements begin and end. The nearest vehicle base to Derwentside IRC is currently more than 100 miles away, which makes servicing the centre logistically challenging. Once operational, the new vehicle base is expected to improve escorting efficiency for that location.
Until the vehicle base is operational, escorting requirements will continue to be met through other vehicle bases, supported by the flexible deployment of staff / vehicles and close coordination with our contracted escorting provider to ensure movements are carried out safely and securely and in a timely manner.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Accommodation and travel services are currently provided under CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract. Information on the overall contract value is available publicly: CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract - Contracts Finder
Annual spend and forecast spend are considered commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Accommodation and travel services are currently provided under CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract. Information on the overall contract value is available publicly: CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract - Contracts Finder
Annual spend and forecast spend are considered commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Security services under this contract are provided at the Scampton and Wethersfield sites.
Information on the overall contract value is available publicly: Provision of Security Services at Home Office Contingency Accommodation - Contracts Finder
Annual spend and forecast spend are considered commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed.
Minister of State (Home Office)
This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.
This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.
The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder
Minister of State (Home Office)
This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.
This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.
The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder
Minister of State (Home Office)
This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.
This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.
The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder
Minister of State (Home Office)
This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.
This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.
The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder
Minister of State (Home Office)
This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.
This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.
The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder
Minister of State (Home Office)
This information cannot be disclosed as the detailed financial breakdown of the AIRE contract is commercially sensitive.
This contract was approved by the Commercial Approval Board where it gained approval within Home Office. It was also approved by Cabinet Office Spend Controls and HMT approvals.
The AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility was procured as part of a restricted procedure under the PCR15 regulations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service standards are contained within the contract titled AIRE publicly available information: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Elligibility - Contracts Finder
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) include a comprehensive suite of contractual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service level requirements which apply across all regions. These metrics cover core areas such as property standards, timely provision of accommodation and subsistence, safeguarding obligations, management of service requests, and delivery of operational reporting.
The full set of contractual KPIs for each AASC region has been published online and can be accessed via Contracts Finder at the following links:
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Finder
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract MEE - Contracts Finder
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NEYH - Contracts Finder
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Scotland - Contracts Finder
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NI - Contracts Finder
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts Finder
AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder
Performance results for the AASC contracts are commercially sensitive. Releasing detailed, supplier‑level performance data could undermine the Department’s ability to manage and assure the delivery of these live contracts effectively. For this reason, the Home Office does not publish individual supplier performance results.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Complaints relating specifically to accommodation standards are recorded and reviewed as part of the department’s wider contract management regime. However, detailed information on the number of such complaints received since 1 March 2019, and the proportion upheld by supplier and by year, forms part of contractual performance data that is considered commercially sensitive. As such, this data is not published.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office keeps the use of contingency accommodation under continual review to ensure that resources are managed responsibly while upholding our statutory obligations to support eligible asylum seekers.
However, for reasons of safety, security and the welfare of both service users and staff, the Home Office does not disclose operationally sensitive information relating to individual accommodation sites, including the movement of asylum seekers into or out of specific hotels.
It would not be appropriate for the department to comment on the operational status or use of any individual location.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Information on the overall contract value is available publicly: AIRE - Advice Issue Reporting and Eligibility - Contracts Finder
Annual spend and forecast spend are considered commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
UKVI are currently assessing Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) visas within the published processing times. Information on visa processing times can be found at Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK
Average processing times do not form part of any current transparency data for Ukraine Extension Permission applications and are not published.
A range of processing data including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK and Migration transparency data - GOV.UK
Resourcing arrangements are flexible across all visa routes, with decision-makers deployed to different areas at different times of the year. This enables UKVI to meet peaks in demand and operate efficiently throughout the operational year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
UKVI are currently assessing Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) visas within the published processing times. Information on visa processing times can be found at Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK
Average processing times do not form part of any current transparency data for Ukraine Extension Permission applications and are not published.
A range of processing data including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK and Migration transparency data - GOV.UK
Resourcing arrangements are flexible across all visa routes, with decision-makers deployed to different areas at different times of the year. This enables UKVI to meet peaks in demand and operate efficiently throughout the operational year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
UKVI are currently assessing Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) visas within the published processing times. Information on visa processing times can be found at Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK
Average processing times do not form part of any current transparency data for Ukraine Extension Permission applications and are not published.
A range of processing data including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK and Migration transparency data - GOV.UK
Resourcing arrangements are flexible across all visa routes, with decision-makers deployed to different areas at different times of the year. This enables UKVI to meet peaks in demand and operate efficiently throughout the operational year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.
The consultation seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements refer to temporary measures or rules put in place to manage the shift from one system, or policy framework, to another. Details of the earned settlement model, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.
The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office is yet to commence the legislative provision that will make it an offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Accordingly, there have been no cases in the courts brought on this basis. Further details of how the ETA requirement is being enforced will be published in due course.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
It is our long-standing policy that we do not comment on individual cases.
I can advise you that following the refusal or cancellation of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) document; the customer may still apply for the appropriate UK visa. This allows for a full consideration of their circumstances and may provide an alternative avenue to travel.
Minister of State (Home Office)
On 14 July 2025, we published updated country information which enabled decision making to resume on Syrian asylum and settlement protection claims. Where an applicant arrived in the UK via the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, we will proceed straight to considering a grant of indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Claimants will be required to meet the relevant validity (i.e. apply on the relevant form and establish their identity) and suitability requirements (i.e. consideration of any criminals' convictions) of the settlement protection policy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
On 14 July 2025, we published updated country information which enabled decision making to resume on Syrian asylum and settlement protection claims. Where an applicant arrived in the UK via the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, we will proceed straight to considering a grant of indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Claimants will be required to meet the relevant validity (i.e. apply on the relevant form and establish their identity) and suitability requirements (i.e. consideration of any criminals' convictions) of the settlement protection policy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not collect information on Dating Scam Fraud. City of London Police are the national lead force for fraud and operate the Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) reporting service which collects data on Dating Scam Fraud. The below data was collected from the reports made to Action Fraud (now Report Fraud) that amounted to a crime under the Home Office crime recording rules.
In the first 10 months of 2025, there were 9,305 dating scam reports to Action Fraud (now ‘Report Fraud’). Losses for these reports totalled £90.9m. Source: Report Fraud Analysis Services (Public)
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government is conducting an ongoing review of the Computer Misuse Act.
As part of the review, we are reviewing how we can better support legitimate cybersecurity researchers so they can operate within a clear and supportive legal framework, while maintaining robust safeguards.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Every community deserves visible, pro-active and accessible neighbourhood policing with officers tackling the issues that matter to them. That is why £200 million has been made available in 2025/26 to support the first steps towards delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel by the end of this Parliament. Of the £200 million available, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary were allocated £5,187,776 with a projected growth of 65 FTE neighbourhood police officers in 2025/26.
Published management information shows as at 30 September 2025, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have grown by 99 FTE neighbourhood policing officers since March 2025. It is important that forces continue to boost visible policing and ensure the workforce is shaped to meet modern crime demands.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Charges for shop theft rose by 25% (up to 107,090 charges) in the year ending June 2025. As this was a higher rate of increase than the rise in shop thefts recorded (13%), this led to an increase in the charge rate from 17.7% to 19.1%.
This Government is committed to restoring visible, responsive neighbourhood policing with 3,000 additional officers in neighbourhood policing roles by spring this year.
In the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores and we are removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.
The Home Office has regular discussions with the police and other partners on protecting retail workers and tackling shop theft.
We are also providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team – in partnership with the retail sector - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Charges for shop theft rose by 25% (up to 107,090 charges) in the year ending June 2025. As this was a higher rate of increase than the rise in shop thefts recorded (13%), this led to an increase in the charge rate from 17.7% to 19.1%.
This Government is committed to restoring visible, responsive neighbourhood policing with 3,000 additional officers in neighbourhood policing roles by spring this year.
In the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores and we are removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.
The Home Office has regular discussions with the police and other partners on protecting retail workers and tackling shop theft.
We are also providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team – in partnership with the retail sector - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.
Minister of State (Home Office)
We remain committed to supporting the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police in exploring how expanding police-led charging decisions for specific domestic abuse cases can improve outcomes for domestic abuse victims and survivors.
The Home Office has been working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the CPS to expand police charging authority to include certain domestic abuse (DA) flagged offences, aligning with the ambitions of the Government’s Manifesto Commitments.
As set out in the recent Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Government will work with the CPS and police to strengthen access to justice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This includes reviewing the time limits for charging domestic abuse-related summary offences and considering whether greater flexibility could help reduce the number of timed-out cases.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We remain committed to supporting the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police in exploring how expanding police-led charging decisions for specific domestic abuse cases can improve outcomes for domestic abuse victims and survivors.
The Home Office has been working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the CPS to expand police charging authority to include certain domestic abuse (DA) flagged offences, aligning with the ambitions of the Government’s Manifesto Commitments.
As set out in the recent Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the Government will work with the CPS and police to strengthen access to justice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This includes reviewing the time limits for charging domestic abuse-related summary offences and considering whether greater flexibility could help reduce the number of timed-out cases.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This information is published in table VSI_02 (column L) of the UK Visa & Immigration Transparency Data. This shows the proportion of applications processed in line with the 5 working days service standard for priority application, and next working day service standard for super priority applications. Cases which are defined as non-straightforward due to their complexity sit outside the service standard and are therefore excluded from these figures.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Children seeking to register as a British citizen will have the fee waived if they are able to credibly demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee. In addition, where an application has been made by or on behalf of a child who is looked after by a Local Authority, no fee is payable and it is not necessary for the child’s financial circumstances to be evidenced.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Children seeking to register as a British citizen will have the fee waived if they are able to credibly demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee. In addition, where an application has been made by or on behalf of a child who is looked after by a Local Authority, no fee is payable and it is not necessary for the child’s financial circumstances to be evidenced.
Since 16 June 2022, when the fee exemption for registering looked after children as British citizens was introduced, the Home Office has proactively engaged with every local authority. This work has focused on informing and supporting them to understand the exemption and the full range of citizenship registration options available to children under local authority care and supporting them with bespoke communication channels for local authorities to assist on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, a person over the age of 18 who missed out on becoming a British citizen as a child may qualify for registration under section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981 in certain circumstances. That provision can be used where an applicant can demonstrate that they would have been able to become British while a child in care.
In the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper, which was published on 12 May 2025, we stated that consideration will be made to removing financial barriers to acquiring British citizenship for young adults who have lived their entire lives in the UK.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Children seeking to register as a British citizen will have the fee waived if they are able to credibly demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee. In addition, where an application has been made by or on behalf of a child who is looked after by a Local Authority, no fee is payable and it is not necessary for the child’s financial circumstances to be evidenced.
Since 16 June 2022, when the fee exemption for registering looked after children as British citizens was introduced, the Home Office has proactively engaged with every local authority. This work has focused on informing and supporting them to understand the exemption and the full range of citizenship registration options available to children under local authority care and supporting them with bespoke communication channels for local authorities to assist on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, a person over the age of 18 who missed out on becoming a British citizen as a child may qualify for registration under section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981 in certain circumstances. That provision can be used where an applicant can demonstrate that they would have been able to become British while a child in care.
In the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper, which was published on 12 May 2025, we stated that consideration will be made to removing financial barriers to acquiring British citizenship for young adults who have lived their entire lives in the UK.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
A decision to explore the introduction of US pre-clearance at a UK airport is primarily a commercial decision for airport operators. An outline commercial agreement between an airport operator and US authorities would be required before any formal discussions between the UK and US governments could take place, however we stand ready to negotiate should this be forthcoming.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on changes of conditions on GOV.UK within the Immigration and protection data: July to September 2025, available in tabs CoC_01 to CoC_07 of the Migration Transparency Data dataset.
When an individual is considered for assessment of Change of Conditions, various No Recourse to Public Funds conditions are checked, with ‘destitution’ being one of these conditions.
The specific information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
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.
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 and published in due course.
In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the current B1 English language requirement.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This government is bearing down on small boat crossings. We have stopped 40,000 crossing attempts since this Government came into office through our joint work with the French. We have detained and removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally. Our pilot deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
The entry and exit of citizens into/from the UK is the responsibility of border control/passenger Policy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We do not report and hold data at this granularity and would only be obtainable at disproportionate cost.
The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office annual report and accounts: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not currently publish data on the dates of birth of asylum seekers.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum by age group in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2025.
Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not currently publish data on the dates of birth of asylum seekers.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum by age group in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2025.
Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Everyone who is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of children should receive appropriate training on referral processes. The government will set out clear guidance on the operation of the duty, and we will work with regulators and professional standards-setting bodies to ensure the new duty is clearly communicated ahead of implementation.
Each organisation will need to judge how best to support its own staff in in adhering to the requirements of the duty and developing their response to child sexual abuse.
Recognising that support is necessary in this complex area, the Home Office funds the independent Centre for Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse to further strengthen the ability of professionals to understand, identify and respond appropriately to concerns of child sexual abuse through the provision of evidence-based training and practice resources.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The first priority of Government is protecting national security and the safety of UK citizens.
The Home Office uses various tools to detect and disrupt travel by those posing a national security risk and all applications for visas or UK immigration status are subject to comprehensive checks.
It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on operational security matters or specific cases. However, where an individual is assessed as presenting a risk to our country, we take swift and robust action.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The first 27 migrants moved onto the site on 22nd January, and occupancy will be scaled up with total capacity over 500. Initial intakes will be low in numbers and gradual, taking a phased and incremental approach to full occupancy.
Asylum seekers at the site are not detained, however the site is self-contained as essential services are provided on site to reduce the impact on local services through reducing the need for asylum seekers to leave the site. It is our longstanding policy not to comment on operational arrangements around sites.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Secretary set out in the Immigration White Paper published on 12 May 2025 that the Home Office will ensure children who have been in the UK for some time, turn 18 and discover they do not have status, are fully supported and able to regularise their status and settle where appropriate. This will also include a clear pathway for those children in care and care leavers.
This commitment will be delivered primarily through an update to the ‘children in care policy’. As part of this, separate targeted engagement will take place with external stakeholders to help us to understand the challenges in this area and develop a policy solution which supports children in care without status while upholding the need to have a robust and coherent migration system. Children who have claimed asylum are dealt with under separate provisions.
A range of reforms are underway across the immigration and asylum system, and the development of a clear pathway to settlement for children in care and care leavers must be considered alongside these changes.
Further detail on this will be set out in due course.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK and Ireland have a strong relationship which includes joint action against criminals targeting both the UK and Ireland.
In addition to these operational relationships, there is an annual security dialogue between the UK and Ireland to discuss key shared security issues faced. This includes discussions on international serious & organised crime, with the last one taking place in November 2025.
In January 2026, the UK formally invited Ireland to join the North Sea Channel Maritime Information Group. This group facilitates the cooperation and exchanging of information about maritime border security topics, including information around the movement of drugs. Existing members include Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)