Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds data on the number of children that go missing by region every year.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not hold this data centrally.

Information about current missing persons incidents is held by individual police forces.

The National Crime Agency’s UK Missing Persons Unit holds the national database for all missing incidents that are unresolved after 72hours, allowing the police to have access to missing persons information across force boundaries. In addition, annual missing persons statistics, broken down to police force level, are published by the National Crime Agency’s Missing Person’s Unit in its annual data report which can be found here: Downloads - National Crime Agency

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of AI by police forces, including facial recognition and predictive systems; and what measures are in place to ensure that those systems are subject to appropriate oversight.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has already begun to support police to make responsible use of AI, and since the election we have allocated £50 million to areas such as facial recognition, deepfake detection and the automation of force control room operations. This is beginning to free up officer from administrative tasks to be on the frontline and improve policing outcomes. The Police Reform White Paper announced plans for a further £115m over the next three years, including a new National Centre for AI in Policing which will be charged with rolling out AI across policing and ensuring it is used in a responsible manner with the appropriate oversight.

The Covenant for Using Artificial Intelligence in Policing provides a high-level framework for AI adoption by police forces. It sets out clear principles for the development and deployment of AI in policing and operates alongside existing statutory obligations. It is supported by published guidance from the College of Policing and local governance and ethics arrangements within forces. We expect all law enforcement agencies to work within the current laws.

The AI Centre will provide technical testing and assurance of tools, in order to ensure high levels of accuracy, and minimise potential bias. It will also develop clear guidance and best practice for police forces on the responsible adoption of AI, complementing the existing legal and professional standards.

In addition, the AI Centre will support greater transparency through the development of a public-facing registry of police uses of AI, setting out what tools are being used, the purpose for their deployment, and the mitigations and safeguards in place. These measures are designed to provide a greater level of oversight of police AI use, to deliver benefits while mainlining responsible adoption and building public confidence.

Building on this broader programme of work to ensure responsible and transparent AI adoption, facial recognition technology remains an important tool that is helping police to quickly locate suspects and bring offenders to justice. The Government intends to bring forward a new framework to ensure all police forces across the country can use facial recognition and similar technologies with greater confidence, and that their uses and limits are clear to the public. Last year, we launched a public consultation on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used, and what safeguards and oversight are needed. The consultation will inform the scope and content of legal changes before they are brought before Parliament.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82334 on Home Office: Facilities Agreements, whether there has been a change to facility time arrangements in her Department since July 2024; and if she will make an assessment of the reasons for the change in the (a) cost and (b) number of facility time staff.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

There have not been any changes to facility time arrangements in the Home Office since July 2024.

There will always be fluctuations from one year to another in terms of the number of employees elected as trade union reps and the amount of facility time they use to undertake their duties.

These fluctuations will be driven by a range of factors, such as vacancies on trade union committees being filled, the number of consultation exercises the employer needs to engage the unions on and the level of personal casework (e.g. grievances and disciplinaries) where trade union representatives may be supporting individual employees.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 February (HL14639), how many fixed penalty notices have been issued to cyclists and scooter riders for (1) jumping red lights, and (2) riding on pavements, in England in the past 12 months; and whether they have plans to introduce legislation to reduce those practices.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not collect or hold specific data on the number of fixed penalty notices issued to cyclists or scooter riders.

The Home Office’s annual publication Police Powers and Procedures: Roads Policing - the most recent edition of which is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-roads-policing-to-december-2023 - provides statistics on fixed penalty notices and other outcomes for motoring offences, all of which apply exclusively to motor-vehicle drivers. Cyclists are therefore excluded from the scope of the published figures.

It is an offence for a cyclist to jump a red light and to cycle on a pavement, and the Government is determined to go further to make our streets safer for pedestrians by introducing new cycling offences through the Crime and Policing Bill, which will tackle instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cyclists, ensuring parity of enforcement powers against dangerous behaviour on our roads, for all road users.

The Crime and Policing Bill will also give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving e-scooters, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizure. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Home Office has declined to lay before Parliament a draft statutory code submitted by an arm's-length body between January 2015 and December 2025, where that code has not been subject to litigation.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

For all Home Office administratively classified arm’s length bodies, with the exception of National Crime Agency and Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the Home Office has not declined to lay before Parliament any draft statutory codes submitted in the time frame given, where that code has not been subject to litigation.

For National Crime Agency and Investigatory Powers Tribunal a reasonable search has failed to locate the requested information in the time available.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department maintains a national tracker for recommendations made in Domestic Homicide Reviews; and if she will publish data on implementation rates.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Domestic homicide reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

Ensuring that lessons identified through DHRs are not only recorded but acted upon is essential to driving meaningful change. That is why the Home Office has implemented a new process for logging, and distributing national recommendations, including an internal central database for national recommendations.

This Government has also committed to sharing all national recommendations from DHRs with the Ministerial Violence Against Women and Girls Board, as part of the cross-Government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy published in December 2025. This will strengthen ministerial oversight across responsible government departments to ensure that recommendations lead to meaningful change and coordinated action.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure a coordinated national policing response to modern slavery, in the context of the removal of funding for the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Modern slavery crimes are complex to investigate and prosecute, and ensuring a consistent and coordinated national policing response to modern slavery remains a priority for the Home Office.

The Department has been working closely with the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit (MSOICU) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to review the programme’s functions and agree contingency arrangements to ensure key functions are preserved to maintain national coordination following the programme’s closure.

This includes an issuing an expression of interest to appoint a new National Police Chief Council (NPCC) lead for modern slavery to continue to provide national leadership on the policing response to modern slavery. Once appointed, the Home Office will work closely with the NPCC lead to ensure modern slavery remains a policing priority and will continue to provide policy oversight of the operational response.

As part of the wider police reforms, national strategic policing priorities will be developed to improve policing standards and performance. The Home Office will consider how modern slavery measures can be reflected within these.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has assessed the merits of lowering the earnings requirement for a family visa.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) was raised in April 2024 from £18,600 to £29,000. This was the first time it had been increased since its introduction.

To help ensure we reach the right balance and have a solid evidence base for any change, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) was commissioned to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules.

Conducting a full review of the financial requirements across the family routes will ensure we have a clear and consistent system. The MAC has published their independent review of the financial requirements across the family routes.

There is no set date for when we will respond to the MAC report. However, the MAC’s recommendations are being considered in detail alongside the work being carried out as a result of the Immigration White Paper (Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK) which made clear that family migration would be reformed to tackle the over complex family immigration arrangements, including the financial requirements. An announcement will be made in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Domestic Homicide Reviews were not commissioned within the statutory timescale in each of the last five years; and what the longest recorded time taken was in that period.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Domestic homicide reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable. However, whilst the Government remains committed to the fundamental principles of the DHR process, I recognise that there is room for improvement and that more must be done to improve how DHRs are currently conducted.

DHRs are the responsibility of local Community Safety Partnerships. The Home Office provides guidance through statutory guidance; however, it does not get involved in local processes or individual cases.

The Home Office has been undertaking a programme of work to reform DHRs. The aim of these reforms is to increase efficiency, enhance accountability, and ensure that recommendations are disseminated and embedded swiftly. The Home Office is planning to publish updated statutory guidance to ensure that a more effective and streamlined process is put in place going forward. This is due to be published within the coming months.

Historically there have been significant delays in the DHR quality assurance (QA) process. To resolve this, we have now reformed the QA system and launched a new DHR Quality Assurance Board, appointing three new public office holders. The Board members bring decades of frontline experience and are experts in domestic abuse with specialisms in policing, stalking, ‘honor’-based abuse, and economic abuse. This replaces the former QA Panel and is designed to streamline review procedures, ensure consistent, high-quality feedback, and provide Community Safety Partnerships with more timely responses going forward.

Each DHR is unique, and therefore the timescales are variable, however, the statutory guidance is clear that local areas should be proportionate with scope and time frames and that any delays are clearly accounted for in the final DHR. Due to the variety of different cases, we are not able to comment on specific delays in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken was between (a) a domestic abuse-related death and (b) the commissioning of a Domestic Homicide Review in each of the last five years.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Domestic homicide reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable. However, whilst the Government remains committed to the fundamental principles of the DHR process, I recognise that there is room for improvement and that more must be done to improve how DHRs are currently conducted.

DHRs are the responsibility of local Community Safety Partnerships. The Home Office provides guidance through statutory guidance; however, it does not get involved in local processes or individual cases.

The Home Office has been undertaking a programme of work to reform DHRs. The aim of these reforms is to increase efficiency, enhance accountability, and ensure that recommendations are disseminated and embedded swiftly. The Home Office is planning to publish updated statutory guidance to ensure that a more effective and streamlined process is put in place going forward. This is due to be published within the coming months.

Historically there have been significant delays in the DHR quality assurance (QA) process. To resolve this, we have now reformed the QA system and launched a new DHR Quality Assurance Board, appointing three new public office holders. The Board members bring decades of frontline experience and are experts in domestic abuse with specialisms in policing, stalking, ‘honor’-based abuse, and economic abuse. This replaces the former QA Panel and is designed to streamline review procedures, ensure consistent, high-quality feedback, and provide Community Safety Partnerships with more timely responses going forward.

Each DHR is unique, and therefore the timescales are variable, however, the statutory guidance is clear that local areas should be proportionate with scope and time frames and that any delays are clearly accounted for in the final DHR. Due to the variety of different cases, we are not able to comment on specific delays in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ⁠⁠what mechanisms are in place to monitor compliance by local areas with statutory guidance on the timely commissioning and completion of Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Domestic homicide reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable. However, whilst the Government remains committed to the fundamental principles of the DHR process, I recognise that there is room for improvement and that more must be done to improve how DHRs are currently conducted.

DHRs are the responsibility of local Community Safety Partnerships. The Home Office provides guidance through statutory guidance; however, it does not get involved in local processes or individual cases.

The Home Office has been undertaking a programme of work to reform DHRs. The aim of these reforms is to increase efficiency, enhance accountability, and ensure that recommendations are disseminated and embedded swiftly. The Home Office is planning to publish updated statutory guidance to ensure that a more effective and streamlined process is put in place going forward. This is due to be published within the coming months.

Historically there have been significant delays in the DHR quality assurance (QA) process. To resolve this, we have now reformed the QA system and launched a new DHR Quality Assurance Board, appointing three new public office holders. The Board members bring decades of frontline experience and are experts in domestic abuse with specialisms in policing, stalking, ‘honor’-based abuse, and economic abuse. This replaces the former QA Panel and is designed to streamline review procedures, ensure consistent, high-quality feedback, and provide Community Safety Partnerships with more timely responses going forward.

Each DHR is unique, and therefore the timescales are variable, however, the statutory guidance is clear that local areas should be proportionate with scope and time frames and that any delays are clearly accounted for in the final DHR. Due to the variety of different cases, we are not able to comment on specific delays in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Domestic Homicide Reviews are launched as soon as possible.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Domestic homicide reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable. However, whilst the Government remains committed to the fundamental principles of the DHR process, I recognise that there is room for improvement and that more must be done to improve how DHRs are currently conducted.

DHRs are the responsibility of local Community Safety Partnerships. The Home Office provides guidance through statutory guidance; however, it does not get involved in local processes or individual cases.

The Home Office has been undertaking a programme of work to reform DHRs. The aim of these reforms is to increase efficiency, enhance accountability, and ensure that recommendations are disseminated and embedded swiftly. The Home Office is planning to publish updated statutory guidance to ensure that a more effective and streamlined process is put in place going forward. This is due to be published within the coming months.

Historically there have been significant delays in the DHR quality assurance (QA) process. To resolve this, we have now reformed the QA system and launched a new DHR Quality Assurance Board, appointing three new public office holders. The Board members bring decades of frontline experience and are experts in domestic abuse with specialisms in policing, stalking, ‘honor’-based abuse, and economic abuse. This replaces the former QA Panel and is designed to streamline review procedures, ensure consistent, high-quality feedback, and provide Community Safety Partnerships with more timely responses going forward.

Each DHR is unique, and therefore the timescales are variable, however, the statutory guidance is clear that local areas should be proportionate with scope and time frames and that any delays are clearly accounted for in the final DHR. Due to the variety of different cases, we are not able to comment on specific delays in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed increase in the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five years to a longer period on British industry.

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 British industry.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that survivors of sexual exploitation are supported during the grooming gangs inquiry process.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Victims and survivors are central to the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and it is essential that their voices are heard in a safe and trauma‑informed way. The Independent Inquiry is responsible for leading its own engagement and support arrangements throughout the course of its work.

As set out in the draft Terms of Reference, the Inquiry will develop and publish a charter for victims and survivors, that outlines how victims and survivors can participate, and how their views, experiences and testimony will be used to inform and shape the nature of the Inquiry’s work.

This year the Home Office has doubled funding for adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, to a total investment of £2.59 million in the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (SVSCSA) Fund. This includes funding for support helplines, in-person and remote counselling, group support, and training for professionals working with victims.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ⁠what proportion of recommendations arising from Domestic Homicide Reviews have been (a) fully implemented, (b) partially implemented and (c) not implemented in each of the last five years.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Taking learnings seriously following domestic abuse related deaths is paramount to preventing fatal domestic abuse. I recognise that Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

The statutory guidance is clear that local Community Safety Partnerships have a responsibility to monitor the implementation of action plans, as set out in section 79(f) of the guidance. Additionally, section 79(g) states that a DHR is not formally concluded until the action plan has been implemented, including completion of an audit process.

The importance of dissemination of learnings is also clearly outlined in the statutory guidance, section 110 (a-f). This includes distributing learnings locally through multi-agency settings but also that ensuring the final report is shared with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Police and Crime commissioner.

At present, the Home Office does not monitor the progress of individual action plans. However, I understand the importance of oversight, and therefore, I am currently exploring options for improving oversight of DHR recommendations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what central oversight exists to ensure that recommendations from Domestic Homicide Reviews are acted upon by relevant agencies.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Taking learnings seriously following domestic abuse related deaths is paramount to preventing fatal domestic abuse. I recognise that Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

The statutory guidance is clear that local Community Safety Partnerships have a responsibility to monitor the implementation of action plans, as set out in section 79(f) of the guidance. Additionally, section 79(g) states that a DHR is not formally concluded until the action plan has been implemented, including completion of an audit process.

The importance of dissemination of learnings is also clearly outlined in the statutory guidance, section 110 (a-f). This includes distributing learnings locally through multi-agency settings but also that ensuring the final report is shared with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Police and Crime commissioner.

At present, the Home Office does not monitor the progress of individual action plans. However, I understand the importance of oversight, and therefore, I am currently exploring options for improving oversight of DHR recommendations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish policy guidance following the end of the consultation on proposed earned settlement reforms.

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.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received.  This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ⁠⁠what the reasons are for the time taken for the commissioning of Domestic Homicide Reviews, including (a) resource levels, (b) police investigations, (c) coronial proceedings and (d) capacity of independent chairs.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Domestic homicide reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable. However, whilst the Government remains committed to the fundamental principles of the DHR process, I recognise that there is room for improvement and that more must be done to improve how DHRs are currently conducted.

DHRs are the responsibility of local Community Safety Partnerships. The Home Office provides guidance through statutory guidance; however, it does not get involved in local processes or individual cases.

The Home Office has been undertaking a programme of work to reform DHRs. The aim of these reforms is to increase efficiency, enhance accountability, and ensure that recommendations are disseminated and embedded swiftly. The Home Office is planning to publish updated statutory guidance to ensure that a more effective and streamlined process is put in place going forward. This is due to be published within the coming months.

Historically there have been significant delays in the DHR quality assurance (QA) process. To resolve this, we have now reformed the QA system and launched a new DHR Quality Assurance Board, appointing three new public office holders. The Board members bring decades of frontline experience and are experts in domestic abuse with specialisms in policing, stalking, ‘honor’-based abuse, and economic abuse. This replaces the former QA Panel and is designed to streamline review procedures, ensure consistent, high-quality feedback, and provide Community Safety Partnerships with more timely responses going forward.

Each DHR is unique, and therefore the timescales are variable, however, the statutory guidance is clear that local areas should be proportionate with scope and time frames and that any delays are clearly accounted for in the final DHR. Due to the variety of different cases, we are not able to comment on specific delays in each case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 5.60 of the policy paper entitled Explanatory memorandum to the statement of changes in the Immigration Rules: HC 1691, published on 5 March 2026, whether B2 level English language is required for applicants on the British National (Overseas) route.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The increase in the English language requirement in the statement of changes in Immigration Rules (HC 1691) does not apply to those on the BN(O) route.

The Government is continuing to consider whether the B2 standard should be extended more widely and future decisions will take into account responses to the consultation on earned settlement.

In the meantime, the current B1 English language requirement for settlement under the BN(O) route continues to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) steps she will take and (b) powers she possesses to protect (i) military bases and (ii) other sensitive locations from the threat posed by the piecemeal purchase of properties in their vicinity by (A) Russian, (B) Chinese and (C) other adversaries.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The first duty of Government is national security. We take the protection of sensitive locations extremely seriously, and we work closely with the police and operational partners to ensure they have the powers they need.

The National Security and Investment Act 2021 provides the Government with powers to identify and, where necessary, intervene in acquisitions of entities or assets (including land) that may pose a threat to the UK’s national security. This can, under some circumstances, include properties near sensitive sites.

In addition, the National Security Act 2023 protects against activity that could be harmful to the UK in and around the most sensitive sites through new and updated criminal offences, police powers to protect these sites, and a power to designate new sites as prohibited places.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Iranian dissidents, journalists and human‑rights defenders resident in the UK from surveillance, harassment and threats linked to the Iranian state.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Home Office works closely with other Government departments as well as relevant agencies and law enforcement to protect those identified as being at risk.  We will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK and its people against any threats from the Iranian state. Any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK, including Iranian dissidents, journalists and human-rights defenders, will be thoroughly investigated.

The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our powers to counter transnational repression and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.  Last year, I announced a robust package of measures to tackle state threats from Iran. This included placing Iran on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). I also announced new training for all frontline police officers on state threats; further sanctions against Iranian-linked criminal groups; an independent review of the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to state threats; continued support to the Jewish community; and strengthened enforcement of our immigration measures to protect the UK from Iranian interference.

Finally, the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies, including Persian language media organisations.

Anyone who thinks they might be a victim should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on student society statements praising Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

As the Education Secretary made clear in her statement to Parliament on 2 March, universities should be places of open discussion and dialogue, where views should be challenged and questioned. But there is no place for hate speech or intimidation on campus.

That is why on 8 March, the Government announced stronger protections for university students and staff against extremism, harassment and intimidation on campus.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ⁠⁠what steps she is taking to ensure that systemic learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews is disseminated consistently across police forces, local authorities, health bodies and other statutory partners.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Taking learnings seriously following domestic abuse related deaths is paramount to preventing fatal domestic abuse. I recognise that Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

The statutory guidance is clear that local Community Safety Partnerships have a responsibility to monitor the implementation of action plans, as set out in section 79(f) of the guidance. Additionally, section 79(g) states that a DHR is not formally concluded until the action plan has been implemented, including completion of an audit process.

The importance of dissemination of learnings is also clearly outlined in the statutory guidance, section 110 (a-f). This includes distributing learnings locally through multi-agency settings but also that ensuring the final report is shared with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Police and Crime commissioner.

At present, the Home Office does not monitor the progress of individual action plans. However, I understand the importance of oversight, and therefore, I am currently exploring options for improving oversight of DHR recommendations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ⁠⁠what consequences apply to public bodies that do not implement recommendations arising from Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Taking learnings seriously following domestic abuse related deaths is paramount to preventing fatal domestic abuse. I recognise that Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

The statutory guidance is clear that local Community Safety Partnerships have a responsibility to monitor the implementation of action plans, as set out in section 79(f) of the guidance. Additionally, section 79(g) states that a DHR is not formally concluded until the action plan has been implemented, including completion of an audit process.

The importance of dissemination of learnings is also clearly outlined in the statutory guidance, section 110 (a-f). This includes distributing learnings locally through multi-agency settings but also that ensuring the final report is shared with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Police and Crime commissioner.

At present, the Home Office does not monitor the progress of individual action plans. However, I understand the importance of oversight, and therefore, I am currently exploring options for improving oversight of DHR recommendations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce statutory reporting requirements on the implementation of Domestic Homicide Review recommendations.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Taking learnings seriously following domestic abuse related deaths is paramount to preventing fatal domestic abuse. I recognise that Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

The statutory guidance is clear that local Community Safety Partnerships have a responsibility to monitor the implementation of action plans, as set out in section 79(f) of the guidance. Additionally, section 79(g) states that a DHR is not formally concluded until the action plan has been implemented, including completion of an audit process.

The importance of dissemination of learnings is also clearly outlined in the statutory guidance, section 110 (a-f). This includes distributing learnings locally through multi-agency settings but also that ensuring the final report is shared with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Police and Crime commissioner.

At present, the Home Office does not monitor the progress of individual action plans. However, I understand the importance of oversight, and therefore, I am currently exploring options for improving oversight of DHR recommendations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the feasibility of making enhanced DBS certificates transferable between organisations where the role and level of check required are equivalent.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Under current arrangements, enhanced and other certificates issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) are transferable between organisations, where the role and level of check required are equivalent. That is, where the level of check for which the role is eligible is the same.

Employers can accept an existing criminal record certificate for recruitment purposes if it is the same type of check (for example, enhanced with a check of the adults’ barred list) and it has been issued for the same workforce (for example, adults’, children’s, other). There is no expiry date on criminal record certificates, as the information disclosed on certificates is correct at the date they are issued.

Importantly, the level of check an employer or organisation is entitled to request depends on the role’s eligibility in relation to DBS checks. For example, if an individual already has an enhanced with children’s barred list check certificate and the second role is only eligible for a standard certificate, the second employer or organisation would potentially be seeing information it is not legally entitled to request.

Conversely, if the employer for the second role requires an enhanced with barred list check but the existing certificate held by the applicant is enhanced only, not all relevant information would be available for the organisation to make a suitability decision. Further guidance and an eligibility tool are available at this link: www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-eligibility-guidance.

The DBS Update Service supports the portability of an individual’s certificate by ensuring the information is up to date. To support ongoing suitability decisions, applicants can subscribe to the Update Service, which allows employers to check if any relevant information has changed since the certificate was issued, although it is the employer’s decision whether to use the Update Service or to request the applicant re-apply for a certificate.

The Update Service offers a digital solution that supports real-time checking. It can also be of benefit to employers, who can undertake instant online checking of DBS certificates, thus saving time and money. The applicant would only need to obtain a new certificate in cases where there has been a change in recorded information, or in cases where they need to apply for a different type of criminal record check. The Update Service is free to use for volunteers and costs £16 a year for paid employees. Further information and details of how to subscribe can be found at https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

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 new ETA rules on British dual nationals without a British Passport or Certificate of Entitlement looking to enter the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Dual British citizens travelling to the UK may only evidence their right of abode in the UK with a valid British passport or other passport endorsed with a Certificate of Entitlement to the right of abode. This requirement applies equally to all British citizens, whether or not they hold another nationality. Without this, they are likely to experience delays while permission to travel is verified. We recognise the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have provided additional temporary guidance to carriers on possible alternative documentation and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to prepare for these changes. In line with current practice, on arrival at the UK border, Border Force will still assess a person’s eligibility to enter the UK and conduct additional checks if required.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve travel for dual British Citizens without a British Passport or Certificate of Entitlement looking to enter the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Dual British citizens travelling to the UK may only evidence their right of abode in the UK with a valid British passport or other passport endorsed with a Certificate of Entitlement to the right of abode. This requirement applies equally to all British citizens, whether or not they hold another nationality. Without this, they are likely to experience delays while permission to travel is verified. We recognise the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have provided additional temporary guidance to carriers on possible alternative documentation and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to prepare for these changes. In line with current practice, on arrival at the UK border, Border Force will still assess a person’s eligibility to enter the UK and conduct additional checks if required.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide an update on the consideration of transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement, following the consultation that closed on 12th.

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.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2026, to question 117496 on Forced Marriage, by what date she plans to complete the additional study to explore the viability of the approach recommended by the University of Birmingham in producing a national prevalence estimate.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Published in December 2025, the “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls” committed to conducting an additional study to explore the viability of the approach recommended by the University of Birmingham in producing a national prevalence estimate for forced marriage and FGM.

This study is due to conclude in March 2026 after which the Government will review the findings of both studies in the round and consider next steps, including publication.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce an expedited visa and scholarship scheme for at‑risk Iranian activists, journalists and human‑rights defenders seeking sanctuary and study in the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office is monitoring the situation in Iran and the impacts it will have.

The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route in response to the conflict. Existing visa routes remain available and Iranian nationals who wish to come to the UK can apply to do so via these routes.

Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.  We advise people to consider the most appropriate visa route for their own circumstances.

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 housing (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers in Grantham on levels of social cohesion.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

We have a set of Asylum Accommodation Plans which take an evidence-based approach to the procurement and occupancy of Dispersal Accommodation; ensuring we are finding suitable accommodation to fulfil our statutory duty, while considering the impacts on local areas. The Home Office continues to work with local government to allocate asylum seekers based on a range of evidence, including the availability of housing, pressure on services and community cohesion. Whatever decisions are made regarding specific locations, we are clear that the impact on communities must be minimised.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to open new legal routes for Iranian nationals affected by the regional conflict.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has not introduced a bespoke visa route in response to the conflict. Existing visa routes remain available and Iranian nationals who wish to come to the UK can apply to do so via these routes.

Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.  We advise people to consider the most appropriate visa route for their own circumstances.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any police forces have instigated an investigation into trafficking crimes committed as part of the Epstein scandal.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council has established a national coordination group and has appointed a senior investigator to support forces in reviewing the extensive material and progressing any resulting investigations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 9 February (HL13910), whether they will provide an annual breakdown of how many of the 950 small boats and engines related to Channel crossings were seized by the National Crime Agency and the Border Security Command in each year since 2023.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Border Security Command oversees a system-wide, comprehensive strategy aimed at disrupting all elements of the business model that makes small boats crossings possible. Seizing small boats equipment, which is often conducted in collaboration with international partners, forms one strand of this approach.

Due to the operational nature of this data and the frequency of revision as a result of ongoing reporting, we cannot provide an accurate breakdown of this data on an annual basis.

This data includes information provided by international partners, working with the NCA and the Border Security Command, which may be revised as on-going reporting is received. Accordingly, seizures are reported over a longer time period to ensure accuracy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the conflict with Iran on the number of asylum applications from Iranian nationals; and what steps she is taking to manage the anticipated change.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

There is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

If someone is in the UK and circumstances in their home country change, such that it is no longer safe for them to return home, they can claim asylum. The Home Office constantly monitors global events and prepares for a range of scenarios to ensure the asylum system can respond effectively.

We are closely monitoring the fast-moving situation in Iran and we continue to register, interview and decide protection claims from Iranian nationals in the UK as normal. All asylum and human rights claims will be carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.

We have already taken steps to streamline the asylum process and increase our efficiency. As per normal operational practice we can deploy decision makers flexibly to support wider casework demands across Asylum & Human Rights Operations and the wider Asylum Group within the Home Office. Any additional asylum claims will be processed in the usual way and each individual assessment will be made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Note. We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues such as challenges in the Middle East. The CPIN for Iran is available on GOV.UK at: Iran: country policy and information notes - GOV.UK. We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear or persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Chevening scholars have claimed asylum in the UK in each of the last ten years by nationality.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum claims by nationality and the number of people claiming asylum where the latest leave held prior to claim was a study visa is published in table Asy_D01 and Asy_D01a of the ‘Asylum claims and initial decisions datasets’. The number of student entry clearance visas issued, broken down by nationality, is published in table Vis_D02 of the 'Entry clearance visas datasets'.

The requested information on asylum claims from Chevening scholars is not available from published statistics.

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.

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 recent changes to DBS filtering rules on the disclosure of historic convictions on Standard DBS checks; what safeguards exist to prevent disproportionate disclosure affecting access to employment; and whether she plans to review the filtering rules to reduce the likelihood of very old convictions reappearing on Standard checks.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Employers can only request higher‑level checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where the role meets the eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Standard checks are available only for positions listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and access to enhanced checks requires inclusion in both the Exceptions Order and the Police Act 1997 regulations.

Applications for standard and enhanced checks must be submitted to the DBS via Registered Bodies (RBs) who play a key part in identifying the correct level of check for individual job roles. The DBS invests substantial resources into supporting the work of RBs and carries out routine assurance exercises with all RBs on a rolling basis.

When this process identifies non-compliance, the DBS sets deadlines for corrective actions and monitors progress. Over the past two years, all RBs have demonstrated compliance within required timescales, and no suspensions or deregistrations have been necessary. If non-compliance were to persist, the DBS would consider sanctions against the RB, including suspending individual signatories or the RB as a whole.

The DBS also provides a growing level of support to service-users to promote improved understanding of eligibility and the purposes for which checks may be used.

The Government keeps filtering rules and eligibility under continuous review. On 2 December 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the Government will consider opportunities to simplify the criminal records regime to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offences. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice are working together to consider next steps.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of enforcement of the requirement that the level of DBS checks must be proportionate to the role; what steps she is taking to strengthen compliance and enforcement; and whether she plans to introduce additional (a) powers, (b) guidance and (c) penalties to prevent inappropriate requests for higher-level checks.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Employers can only request higher‑level checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where the role meets the eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Standard checks are available only for positions listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and access to enhanced checks requires inclusion in both the Exceptions Order and the Police Act 1997 regulations.

Applications for standard and enhanced checks must be submitted to the DBS via Registered Bodies (RBs) who play a key part in identifying the correct level of check for individual job roles. The DBS invests substantial resources into supporting the work of RBs and carries out routine assurance exercises with all RBs on a rolling basis.

When this process identifies non-compliance, the DBS sets deadlines for corrective actions and monitors progress. Over the past two years, all RBs have demonstrated compliance within required timescales, and no suspensions or deregistrations have been necessary. If non-compliance were to persist, the DBS would consider sanctions against the RB, including suspending individual signatories or the RB as a whole.

The DBS also provides a growing level of support to service-users to promote improved understanding of eligibility and the purposes for which checks may be used.

The Government keeps filtering rules and eligibility under continuous review. On 2 December 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the Government will consider opportunities to simplify the criminal records regime to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offences. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice are working together to consider next steps.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent employers from requesting Standard or Enhanced DBS checks where a basic check would be sufficient; what assessment her Department has made of the grounds on which higher-level checks are requested; and what steps her Department is taking where employers are routinely requesting a higher level of check than is required for a role.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Employers can only request higher‑level checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where the role meets the eligibility criteria set out in legislation. Standard checks are available only for positions listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, and access to enhanced checks requires inclusion in both the Exceptions Order and the Police Act 1997 regulations.

Applications for standard and enhanced checks must be submitted to the DBS via Registered Bodies (RBs) who play a key part in identifying the correct level of check for individual job roles. The DBS invests substantial resources into supporting the work of RBs and carries out routine assurance exercises with all RBs on a rolling basis.

When this process identifies non-compliance, the DBS sets deadlines for corrective actions and monitors progress. Over the past two years, all RBs have demonstrated compliance within required timescales, and no suspensions or deregistrations have been necessary. If non-compliance were to persist, the DBS would consider sanctions against the RB, including suspending individual signatories or the RB as a whole.

The DBS also provides a growing level of support to service-users to promote improved understanding of eligibility and the purposes for which checks may be used.

The Government keeps filtering rules and eligibility under continuous review. On 2 December 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the Government will consider opportunities to simplify the criminal records regime to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offences. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice are working together to consider next steps.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ⁠⁠what recent discussions she has had with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner on (a) the timing of launching Domestic Homicide Reviews and (b) the implementation of recommendations.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Taking learnings seriously following domestic abuse related deaths is paramount. Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) offer a vital opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities and society as a whole to learn lessons from domestic abuse related deaths and treat every death as preventable.

I recognise the important role of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s (DAC) Office in relation to DHRs, as reflected in the statutory requirement for all published DHRs to be submitted to the DAC’s Office. That is why my officials meet with the DAC’s Office monthly to discuss reflections on the DHR process and the implementation of learning. I meet the DAC regularly, most recently on 3 February 2026 at the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Advisory Board.

The Home Office has committed to funding and delivering an oversight mechanism for recommendations made within DHRs. We will put in place a system that strengthens accountability and ensures learning is consistently embedded across both local and national agencies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals classified as closed subjects of interest to MI5 are known to have travelled to the UK in the past, but do not currently reside in the UK.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It has been a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many active subjects of interest to MI5 are known to have travelled to the UK in the past, but do not currently reside in the UK.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It has been a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals classified as closed subjects of interest to MI5 are known to reside in the UK.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It has been a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many active subjects of interest are currently being investigated by MI5.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It has been a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many active subjects of interest to MI5 are known to reside in the UK.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It has been a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps currently operating within the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Though we do not routinely comment on operational matters or specific threats, the UK will always stand up to threats from foreign states. The UK Government continually assesses potential threats to the UK and its residents and will continue to take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms and safety in the UK very seriously.

We recognise the serious threat posed by the IRGC and will not hesitate to take the most effective measures against the Iranian regime and its proxies. The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our powers to counter state threats, including from Iran, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt these threats.

We continue to take strong action and hold the Iranian regime to account. The UK has imposed more than 550 sanctions on Iranian individuals and organisations who enable such behaviour. This includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in its entirety. Last October, the UK sanctioned IRGC financier, Ali Ansari, freezing over £100m in UK property. On 4 March the UK summoned the Iranian Ambassador in response to Iran’s role in recent events across the Middle East.

We have already placed Iran – including the IRGC - on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, meaning anyone acting at the direction of the Iranian state in the UK will need to declare their activities or risk prosecution and imprisonment.

The Government's top priority is our 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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals classified as closed subjects of interest have been investigated by MI5 since March 2020.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

It has been a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Asylum handouts and accommodation removed for illegal migrants abusing Britain’s generosity, published on 5 March 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the policy on local authority homelessness services; and what protections will be in place to ensure those local authorities are not expected to provide additional support due to this policy.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is developing a new framework for asylum support, including replacing the statutory duty to support with a discretionary power and making compliance with conditions, including not working illegally, a requirement of support. These measures, announced on 5 March, are intended to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no alternative means of supporting themselves.

Policies are still being developed, and we have not made final estimates of the number of people who may lose asylum support or accommodation, the savings to the public purse, or the full impact on local authority homelessness services. However, an impact assessment will be published in due course and the Home Office continues to engage with MHCLG and other stakeholders to understand and mitigate any potential homelessness impacts.

Asylum support will be targeted at those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system. Decisions to withdraw support will be made on a case‑by‑case basis, with mitigating circumstances and vulnerabilities, including the needs of families with children, carefully considered. Individuals will be notified through established decision‑making processes, and clear guidance will be issued ahead of any changes.

Where it comes to light that a claim for support has been made fraudulently, action will be taken to recover the support that has been paid.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Asylum handouts and accommodation removed for illegal migrants abusing Britain’s generosity, published on 5 March 2026, what estimate she has made of the savings to the public purse from removing asylum support and accommodation from individuals deemed to be abusing the asylum system.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is developing a new framework for asylum support, including replacing the statutory duty to support with a discretionary power and making compliance with conditions, including not working illegally, a requirement of support. These measures, announced on 5 March, are intended to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no alternative means of supporting themselves.

Policies are still being developed, and we have not made final estimates of the number of people who may lose asylum support or accommodation, the savings to the public purse, or the full impact on local authority homelessness services. However, an impact assessment will be published in due course and the Home Office continues to engage with MHCLG and other stakeholders to understand and mitigate any potential homelessness impacts.

Asylum support will be targeted at those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system. Decisions to withdraw support will be made on a case‑by‑case basis, with mitigating circumstances and vulnerabilities, including the needs of families with children, carefully considered. Individuals will be notified through established decision‑making processes, and clear guidance will be issued ahead of any changes.

Where it comes to light that a claim for support has been made fraudulently, action will be taken to recover the support that has been paid.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2026 to question 116099, when the evaluation of the 56-day pilot will be published; and for what reason the move-on period is set at 42 days.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The 56-day pilot evaluation report will be published on GOV.UK as part of the Home Office Research Series. Publication is expected in Spring 2026.

In reaching the decision to set the notice period to 42 days, we have considered a range of evidence, including key findings from the evaluation of the 56-day pilot, operational data, and forecasted impacts on the asylum accommodation estate. We will continue to work closely with our partners to reduce barriers and support effective transitions from asylum accommodation.

The Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions work together to ensure universal credit can be accessed as early as possible following a positive decision being issued. The standard timeframe for an individual to receive their first Universal Credit (UC) payment is 35 days from application.

The 42 days’ notice period best enables the Home Office to fulfil our statutory obligations whilst looking to minimise impact on Local Authorities and individuals granted leave. This further supports our commitment to deliver reductions to the cost of asylum accommodation and end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation in Warrington.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Exiting all asylum hotels as soon as possible is one of the Government’s top priorities and must be executed through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work. This plan involves reducing inflow, speeding up caseworking, maximising utilisation of our estate, continuing to increase returns and exploring the use of large sites as suitable alternative accommodation.

Overall, significant progress has already been made. At the end of December 2025, 30,657 asylum seekers (29) were in hotel accommodation, 19% lower than at the end of December 2024. As of 4 January 2026, there are 197 hotels in use, which is significantly below hotel usage at its peak under the previous government in summer 2023, when more than 400 hotels were in use. We will not rest until we close every single asylum hotel.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish their response to the Extending the Right to Work Scheme consultation.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government intends to publish the response to the 'Consultation on the prevention of illegal working: Extending the Right to Work Scheme to other working arrangements' alongside updated guidance and statutory codes of practice in June. Officials will continue to discuss the responses and the updated guidance with stakeholders in advance of June to support business preparations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether decisions made by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission are binding on his Department.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Orders and directions issued by the courts—including the Special Immigration Appeals Commission—are binding on the parties involved, and the Home Office gives effect to them, subject to any applications to appeal or review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of 30 month reviews of refugee status.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The change to reduce refugee permission to stay to 30 months is the first step towards implementing the “core protection” model, announced as part of the reforms last autumn.

We are committed to ensuring our policies are sustainable and do not place unnecessary burdens on the taxpayer, and this policy is no different. We do not want people to remain on Core Protection for the long term, and only those who do remain on Core Protection will have their protection needs regularly reviewed. We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into a new, bespoke work and study route to access family reunion and settlement rights with new fees and conditions in accordance with the rules of that route.

Reviews will be targeted based on objective country information, and any other new information that comes to light, allowing us to make the most efficient use of resources. We will continue to monitor staffing levels and will deploy our workforce flexibly subject to business needs as we have done in the past.

The approach to reviewing status will be efficient and targeted; we will reassess where country conditions or personal circumstances have changed significantly.

To do this we will build on the efficiencies that have already seen record levels of initial decisions being made, including use of AI, such as our policy search tool or case summarisation which are already assisting asylum decision makers.

The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up decision making and reduce the time people spend in the asylum system and decrease the number of people who are awaiting an interview or decision. This will enable us to maximise our capacity and progress cases in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies on the number of children waiting for settlement of the findings of the IPPR report entitled Far from Settled: The government’s ‘earned settlement’ consultation, 9 February 2026.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of individuals on five‑year routes who may be impacted if new immigration rules are implemented from April 2026.

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.

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 UKVI system on the standard settlement qualifying period .

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Asylum handouts and accommodation removed for illegal migrants abusing Britain’s generosity, published on 5 March 2026, whether asylum seekers deemed to be capable of supporting themselves financially will be expected to contribute towards any of their prior accommodation costs, backdated to when they were deemed to have become financially capable.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is developing a new framework for asylum support, including replacing the statutory duty to support with a discretionary power and making compliance with conditions, including not working illegally, a requirement of support. These measures, announced on 5 March, are intended to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no alternative means of supporting themselves.

Policies are still being developed, and we have not made final estimates of the number of people who may lose asylum support or accommodation, the savings to the public purse, or the full impact on local authority homelessness services. However, an impact assessment will be published in due course and the Home Office continues to engage with MHCLG and other stakeholders to understand and mitigate any potential homelessness impacts.

Asylum support will be targeted at those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system. Decisions to withdraw support will be made on a case‑by‑case basis, with mitigating circumstances and vulnerabilities, including the needs of families with children, carefully considered. Individuals will be notified through established decision‑making processes, and clear guidance will be issued ahead of any changes.

Where it comes to light that a claim for support has been made fraudulently, action will be taken to recover the support that has been paid.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Asylum handouts and accommodation removed for illegal migrants abusing Britain’s generosity, published on 5 March 2026, what guidance will be issued to accommodation providers and local authorities regarding the removal of asylum accommodation.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is developing a new framework for asylum support, including replacing the statutory duty to support with a discretionary power and making compliance with conditions, including not working illegally, a requirement of support. These measures, announced on 5 March, are intended to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no alternative means of supporting themselves.

Policies are still being developed, and we have not made final estimates of the number of people who may lose asylum support or accommodation, the savings to the public purse, or the full impact on local authority homelessness services. However, an impact assessment will be published in due course and the Home Office continues to engage with MHCLG and other stakeholders to understand and mitigate any potential homelessness impacts.

Asylum support will be targeted at those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system. Decisions to withdraw support will be made on a case‑by‑case basis, with mitigating circumstances and vulnerabilities, including the needs of families with children, carefully considered. Individuals will be notified through established decision‑making processes, and clear guidance will be issued ahead of any changes.

Where it comes to light that a claim for support has been made fraudulently, action will be taken to recover the support that has been paid.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Asylum handouts and accommodation removed for illegal migrants abusing Britain’s generosity, published on 5 March 2026, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who may lose asylum support and accommodation under the new policy.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is developing a new framework for asylum support, including replacing the statutory duty to support with a discretionary power and making compliance with conditions, including not working illegally, a requirement of support. These measures, announced on 5 March, are intended to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no alternative means of supporting themselves.

Policies are still being developed, and we have not made final estimates of the number of people who may lose asylum support or accommodation, the savings to the public purse, or the full impact on local authority homelessness services. However, an impact assessment will be published in due course and the Home Office continues to engage with MHCLG and other stakeholders to understand and mitigate any potential homelessness impacts.

Asylum support will be targeted at those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system. Decisions to withdraw support will be made on a case‑by‑case basis, with mitigating circumstances and vulnerabilities, including the needs of families with children, carefully considered. Individuals will be notified through established decision‑making processes, and clear guidance will be issued ahead of any changes.

Where it comes to light that a claim for support has been made fraudulently, action will be taken to recover the support that has been paid.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Asylum handouts and accommodation removed for illegal migrants abusing Britain’s generosity, published on 5 March 2026, what process will be used to notify people when asylum support and accommodation are withdrawn.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is developing a new framework for asylum support, including replacing the statutory duty to support with a discretionary power and making compliance with conditions, including not working illegally, a requirement of support. These measures, announced on 5 March, are intended to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no alternative means of supporting themselves.

Policies are still being developed, and we have not made final estimates of the number of people who may lose asylum support or accommodation, the savings to the public purse, or the full impact on local authority homelessness services. However, an impact assessment will be published in due course and the Home Office continues to engage with MHCLG and other stakeholders to understand and mitigate any potential homelessness impacts.

Asylum support will be targeted at those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system. Decisions to withdraw support will be made on a case‑by‑case basis, with mitigating circumstances and vulnerabilities, including the needs of families with children, carefully considered. Individuals will be notified through established decision‑making processes, and clear guidance will be issued ahead of any changes.

Where it comes to light that a claim for support has been made fraudulently, action will be taken to recover the support that has been paid.

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 30 month reviews of refugee status on the Home Office asylum claims backlog.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The change to reduce refugee permission to stay to 30 months is the first step towards implementing the “core protection” model, announced as part of the reforms last autumn.

We are committed to ensuring our policies are sustainable and do not place unnecessary burdens on the taxpayer, and this policy is no different. We do not want people to remain on Core Protection for the long term, and only those who do remain on Core Protection will have their protection needs regularly reviewed. We will encourage refugees to switch out of the Core Protection route wherever possible into a new, bespoke work and study route to access family reunion and settlement rights with new fees and conditions in accordance with the rules of that route.

Reviews will be targeted based on objective country information, and any other new information that comes to light, allowing us to make the most efficient use of resources. We will continue to monitor staffing levels and will deploy our workforce flexibly subject to business needs as we have done in the past.

The approach to reviewing status will be efficient and targeted; we will reassess where country conditions or personal circumstances have changed significantly.

To do this we will build on the efficiencies that have already seen record levels of initial decisions being made, including use of AI, such as our policy search tool or case summarisation which are already assisting asylum decision makers.

The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up decision making and reduce the time people spend in the asylum system and decrease the number of people who are awaiting an interview or decision. This will enable us to maximise our capacity and progress cases in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

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 30 month reviews of refugee status on asylum seekers with protected characteristics; and what mechanisms she will put in place to assess threats to those asylum seekers with protected characteristics when making decisions on whether it is safe for those individuals to be sent back to their own country.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, Home Office officials consider equality impacts throughout the policy development process, and the impact that asylum reforms will have on those with protected characteristics, is no exception. Equality impacts will be considered for individual policies as they continue to be developed. These will be kept under review to ensure that there are no unintended impacts on people with protected characteristics.

Every asylum claim will be considered on its own merits, taking into account evidence that a person provided as part of their claim, and the latest objective country information. Where it is concluded that the person is no longer at risk on return, their protection status may be revoked and they may be removed.

We recognise that there are particular sensitivities when it comes to vulnerable individuals, including those with protected characteristics, and we will always take our responsibilitiesto these individuals extremely seriously. No one who is at risk of persecution or serious harm in their country will be expected to return there.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will re-open the family reunion scheme.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years.

Outstanding applications will continue to be considered under the family reunion rules in place prior to the commencement of the suspension, including those that are at appeal.

During the suspension, the Government is taking forward wider asylum and family reforms to place the system on a fairer, controlled and sustainable footing. Further information on forthcoming changes will be set out in due course. In the meantime, other family routes remain available, including Appendix FM.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal crossings were made over the Northern Ireland border in the last 5 years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

It is not possible to state how many illegal crossings were made over the Northern Ireland border in the last 5 years as not all people arriving via illegal entry routes will be detected.

Operation Gull is an ongoing Home Office Immigration Enforcement intelligence led initiative that tackles Common Travel Area (CTA) immigration abuse in air and sea ports in Northern Ireland. Through Operation Gull Immigration Enforcement will be aware of those individuals who they encounter abusing the CTA.

To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.

Our published data is available at the following link and includes data on illegal entry to the UK : Immigration system statistics, year ending December 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many aslyum claims were made in Northern Ireland in the last five years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The 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.

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 her 5th March policy announcements on the asylum system on levels of homelessness in the UK.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Replacing the statutory duty to support with a power, and making it a condition of support not to work illegally were included in the 5^th March policy announcements. The aim of these measures is to reduce misuse of support, not to make people homeless or deny support to those who genuinely need it and have no way to support themselves.

Our intention is that support will only go to those who are genuinely destitute and actively engaging with the asylum system, not those seeking to exploit it. These changes will give us greater flexibility to take firmer action against individuals who do not comply.

The Restoring Order and Control statement set out the overall direction of the future policy. The intention is to replace the current statutory duty with a more flexible framework, using the discretionary power that can take account of a wider range of factors when assessing and providing asylum support. These factors may include:

- Whether individuals have alternative means of supporting themselves such as right to work

- Whether individuals have complied with relevant immigration conditions; and

- behaviour and conduct in the UK.

Support will only be withdrawn where there has been a breach of the rules. Any withdrawal of support is done on a case-by-case basis, with any mitigating circumstances or vulnerabilities considered in the decision-making process.

We are engaging with MHCLG and other stakeholders on the potential impact of these changes, particularly on homelessness. We will also ensure that the needs of vulnerable people are properly considered as part of the decision-making process, including the needs of families with children. We are committed to ensuring that proposals are considered carefully, so that they support creation of a system which is both fair and sustainable.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure a) parents and b) carers are aware that they can request to view DBS certificates when recruiting individuals to work with i) children and ii) vulnerable adults.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In January the following news story Self-employed workers and personal employees can now apply for Enhanced DBS checks - GOV.UK announced the legislative changes which now allow self‑employed individuals, as well as personal employees who are hired directly by an individual or family, to obtain enhanced criminal record checks with barred list information issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), when they work closely with children or vulnerable adults. The article explained that parents and carers who employ a self‑employed worker or personal employee in an eligible role can ask to see that individual’s enhanced DBS certificate, including barred list information; it also included links to further guidance.

Alongside this, DBS has updated its published guidance on GOV.UK to reflect the change:

• DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees - GOV.UK
• Private individuals employing self-employed workers or personal employees - GOV.UK
• DBS application form: guide for counter signatories - GOV.UK

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance for parents and carers to help them make informed decisions on Out-of-School settings for their children. This highlights information on the safeguarding measures providers should have in place and questions to ask, including on staff/volunteer DBS checks.

Similarly, the DfE has provided explanatory posters for providers to put up in their setting. These include a safeguarding checklist and prompts parents to ask about appropriate staff/volunteer checks, including DBS checks.

The DfE also held a Call for Evidence in 2025, considering how to further improve safeguarding standards in Out-of-School settings, including questions on the issue of how providers communicate their safeguarding practices with parents. DfE will respond in due course.

The Department of Health and Social Care is working with Skills for Care to update guidance for people who employ personal assistants in line with the recent changes in access to enhanced DBS checks. The current guidance is published in the Employing PAs Toolkit in Skills for Care’s website, and further updates are due imminently.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the community engagement principles guidance published in March 2024, whether the application of a departmental policy of non-engagement means that written representations to a Government consultation or call for evidence from an individual or organisation subject to non-engagement are not read or substantively considered in that consultation process.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Although The Home Office does not comment on specific groups or individual cases, I would like to reassure you that we are committed to addressing the full range of threats that we currently face as a country and tackling anyone who spreads views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities. The Home Office is continually building our knowledge of potential threats, including information exchange and cooperation with partners on shared issues of concern. Each department must consider their own due diligence when choosing to engage with any organisation or individual and, if asked, we will advise and share information to help inform their decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes have been made to the consideration of Indefinite Leave to Remain applications for people of Syrian origin who have refugee status.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Settlement is a privilege, not an automatic right, and provides permission to stay in the UK permanently and freedom from immigration control for those who still require protection. However, as the need for protection may be temporary, a safe return review is carried out on every application for settlement on a protection route, including Syrian nationals, to determine and confirm the need is continuing. If there are, for example, significant improvements in country conditions or changes in personal circumstances that mean someone no longer needs protection, they may be expected to return to their country of origin or to apply to stay in the UK under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.

Those who are still at risk of serious harm in their country are not expected to return there. Where appropriate they will be granted limited leave if they do not qualify for settlement.

Where an applicant arrived in the UK via the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) after being referred as a convention refugee by the UNHCR and granted refugee or humanitarian protection leave to remain, the SSHD will proceed to considering a grant of indefinite leave to remain in the UK. The applicant 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 criminal convictions) of the settlement protection policy.

For more information on the settlement protection policy, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/settlement-protection-asylum-policy-instruction.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the delay in Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions for people who have submitted all relevant documentation requested and have been waiting over six months for a decision.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Straightforward applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain are decided within 6 months, if a case is complex and cannot be decided within six months we will contact the customer directly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what timelines her Department has set for Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions for people who have submitted all relevant documentation.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Straightforward applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain are decided within 6 months, if a case is complex and cannot be decided within six months we will contact the customer directly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, how long the visa brake on nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan is expected to remain in place.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The visa brake will be kept under regular review and is not intended to be permanent; it will only be lifted when the Government considers it appropriate to do so.

Since 2021, there have been over 5,300 asylum claims from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, who originally arrived on student visas. It is estimated that the brake will prevent 4,300 study visas from being issued to the affected cohorts over an 18-month period.

We do not rule out wider action to address visa linked asylum claims. The UK keeps its visa system under continuous review, with any future changes informed by evidence and a range of relevant factors.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the use of birth certificates and marriage certificates as proof of right to abode for British citizens living abroad.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Immigration Act 1971 specifies that a British citizen must use a British citizen passport or a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode to enter the UK. There are no plans to change the law in this respect. Birth and marriage certificates on their own may not be sufficient to show that a person has the right of abode.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evidential basis does her Department use when assessing the safety of return to (a) Kyiv City, (b) Lvivska Oblast and (c) other regions of western Ukraine.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

All asylum and human rights claims, including those from Ukrainian nationals, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Internal relocation is considered under Paragraph 339O of the Immigration Rules. Decision makers must consider whether the claimant would face a well-founded fear of persecution in the place of relocation, and, if not, whether it is reasonable to expect them to travel to, and stay, there.

Our guidance for considering asylum claims, which includes a section on internal relocation, is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation in Ukraine is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) which are available on GOV.UK at. Ukraine: country policy and information notes - GOV.UK

The CPINs for Ukraine are based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The evidence base for assessing safety of return is available in the footnotes and bibliography of the CPINs.

Asylum grant rates can vary for a number of reasons, including the protection needs of those who claim asylum in the UK. They can also be affected by operational resourcing and policy decisions, such as changes to the types of cases prioritised for decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what the reason has there been a decrease in the grant rate for Ukrainian asylum applications from 74.2% in September 2023 to 4.5% in December 2025.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

All asylum and human rights claims, including those from Ukrainian nationals, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Internal relocation is considered under Paragraph 339O of the Immigration Rules. Decision makers must consider whether the claimant would face a well-founded fear of persecution in the place of relocation, and, if not, whether it is reasonable to expect them to travel to, and stay, there.

Our guidance for considering asylum claims, which includes a section on internal relocation, is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation in Ukraine is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) which are available on GOV.UK at. Ukraine: country policy and information notes - GOV.UK

The CPINs for Ukraine are based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The evidence base for assessing safety of return is available in the footnotes and bibliography of the CPINs.

Asylum grant rates can vary for a number of reasons, including the protection needs of those who claim asylum in the UK. They can also be affected by operational resourcing and policy decisions, such as changes to the types of cases prioritised for decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is for internal relocation within Ukraine when determining asylum claims.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

All asylum and human rights claims, including those from Ukrainian nationals, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Internal relocation is considered under Paragraph 339O of the Immigration Rules. Decision makers must consider whether the claimant would face a well-founded fear of persecution in the place of relocation, and, if not, whether it is reasonable to expect them to travel to, and stay, there.

Our guidance for considering asylum claims, which includes a section on internal relocation, is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation in Ukraine is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) which are available on GOV.UK at. Ukraine: country policy and information notes - GOV.UK

The CPINs for Ukraine are based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The evidence base for assessing safety of return is available in the footnotes and bibliography of the CPINs.

Asylum grant rates can vary for a number of reasons, including the protection needs of those who claim asylum in the UK. They can also be affected by operational resourcing and policy decisions, such as changes to the types of cases prioritised for decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions were (a) processed and (b) granted for people with refugee status in each month of 2025.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics relating to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the Immigration system statistics publication. Data on grants and refusals of settlement in each quarter, including those holding refugee status category of leave can be found in table Se_D02 of the Settlement data tables.

The latest data relates to year ending December 2025. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, whether the block will apply to applicants who have been granted a visa but have not yet arrived in the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

It is estimated that the brake will reduce the number of asylum claims from migrants arriving in the UK on visas by 1,400 over an 18-month period.

The brake does not cancel existing visas, nor does it change the conditions of visas already granted.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the Seasonal Shearing Concession on a) ensuring adequate numbers of shearers during the summer season and b) sheep welfare, especially reduction of heat stress and flystrike.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

All Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 14 years and the sheep farming sector has made significant efforts to provide skills training within the domestic workforce.

To give sheep farmers two years to transition to new arrangements, and move away from using overseas shearers, the concession has been renewed for one more year. The concession will not be renewed in 2027 and will close for a final time on 30 June 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support she plans to offer to UK universities and Gaza students who hold offers to begin their studies in Autumn 2026.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government provided exceptional support to enable the departure of fully funded scholarship students from Gaza, for students whose courses began before 31 December 2025. This support was for students who met the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules.

The Government is reviewing the impact of the policy and any decision on further support will depend on the evolving international situation. We will continue to keep the policy under review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will issue guidance to firearms licensing departments on mandating training for firearms being used for deer management at either grant or renewal.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Chief Constables have operational responsibility for firearms licensing. However, as set out in the Deer Impacts Policy Statement published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) on 2 March.

The Home Office will work with the National Police Chief’s Council and Defra to explore whether the existing Guide on Firearms Licensing Law might be amended to encourage police forces to consider requiring those who use their firearms to shoot deer lawfully to first be able to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in doing so.

Any proposed changes to the Guide will be subject to discussions with stakeholders.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact of temporary visa status on the ability of students from Ukraine residing in the UK to gain places at UK universities.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Ukraine Schemes reflect a generous and meaningful commitment to support those displaced by the conflict. Since the full-scale invasion began, the UK has provided sanctuary to over 310,000 Ukrainians and their family members.

Those granted permission under the Ukraine Schemes wishing to commence Higher Education (HE) are eligible to apply as home-fee students but HE institutions in England are autonomous bodies and are responsible for setting their own admissions criteria. Further guidance on individual providers’ evidential requirements should be obtained from the relevant HE institution.

The Government recognises the importance of providing long-term certainty for Ukrainians living in the UK beyond the lifetime of UPE. Work is underway across Government on future arrangements and a further statement setting out the long-term position, including for those in education, will be issued later this year.

The Government continues to keep the Ukraine Schemes and the evolving situation in Ukraine under close and active review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve passport renewal and acquisition times.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

His Majesty’s Passport Office consistently exceeds the performance indicator for its standard service within the UK, with over 98.5% of customers receiving their passport within three weeks where no further information is required.

Information about the performance of HM Passport Office can be found within the latest transparency data release: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/699c360be1c6bad1576fbb88/passports-and-citizenship-data-oct-dec-2025.ods

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, what information her Department holds on the number of people on student visas from (a) Afghanistan, (b) Cameroon, (c) Myanmar and (d) Sudan who have attempted to obtain asylum and (i) succeeded and (ii) failed.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The visa brake will be kept under regular review and is not intended to be permanent; it will only be lifted when the Government considers it appropriate to do so.

Since 2021, there have been over 5,300 asylum claims from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, who originally arrived on student visas. It is estimated that the brake will prevent 4,300 study visas from being issued to the affected cohorts over an 18-month period.

We do not rule out wider action to address visa linked asylum claims. The UK keeps its visa system under continuous review, with any future changes informed by evidence and a range of relevant factors.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, what estimate she has made of the number of student visas that will not be issued as a result of the visa brake.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The visa brake will be kept under regular review and is not intended to be permanent; it will only be lifted when the Government considers it appropriate to do so.

Since 2021, there have been over 5,300 asylum claims from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, who originally arrived on student visas. It is estimated that the brake will prevent 4,300 study visas from being issued to the affected cohorts over an 18-month period.

We do not rule out wider action to address visa linked asylum claims. The UK keeps its visa system under continuous review, with any future changes informed by evidence and a range of relevant factors.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, whether she plans to expand visa bans to more countries.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The visa brake will be kept under regular review and is not intended to be permanent; it will only be lifted when the Government considers it appropriate to do so.

Since 2021, there have been over 5,300 asylum claims from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, who originally arrived on student visas. It is estimated that the brake will prevent 4,300 study visas from being issued to the affected cohorts over an 18-month period.

We do not rule out wider action to address visa linked asylum claims. The UK keeps its visa system under continuous review, with any future changes informed by evidence and a range of relevant factors.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to the Question 98986 on Police: Workplace Pensions, whether her Department has identified a solution.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer given to question 98986.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Sudanese nationals with student visas claimed asylum in the UK in the last five years.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes breakdowns of the number of people claiming asylum after entering the UK with a visa or other leave, by nationality and latest leave held prior to claim, for the top five nationalities in Asy_01e. This table does not currently include a full nationality breakdown. The total number of people claiming asylum after entering the UK on a visa or other leave is published in Asy_01d for Sudan.

The Home Office does publish a full nationality breakdown of data on asylum claims and initial decisions, in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data relates to the year ending December 2025.

A full Impact Assessment has been published for the Visa Brake policy; see Table 1 for historic volumes of asylum claims linked to visa for the relevant nationalities and routes in scope of the Brake.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of emergency response driver training standards across in the (a) police, (b) fire and (c) ambulance services.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office supports police objectives to keep the public safe and ensure that officers can provide an emergency response, rapidly and effectively, to attend incidents. Police investment in technology for vehicle safety, along with guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing on response driving, help forces to achieve rapid responses and ensure public safety.

Police drivers must undergo comprehensive training at several levels throughout their career and they have a duty to ensure that their standard of driving is consistent with their training.

The development and maintenance of police driver training standards, along with driving-related curricula, are led by the College of Policing, with support from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, both of whom have expertise in this area of police operations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of bicycle theft cases resulted in (a) a charge, (b) a caution, and (c) no further action in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes official statistics on the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales and their investigative outcomes on a quarterly basis.

This includes bicycle thefts, and the requested information can be accessed here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many bicycle thefts were recorded in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes official statistics on the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales and their investigative outcomes on a quarterly basis.

This includes bicycle thefts, and the requested information can be accessed here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025, to Question 73334, on Internet: Security, what guidance has the National Protective Security Authority provided on using Virtual Private Networks to other organisations than DSIT.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

A summary of the wide variety of guidance provided by the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is available on their website at www.npsa.gov.uk.

The national technical authority for cyber security is the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Their website ww.ncsc.gov.uk provides a range of guidance on cyber security, including on the use of virtual private networks www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/device-security-guidance/infrastructure/virtual-private-networks

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions were (a) processed and (b) granted in each month of 2025.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics relating to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the Immigration system statistics publication. Data on grants and refusals of settlement in each quarter, including those holding refugee status category of leave can be found in table Se_D02 of the Settlement data tables.

The latest data relates to year ending December 2025. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has been made of the impact of proposed changes to the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain on international nursing staff; and what steps the Department is taking to ensure the UK can retain the nursing workforce.

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 international nursing staff.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the sale of (a) knives, (b) swords, and (c) battle axes on third-party online selling platforms.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has been strengthening controls on the online sales of bladed articles, including knives, swords and axes. We commissioned Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, to conduct a review into the online sale and delivery of knives. The review was published on 19 February 2025 and made a number of recommendations.

We are taking forward the most pressing recommendations in the report under “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures in the Crime and Policing Bill which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives, including third party platforms, incorporating strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage checks at the point of purchase and on delivery.

We have introduced new legislation in the Crime and Policing Bill to provide the police with the power to require social media, marketplace, and search services to take down illegal knife and offensive weapon content. Failure to remove this material could result in both the company and a designated senior executive facing significant penalties. Further measures in the Bill, include increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives and introduce a duty on sellers to report online bulk sales of knives.

We are also looking to go further, In December last year we launched a consultation on plans to introduce a licensing scheme for those who sell knives or other bladed articles, including importers, retailers and private sellers, making them subject to strict regulations and conditions. The consultation closed on 24 February, and we are currently analysing the responses and will provide a response in due course.

Effective law enforcement is also very important. We are therefore supporting the creation of a new police unit, the National Knife Crime Centre to provide a national capability tackling the unlawful sale and marketing of knives and weapons online and links to wider criminality. In 2026/27 we are providing the Centre with £1.75m of funding for its activities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing the price of a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to that of an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office has not assessed in isolation the specific impact of the potential merits of reducing the price of a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to that of an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are set taking account of the charging powers provided by Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, which include the ability to set fees based on: the cost of processing the application, the benefits and entitlements provided by a successful application and the wider cost of the Migration and Borders system.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review and any reduction in fees would need to be considered in terms of its impact on the funding of the Migration & Borders system.

The fee for the Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode is below the estimated cost to the Home Office of processing the application.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the was value of the special grant (a) applied for and (b) received by West Mercia Police in each of the last five financial years including 2026-27.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Police Special Grant is contingency funding held by the Home Office to support policing with the additional costs of unexpected additional events or complex investigations.

Home Office publishes the applications and decisions taken on Special Grant; data up to 2023/24 can be found at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-funding-special-grant-applications

In 2024/25 the West Mercia PCC requested £3.3m of Special Grant funding for the additional costs of Operation Lincoln and was awarded £1.5m.

In 2025/26 the West Mercia PCC requested £2.9m and was awarded up to £1.7m.

A request for funding in 2026/27 has been received and a decision will be confirmed in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, what discussions she has had with the higher education sector regarding the introduction of the visa brake affecting applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Following the announcement of the visa brake on 4^th March, information to help sponsoring institutions understand what the change means for them has been shared with them via regular channels, including an operational forum held with sector representatives.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure public safety in relation to emergency response driving.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office supports police objectives to keep the public safe and ensure that officers can provide an emergency response, rapidly and effectively, to attend incidents. Police investment in technology for vehicle safety, along with guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing on response driving, help forces to achieve rapid responses and ensure public safety.

Police drivers must undergo comprehensive training at several levels throughout their career and they have a duty to ensure that their standard of driving is consistent with their training.

The development and maintenance of police driver training standards, along with driving-related curricula, are led by the College of Policing, with support from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, both of whom have expertise in this area of police operations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102814 on Public Spaces: Political Activities, if she will make it his policy to investigate the use of a Public Spaces Protection Order by Leicester City Council to ban party political street stalls in the city centre.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour. This includes Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be issued by councils to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public space.

The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, what estimate she has made of the number of asylum claims expected to be prevented by the visa brake policy.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

It is estimated that the brake will reduce the number of asylum claims from migrants arriving in the UK on visas by 1,400 over an 18-month period.

The brake does not cancel existing visas, nor does it change the conditions of visas already granted.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her recent decision on Sudanese student visas on the Chevening Scholarship programme.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The decision to introduce a visa brake on the Student visa route for Sudan and the other three nationalities was based on data-driven migration and border security considerations. While we recognise that most people who apply to study in the UK do so genuinely, the evidence is clear that the Student route for these nationalities has been a source of a high number and high proportion of visa-linked asylum claims. We have therefore acted to halt this unacceptable strain on our asylum system, and to ensure that the system remains fair, credible, and sustainable.

This decision may be disappointing to nationals of these countries who wished to join the Chevening Scholarship programme. The visa brake was introduced on account of patterns of visa-linked asylum claims by nationality and we have no plans, at present, to provide exceptions for the Chevening Scholarship programme or any other scholarship programme.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is available to local authorities under the licensing regime to restrict the operating hours of retail premises where there is evidence of persistent antisocial behaviour linked to those premises.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Secretary of State issues statutory guidance under section 182 of the Act to support licensing authorities in the discharge of their functions - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/explanatory-memorandum-revised-guidance-issued-under-s-182-of-licensing-act-2003.

This includes guidance on the process to follow if evidence becomes available that a licensed premises is failing to uphold one of four licensing objectives, two of which relate to the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

If concerns are raised about a particular premises, the licensing authority may conduct a review of the premises’ licence and take appropriate action up to and including revoking the licence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Department’s press release entitled Visa brake imposed on 4 countries after widespread visa abuse, published on 4 March 2026, what cap will be applied to the number of asylum seekers who can use the Government’s pledged safe and legal routes.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As set out in the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, the Government remains committed to the introduction of capped safe and legal routes for refugees and displaced people to come to the United Kingdom. Work is underway to develop these routes, including confirming the eligibility criteria and the number of places to be made available for each new safe and legal route.

It is essential that any safe and legal routes are sustainable, well managed, and aligned with the United Kingdom’s capacity to welcome, accommodate and integrate refugees. Work is underway to operationalise these new routes and further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her department plans on supporting the campaigns of groups and organisations such as Resolve during ASB awareness week.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office works closely with a range of partners, including voluntary and community sector organisations such as Resolve, to support Anti‑Social Behaviour Awareness Week.

During the week, the Department supports national awareness raising activity by working with partners to amplify key messages on tackling antisocial behaviour, highlighting the impact it can have on individuals and communities, and promoting the support and tools available to victims. This includes Ministerial and official engagement, participation in parliamentary and community-based events, and coordinated communications activity across government and local partners.

The Home Office also uses ASB Awareness Week as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of effective multi‑agency working between the police, local authorities, housing providers and the voluntary sector, and to showcase good practice from across the country in preventing and responding to anti‑social behaviour.

Found: MOD, with Data Protection Advisorst throughout the HLB/TLB/MOD, or with their counterparts in Home Office

Found: about racial bias in the use of FRT, particularly given the results of testing commissioned by the Home Office

Found: Prevention Partnerships, led by the Home Office. 2.

Found: draft Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and Response from the Home Office

Found: Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026 and Response from the Home Office

Found: The Home Office is required to respond within three months to the recommendations to set out what it

Found: Lord Hanson of Flint Minister of State 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF www.gov.uk/home-office

Found: The programme comprises two core components: Prevention Partnerships, led by the Home Office.

Found: out and seeking best practice, whether it is from the Department for Education, the MOJ or the Home Office

Found: AFB0042 - Armed Forces Bill 2026 Home Office Written Evidence

Found: Monday 17 March 2025 Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State (Minister for Security), Home Office; Shaun Hipgrave

Found: the retail sector HC 355 8th Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage HC 351 7th Asylum accommodation: Home Office

Found: between 35 Sir Brian Leveson “Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1” 9 July 2025 36 Home Office

Found: In addition, we have identified a subset of Home Office offence codes that are likely to involve a significant

Found: Home office statistics show that in 2018 there were 117,456 FTE police officers.

Found: and Impact (Griffiths, Piasecki, Carr, Anderson and Wilson, 2024), which was presented to the Home Office-led

Found: Justice is a fraction of spending on Health, Education, Defence or Transport and less than on the Home Office

Found: To give the leadership and direction needed, the Ministry of Justice should work with the Home Office

Found: In the context of what the Home Office has been doing—we have touched on the international aspect—this

Found: MoJ 25 Jointly review, across the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service

Found: long overdue that we bring the orders available to the service police into line with what their Home Office

Found: Emily Darlington: The Home Office has just withdrawn the visas for all Chevening scholarships.

Found: Correspondence from Paul Kissack, Permanent Secretary, Defra, re update on Defra's engagement on Home Office

Found: the retail sector HC 355 8th Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage HC 351 7th Asylum accommodation: Home Office

Found: We are working with the UK Home Office to put the same evaluation framework we have in Australia here

Found: We are working with the UK Home Office to put the same evaluation framework we have in Australia here

Found: We are working with the UK Home Office to put the same evaluation framework we have in Australia here

Found: The Home Office is required to respond within three months to the recommendations to set out what it

Found: I think the clause gives us real, clear equivalence to Home Office policing, and it mirrors some of

Found: The cross-working between our Department, our arm’s length bodies, the Home Office and the enforcement

Found: impede integration, cause various other problems for migrants, and increase pressure on the UK Home Office

Found: Non-EU+ and EU+ visa holders For Non-EU+ and EU+ visa holder migration, the ONS uses Home Office Borders

Found: . ** The IAC will be funded to sit a maximum of 26,000 days in 2026/27, from a combination of Home Office

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has held discussions with the Home Office on the increased use of Virtual Private Networks by criminals following the introduction of the Online Safety Act 2023.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Making the UK a safer place to be online is a priority for the Government, and the Online Safety Act is central to this. Officials from DSIT and the Home Office meet regularly to discuss the implementation of the Act and wider online safety issues.

While there is currently no evidence that VPNs are being used more by criminals following the introduction of the Act, the Government continues to monitor the impact of circumvention techniques on the online environment. VPNs also have legitimate uses including protecting users’ privacy and supporting secure access to services.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Freedom from violence and abuse volume 2: action plan, published on 18 December 2025, which minister has responsibility for the cross-departmental team on pornography policy.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Baroness Bertin’s independent report made 32 recommendations, including on governance and oversight of pornography policy. The ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’, published on 18 December 2025 commits to creating a joint team to address the issues detailed in the report.

The team is formed by the Home Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Justice and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It will examine the evidence to inform the government’s approach to pornography policy, including the question of departmental responsibility.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many staff in her Department are reliant on a visa for employment.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

There are 55 members of staff in the Department that hold a visa which permits them to work in the United Kingdom.

This figure includes staff on work and other visa routes. It does not include individuals granted pre or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

All staff are required to demonstrate a valid right to work in accordance with Home Office requirements.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure the delivery of the Child Poverty Strategy, particularly in regard to children subject to no recourse to public funds conditions.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review no recourse to public funds conditions to reduce child poverty.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number and proportion of children in (1) poverty, and (2) deep poverty, living in households subject to no recourse to public funds; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the Child Poverty Strategy on those numbers.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms will be used to measure the progress on poverty reduction for children in no recourse to public funds households as part of the Child Poverty Strategy.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Ministerial Taskforce engaged extensively with families, charities and other organisations across the UK, including those making representations on behalf of children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This engagement will continue as the Government implements its plans for delivering and evaluating the Strategy.

We are continuing our work to develop our understanding of NRPF and its impacts. This includes work with the Home Office to develop questions on NRPF for inclusion in the Family Resources survey 2026/2027, a household survey undertaken annually to explore living standards in the UK. This will provide greater insight into how families with the NRPF conditions are living in the UK and will help to inform future policy-making.

There are important safeguards that currently exist within the system to ensure that vulnerable migrants and children are protected. For example, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on English local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Any support provided to a child by local authorities under such legislation is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Local authorities can also provide support if there is a human rights issue, or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution.

In England, migrant children subject to the NRPF conditions have access to a range of support to support disadvantaged children. This includes access to Free School meals (subject to certain eligibility thresholds), funding for schools to support disadvantaged children, 15 hours per week early years childcare entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, 15 hours early years child care entitlement for 3- to 4-year-olds, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities; and local authority grants.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department intends to take steps to support the uptake of industrial hemp farming, in the context of challenges around licensing and investment in the sector.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra recognises the valuable addition industrial hemp can provide to farmers when planning their crop rotation. The responsibility for the regulation of industrial hemp and licencing for cannabis cultivation in the UK lies with the Home Office.

After further consultation with the industry the Home Office, with support of Defra, has introduced reforms to licensing that make it easier for farmers to cultivate industrial hemp. From January 2025, the rules on ‘site sensitivity’ were removed. Also, the duration of licences granted from January 2026 has been extended from three years to six years, with no additional fees.

The Government has also announced its intention to raise the permitted tetrahyrdocannabinol (THC) levels in industrial hemp varieties to 0.3%, with plans in place to amend the relevant legislation needed to bring this into force.

Combined, these reforms will enable an expansion of the UK’s hemp growing area, with better alignment of licences with the farming calendar and crop rotation planning, more flexibility in where it can be grown and an increase in the number of varieties growers can use.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the written statement of 23 February 2026, HCWS1342, on Media Freedom Coalition, if she will take steps to protect British journalists from being (a) harassed and (b) intimidated by political actors in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the continuing absence of an apology from the leader of his party for her public attacks on the journalist Nadine White in January 2021, which led to extensive online harassment and abuse directed at Ms White, and which was condemned by organisations including the Society of Editors, the National Union of Journalists, the Resource Centre on Media Freedom in Europe, and the Platform to promote the protection of journalism.

By contrast, this Government is committed to upholding media freedom and ensuring journalists are able to operate without fear of threat and harassment, both in the UK and around the world. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office plays a role in the UK National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which is led jointly at Ministerial level by the Home Office and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and we are also co-chairing the international Media Freedom Coalition, as set out in my written ministerial statement on 23 February (HCWS1342).

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues from a) the Home Office, b) HM Treasury and c) the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on coordinated action to tackle online piracy.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

While the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has policy responsibility for protecting intellectual property (IP), IP crime and infringement, including online piracy, is a serious, cross-cutting issue that affects many sectors. Tackling this issue requires a co-ordinated approach which is why DSIT works closely with the Home Office, HM Treasury, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as others across government to tackle online piracy

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to tackle the use of so-called guilt by blood tactics against Hong Kongers.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas. Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ministers have raised directly with the Chinese authorities their strong opposition to the Hong Kong Police's use of arrest warrants and bounties. In the most recent Six-monthly Report to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary spoke out against the deliberate targeting of opposition voices in the UK and elsewhere. FCDO officials have reiterated the Government's deep concerns regarding transnational repression in engagements with Chinese officials and continue to engage regularly with likeminded partners about combatting transnational repression.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister on possible changes to classifications and statutory sentencing in drugs misuse policy.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have not had any such discussions.

Drug classification and the supporting legal framework remains a reserved power, primarily managed through the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This is the responsibility of the Home Office.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, if she will publish the number of cases and the relevant offences for cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division in each year between 2015 and 2025.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not publish official statistics. Official statistics relating to crime and policing are maintained by the Home Office and Office for National Statistics. Official statistics relating to criminal courts including caseload, timeliness, convictions, and sentencing outcomes are maintained by the Ministry of Justice. However, since January 2020, the CPS has published quarterly bulletins of data tables and summaries of main trends as part of the CPS’s ongoing commitment to transparency on prosecution performance – available here: CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, if she will publish the number of cases and the relevant offences for cases prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division in each year between 2015 and 2025.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not publish official statistics. Official statistics relating to crime and policing are maintained by the Home Office and Office for National Statistics. Official statistics relating to criminal courts including caseload, timeliness, convictions, and sentencing outcomes are maintained by the Ministry of Justice. However, since January 2020, the CPS has published quarterly bulletins of data tables and summaries of main trends as part of the CPS’s ongoing commitment to transparency on prosecution performance – available here: CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026, to Question 108681, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if he will list each developer or applicant that has been given clarification meetings or pre-application engagement since July 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Since July 2024, officials have undertaken pre-application engagement with:

• a Cross-Whitehall Group that included the Department for Transport, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and HM Revenue & Customs,
• the Home Office, and
• the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

Engagement in these instances related to prospective Crown or Urgent Crown applications, and carried out in accordance with planning propriety guidance.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Freedom from violence and abuse volume 2: action plan, published on 18 December 2025, what is the timetable for the cross-departmental team's examination of the recommendations of Baroness Bertin's Independent Pornography Review.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

To address the recommendations of Baroness Bertin’s Review, in December 2025 government announced through the ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse’ strategy, the creation of a cross-government joint team, to rigorously examine the evidence to inform the government’s approach to pornography policy. The team began work in December 2025, and is formed of the Home Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Justice and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Found: In its police reform white paper (January 2026), the Home Office committed to introduce “legislation

Not to add 5-10 years for those who've claimed public funds legally when allowed by Home Office to do so.

Found: Not to add 5-10 years for those who've claimed public funds legally when allowed by Home Office to do

Home Office urgently Audit all Tier 2 sponsors for shell company activity. Revoke licences immediately where no genuine business exists its director charging individuals large sums for visa sponsorship. Refer directors to Police, NCA-FU, HMRC, SFO, OISC, ROCUs, GLAA, HOIE, AF, CH, HMRC-TF, UKVI-SC

Found: Home Office urgently Audit all Tier 2 sponsors for shell company activity.

Found: The main departments are the MoD, the Home Office, the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government

Found: All schemes The Home Office processes applications for entry clearance to the UK.

Found: Age group during custodial sentence Sentencing and criminal history • Offence type based on Home Office

Found: Significant Home Office offence group Theft offences Home Office offence group >> Sexual offences <

Found: how-long-does-underwriting-take) Estimated cost per instance of fraud £1,714 £1290 in 2015/16, inflated to 2024/25 Home Office

Found: necessary increase, engagement with all the relevant parties, including the Metropolitan Police, Home Office

Found: To facilitate this, we recommend: i) MOJ and Home Office collaborate to create expectations on police

Found: Measures include:  New enforcement powers: Defra and the Home Office will arm Environment Agency officers

Found: Following the bilateral framework agreement, the UK’s Home Office and Spanish Inclusion, Social Security

Found: Sanctions Targets in the UK[1] - HMT TreasuryProscribed Terrorist Organisations in the UK[2] - UK Home Office

Found: curricula development (supported by Skills England, Innovate UK, ATI, HVMC, AMRC etc) Home Office

Found: The Home Office has worked with the PSHE Association to create lesson plans that explain what deepfakes

Found: The Home Office has worked with the PSHE Association to create lesson plans that explain what deepfakes

Found: and non-payroll) costs Comments 2026 February National Crime Agency Non-Ministerial Department Home Office

Found: Measures include:  New enforcement powers: Defra and the Home Office will arm Environment Agency officers

Found: increase from £120.50 to £130 for adults and £82.50 to £89 for children  The new fees will help the Home Office

Found: Ms Rukhsana Pasha v The Home Office: [2026] EAT 42

Found: Ms Rukhsana Pasha v The Home Office: [2026] EAT 42

Found: Home Office directions on taped interviews require that the Crown Prosecution Service informs the defence

Found: Comparison of ambulatory blood pressure measurement with home, office and pharmacy measurements: Is

Found: Comparison of 16 ambulatory blood pressure measurement with home, office and pharmacy 17 measurements

Found: To facilitate this, we recommend: i) MOJ and Home Office collaborate to create expectations on police

Found: In parallel, the AA has been involved in the Home Office working group around the design

Found: We will work with the Home Office towards a solution on delivering UK-EU Trade and Co-Operation Agreement

Found: been included in the public sector series from Q2 2004.4, 6Q1 2005Other Civil Service includes Home Office

Found: for National Statistics website. 57 The Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) conducted for the Home Office

Found: Any papers or correspondence sent to or received from: o the Home Office o the Ministry of Housing

Found: In response, the Welsh Government worked closely with the Home Office to design a bespoke scheme allowing

Found: Without Retraining To incorporate new considerations (for example, electric-vehicle infrastructure, home-office

Found: and outcomes data that could act as a neighbourhood disamenity variable in hedonic price models (Home Office

Found: interpreters or in services reaching out to new sectors like refugee resettlement teams and/or the Home office