Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q3. What guidance her Department has provided to police forces on the application of public order legislation in relation to the expression of religious beliefs. (908433)

Robin Swann number three, Mr. Speaker. committed to building a strong and integrated society where people can express their religious identity

14:42

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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without fear of harassment. Guidance is set out by the College of Policing through their of Policing through their professional practice guidance, but the Home Secretary has also commissioned Lord Ken MacDonald to commissioned Lord Ken MacDonald to undertake an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation, which will consider whether police powers strike the whether police powers strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest. And we look

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to lawful protest. And we look forward to his recommendations soon. Robin Swann you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can I start by condemning the attack on the ambulances from the Solar Community Service over the Solar Community Service over the weekend? Mr. speaker, core tenant of our system and belief is that of a free, civil and religious liberty for all. So would the Minister agree with me that we all have a role to play in upholding that core British town?

14:43

Robin Swann MP (South Antrim, Ulster Unionist Party)

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Can I join him in condemning the attack that we've seen? And he's absolutely right. Our British absolutely right. Our British values of diversity, of tolerance, of freedom, of religious belief are one of our country's greatest strengths. And we all have a role to play to make sure we uphold them everywhere we can. everywhere we can.

14:43

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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Will Stone question number four, please, Mr. Speaker.

14:43

Q4. What her timetable is for publishing the Independent Review of Public Order and Hate Crime Legislation. (908434)

Sarah.

14:43

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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And. The my hon. Friend asked for the timetable on the independent review of public order and hate crime legislation, and he will know that this has been ongoing for some time since the Heaton Park attack, which happened in October 2025, and we are hoping to receive the final report by the end of May.

14:44

Will Stone MP (Swindon North, Labour)

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Well done. >> Well done. >> I thank the Minister for the response. This review is incredibly important in protecting people's important in protecting people's rights to protest and ensuring our communities are safe. Can she give me her word that she is going to do me her word that she is going to do everything within our power to make sure it does come out by the end of May? Thank you.

14:44

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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And I can assure my hon. Friend that Lord McDonald is working independently, but he has showed us independently, but he has showed us that it will come before the end of May. And of course, we will then respond before the summer recess. It's very important. Yes.

14:44

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Jim Shannon Jim Shannon. thank the Minister very much for that answer? Minister, I led a deputation to Kurdistan some time deputation to Kurdistan some time ago. About five weeks ago. I was very impressed in Kurdistan by what government was doing and in relation to public order and hate crime legislation in particular. There's many things in Kurdistan that I think that maybe we here in the United Kingdom could take on board and have that as our core values as well.

Could I ask the minister's maybe outside the remit of the of the hon. Lady, but just to say, if they do something good somewhere else, I think we should look at it. Would she do that same thing for me? Thank you.

14:45

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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Of course, we're always very happy to learn from countries where good things are happening and we can learn those lessons. So very can learn those lessons. So very happy to do that. >> Seamus Logan number five. Mr Speaker Minister.

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Speaker Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We value that the contribution rural businesses make and our immigration businesses make and our immigration system takes account of their needs. Immigration is not a sustainable solution to the challenges facing our rural economies, and we are committed to controlling migration across the whole of the UK.

14:45

Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)

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Seamus Logan thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sheep shearing may not be Speaker. Sheep shearing may not be on the Home Secretary's bucket list, but in another U-turn following pressure from NFU Scotland, the government apparently listened to the farming industry and agreed to a sheep shearing visa extension for one year. The Home Secretary is looking a little sheepish in her place there, so in order, in order to avoid being accused of woolly thinking, if she cannot commit to a longer term extension for the farming sector, will she then transfer powers to the Scottish Parliament so that farmers, fishers, the hospitality and care sectors can deal with the labour shortage?

14:46

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that was a close shave for really poor humour. The sector has been poor humour. The sector has been supported for 14 years to enable them to train up UK workers, reduce their reliance on migration labour and provide a sustained workforce within the United Kingdom. We have extended the immigration concession for sheep shearers to cover this shearing season, but after this final extension, we expect the sector to complete its transition to using domestic labour.

14:46

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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Allison Gardner. >> Allison Gardner. >> Question number six, please, Mr. Speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your leave, just before I give my your leave, just before I give my answer, I would want to pay my respects to PC Bradley Cook, who sadly lost his life yesterday in the line of duty. My thoughts, and I'm sure those of the whole house are with his family and his friends. On the matter of police efficiency, Mr. Speaker, we must seize the opportunity to transform policing through technology through the creation of a National Police Service.

We will invest £115 million in AI and automation, saving 6 million policing hours every year.

14:47

Dr Allison Gardner MP (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)

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Allison Gardner live facial recognition technology is being recognition technology is being deployed across the country to support the police in preventing and detecting crime. While I recognise the importance of improving police efficiency, we have also seen a number of wrongful arrests linked to the use of live facial recognition systems. And only last week one police force paused use of facial recognition due to racial bias. In light of this, can the Secretary of State reassure the House that deployment, oversight and auditing of facial recognition technologies are subject to robust and transparent safeguards and state? When the facial recognition framework will be published?

14:48

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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I can give that reassurance to my hon. Friend. Mr. speaker, we are absolutely clear that police forces must comply with data protection, human rights, equality and other relevant laws. This means that the police can use facial recognition only for targeted, intelligence led, time bound deployments to locate specific individuals on a watchlist, such as wanted offenders or people who may pose a risk of serious harm. My hon. Friend knows that we have consulted on a legal framework on how and when law enforcement should use biometrics and facial recognition.

The consultation is closed. We're going through the responses now, and we'll bring forward proposals to this House in due course.

14:48

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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Tim Farron thank. >> Tim Farron thank. >> You, Mr. Speaker. Police efficiency is the argument being used to call for proposals. The used to call for proposals. The merger of Lancashire and Cumbria Police forces, something which I strongly oppose. Lancashire, a wonderful county and indeed a county with many urban centres in much larger population. I wonder if she would agree with me. There's a real risk to the people of Cumbria of seeing that our police officers being drawn down to those larger, more populous places in Lancashire, and it would be wise to call off the merger.

14:49

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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Well, let me say to the hon. Gentleman, firstly, there are no Gentleman, firstly, there are no planned mergers. There is an independent review by Lord Hogan-howe that will advise the government on the right number of government on the right number of regional forces as part of our plans to change policing so that we plans to change policing so that we have a National Police Service. Regional forces and then local police areas able to police their local communities as well. So those are the proposals that we've announced.

Lord Hogan-howe is doing his review. When it reports, I'm sure we'll be able to have a debate on what he proposes for regional forces. But I would reassure him local police areas will be a key part of these reforms as they are rolled out, and it will deal with raised.

14:49

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Robbie Moore. Number seven. Mr Speaker. >> Minister. >> We are giving the police the powers they need to bear down on shop theft, including making it a shop theft, including making it a specific offence to assault retail workers and ending the effective immunity for shop thefts under £200. And we are fighting the organised gangs that often drive these crimes. Our £5 million investment in specialist intelligence led policing cell is bringing more criminals to justice.

14:50

Robbie Moore MP (Keighley and Ilkley, Conservative)

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Robbie Moore Mr. Speaker Colin >> Robbie Moore Mr. Speaker Colin Appleyard Motors in Keighley was recently the victim of a ram raid in Keighley, which involved a in Keighley, which involved a vehicle being used to smash the entrance before a gang of seven individuals entered the business and stole nine off road bikes worth approximately £80,000. So can the Minister tell me what the government is doing to work with local police forces like West Yorkshire Police to identify to shut down these Mafia style criminal gangs that are causing significant harm, distress and suffering for local businesses across Keighley and our wider area.

14:50

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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And can I assure the hon. Gentleman that this government is Gentleman that this government is completely focussed on fighting crime in his area? In West Yorkshire, there are 100 additional officers that will be in place by the end of March. That will help us with our drive in terms of tackling crime. But as I said, our £5 million investment in the specialist intelligence led policing unit will help us join the dots in terms of the serious organised criminals who are often driving a lot of this crime and bear down on it.

14:51

Ian Lavery MP (Blyth and Ashington, Labour)

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Ian Lavery Sir, Mr. Speaker, last week I met with Usdaw. last week I met with Usdaw. >> The shop workers union. They informed me of the increased levels of violence, abuse and intimidation in the shop and the shops in the retail industry itself. You know, it includes violence, spitting in people's faces, these horrible, horrible crimes. Can my hon. Friend see what the government, what measures the government are taking to protect these mainly low paid workers, you know, in the workplace?

14:51

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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My hon. Friend is completely right and that is why we have made right and that is why we have made sure we are introducing a specific offence of assault on retail workers, something the previous government was asked to do repeatedly and failed. And that will send a message to anybody who may consider such crimes that it is not acceptable and that action will be taken. We are also working very closely with the retail community, all of the big organisations and and retailers to target action on those prolific offenders, because all of us in our community, sometimes we know who these people are, who are repeat offenders.

How can we really target the prolific offenders? And we've seen through the summer of action last year, for example, real results where we are bearing down. And the hon. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that charges for shop theft, which often come with assaults alongside, have rose by 21% last year.

14:52

Q8. What recent progress her Department has made on tackling antisocial behaviour. (908440)

Jim Dickson. >> Question number eight, Mr. Speaker. >> Minister.

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Minister. With permission. Mr. speaker, our group. This question with question 20. We are ensuring neighbourhood officers are focussed neighbourhood officers are focussed on tackling issues like anti-social behaviour, which can blight our communities through our neighbourhood policing guarantee. Every neighbourhood now has a named Contactable Officer dedicated to tackling crime and ASB in their local area. They will respond to neighbourhood queries within 72 hours. Every force in England and Wales also has a dedicated anti-social behaviour lead and will be publishing local anti-social behaviour action plans in April.

14:53

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Jim Dickson. Minister for her reply, but also for meeting with me and others at the end of last year to discuss the troubling and growing trend of the use of catapults to target wildlife and people in Dartford and across Kent, and I really appreciate the work she's doing. She's doing to organise a round table to take

14:53

Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)

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place soon, where wildlife groups, farming representatives, the police and others can meet to discuss how and others can meet to discuss how we can take action to reverse the dangerous and illegal use of catapults. Could the Minister catapults. Could the Minister confirm whether if after the round table the evidence supports it, she will consider adding catapults to will consider adding catapults to the list of offensive weapons, which will enable the police to act promptly and effectively to disarm

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those using catapults to harm people and wildlife, whilst protecting legitimate uses. Minister.

14:54

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank my hon. Friend for his campaigning on this issue and for drawing attention to something for drawing attention to something that is very significant in parts of the country, seems to be on the rise, both in terms of its impact on wildlife, but also on people. So I'm very pleased to have the round table and am grateful to him for the advice he's given as we put that together. And of course, where the evidence is there, we will we will look to see what we can do, whether that's legislative change, whether that's more resources in terms of policing or any other measures, because this crime is unacceptable.

And we are very keen to work with him on finding solutions.

14:54

Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)

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Mary Kelly Foy thank you, Mr. >> Mary Kelly Foy thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our residents in Belmont, North Road and Sunderland Road North Road and Sunderland Road Estate are seeing growing levels of anti-social behaviour from yobs on e-bikes, intimidation of shop workers, public disorder and arson in parks and woodlands. Anti-Social behaviour is getting out of hand. My constituents don't feel safe and despite the efforts of our PCC, Durham Constabulary officer, levels still remain lower than 2010 due to an outdated funding formula used by previous governments.

So will the Minister reassure my constituents that this is a government investing in policing, with a plan to tackle anti-social behaviour, because at present they're not seeing it?

14:55

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank my hon. Friend for the question. As someone who used to live in pity me, I know what a wonderful area it is and I say live. I was at university there, lived in. Pity me, as did Mo Mowlam when she was at university. But she's absolutely right to draw attention to the fact that these low level anti-social behaviour, low level, as it's called, actually impact on our communities in a way that is deeply damaging. And this government is taking that very seriously.

Of course, there are the additional officers that she will see. 26, I think, in her area by the end of this month. And, of course, we are bringing forward legislation, things like respect orders, more powers to tackle theft, public disorder, shop theft, all of these things. But I will work with her to make sure we get the results that she and her community deserve.

14:56

Lee Anderson MP (Ashfield, Reform UK)

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Lee Anderson. Mr Speaker. Anti-Social behaviour in social Anti-Social behaviour in social housing in my community is creating a living nightmare for some council and social housing tenants. So does the Minister agree with me that if we have prolific offenders, anti-social behaviour coming from coming from these council houses, that the tenants should be asked to leave, they should be kicked out and never given a social housing again.

14:56

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Do you hear? this House has had cases where anti-social behaviour is ruining lives, and it feels like the right action is not taken. And I think in many cases, in my case, certainly with the local authority having been hollowed out in terms of resources, the enforcement and the anti-social behaviour, teams are often one of the first to go. So he's absolutely right. People have to adhere by the agreement that they signed when they have that, when they get that tenancy. Speaker.

14:57

Ayoub Khan MP (Birmingham Perry Barr, Independent)

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Can I first. condemning the attacks last night on the poor ambulance? Yeah. In my constituency of Birmingham Perry Barr and social crimes on the rise. Yet since 2010, West Midlands Police has 520 less officers to tackle it. And now, thanks to the government leaving a funding shortfall of £41 million, residents must either pay more council tax to fill the gap or lose another 80 peace officers. Labour promised more police officers on our street. Now they are pedalling backwards and they would.

Why should the people of Birmingham, who have seen their council tax rise by 24% over three years, be squeezed even more to keep what little police presence they have? Good question.

14:58

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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And by the end of this month, there will be 3000 extra officers across our communities, in our across our communities, in our neighbourhoods, and by the end of Parliament, 13,000, there is £2 billion extra in the last two budgets that have gone into policing, including over £700 million extra this year that our police forces can use. That's a 4.5% cash increase, a 2.3% real terms increase. We will invest, but we will also reform because the problem with policing has been it has been unproductive, and we need to make sure our officers are not behind desks like they were under the last government in our neighbourhoods fighting crime.

14:58

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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Wera Hobhouse number nine. >> Thank you. Sadly, as technology becomes entwined in our day to day lives, we recognise that threat tech enabled harm poses and that is why the Vawg strategy sets out how we are seeking to tackle it. I'm pleased to say that from the 1st of April, measures under the protection from Sex based Harassment in Public Act 2023 will come into force, making it an offence to film where the intent is to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Because of the victim's sex.

14:59

Wera Hobhouse MP (Bath, Liberal Democrat)

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Wera Hobhouse. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Secretly filmed videos of women on nights out have been viewed more than 3 billion times over the last three billion times over the last three years, and these videos are often accompanied by vile, degrading comments. These videos have real victims. They sit in a legal grey area between voyeurism and harassment, meaning that there's very little the police can currently do. Can she discuss this legal grey area with me and possibly look at strengthening the law?

14:59

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I thank the hon. Lady and I'm more than happy to discuss it with her. I spent this morning actually her. I spent this morning actually with in the Department for Science and Technology, with the violence against women and Girls sector and Ofcom to look at some of these gaps that she is absolutely identified and we will do whatever we can, but absolutely that where it is harassment and it is in the public realm, it should be covered by the public.

Sex based harassment. But the.

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Fred Thomas number ten, please. Mr Speaker Minister.

15:00

Q10. What steps she is taking to help tackle financial abuse. (908442)

>> Mr Speaker Minister. >> May as well. Economic abuse can have devastating impacts on victims

15:00

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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have devastating impacts on victims even after the relationship ends. The Vawg strategy included an ambitious commitments to tackle economic abuse, and it was considered as a cross-cutting theme in the Hmts financial inclusion in the Hmts financial inclusion strategy. Since 2022, we have funded surviving economic abuse to the tune of £767,000 to strengthen financial systems, raise awareness and support victims.

15:00

Fred Thomas MP (Plymouth Moor View, Labour)

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Thomas Mr Speaker abusive ex-partners often continue their abuse by withholding funds from children and former partners, deliberately causing financial hardship. This has a huge impact on survivors, forcing them into contact with the perpetrator and enabling their abuser to continue to influence their lives. In Plymouth, I've got a constituent who left an abusive relationship, but has now owed £48,000 in child maintenance payments, despite court orders and liability orders being in place, the money continues not to be paid and sadly this is not a rare case limited to Plymouth.

I know from speaking to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouthshire just earlier that this is a national problem. So how is the Home Office working with the DWP and other agencies to close enforcement gaps and tackle financial abuse effectively?

15:01

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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I thank the hon. Gentleman, and >> I thank the hon. Gentleman, and it will not be unusual to hear of such cases, and that is why the Department for Work and Pensions Department for Work and Pensions sits on the inter-ministerial group of violence against women and girls, and the Vawg strategy commits to removing the direct pay service, which enables the Child Maintenance Service to manage and transfer payments, preventing the CMS system from being used as a tool of abuse, which has in the past had fatal consequences.

15:01

John Milne MP (Horsham, Liberal Democrat)

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John Milne thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following on from the Speaker. Following on from the previous question, financial abuse between couples sadly does not always end in separation, and many always end in separation, and many women struggle to access child maintenance safely. So is the Home Office working with DWP colleagues to strengthen income assessments, such as by using HMRC data and to remove the 2%, collect and pay a surcharge surcharge so survivors can secure child support without direct contact with their abuser.

15:02

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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I thank the hon. Gentleman and as I said in answer to my previous question, the Department for Work and Pensions is absolutely fundamental and core part of the inter-ministerial group that works on the violence against women and girls strategy, because the the financial tools, not just through mortgages and other assets that people have and use in cases of domestic abuse and coercive control is absolutely vital that we make sure our benefit system and the state systems that we use with regard to children especially, are not used as a tool for abusers.

15:03

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Harpreet Uppal. Question 11 Mr Speaker. >> We have set an ambitious but essential target to halve knife crime in a decade, and we are already seeing results since the start of this Parliament. Knife crime has fallen by 8% and knife homicides are down 27% at their lowest level in a decade. But we must and will go further. We are working on the final plans for our cross-government plan to halve knife crime, which we will publish soon.

15:03

Harpreet Uppal MP (Huddersfield, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Child criminal exploitation is a significant driver of knife crime significant driver of knife crime in the UK. Around 15.5, children 15,500 children were identified to be at risk or involved in exploitation at the year end in March 2025. Children are often coerced by gangs into carrying weapons for protection, storing drugs and trafficking illegal goods, often being criminalised themselves rather than treated as victims. What work is the Home Office doing to target the organised criminality behind CC, CC, and what structures are in place to support children and families in vulnerable situations?

15:04

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Can I thank my hon. Friend for that question? We are, of course, introducing legislation to to bring introducing legislation to to bring in a new offence of child criminal exploitation. Our County lines programme works extensively not just to tackle the criminals and to shut down the lines, but also to safeguard young people. And since July we. Since July 2020, for over 4000, safeguarding referrals have been made so that while we're catching the criminals, we are also protecting the children.

15:04

Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)

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Minister Matt Bishop. crime and drugs are destroying too many lives in our country. Stop and search is the best tool. We have to take these off our streets. Does the Minister agree? The only people who should have anything to fear from stop and search are the criminals. And if so, why won't she adopt our proposal to allow the police to act on a single suspicion indicator so that we can treble, stop and search and take weapons and drugs off our streets here?

15:05

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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The hon. Gentleman thought that the way to tackle crime was to recruit more officers and put them behind desks, so I'm not going to behind desks, so I'm not going to take any lessons from him. Stop and search. As we all know, stop and search is a very powerful and important tool in tackling crime. And nobody would disagree with that. And it is part of a range of interventions where we can tackle knife crime. Knife enabled robbery, for example, has plummeted in the areas where we have focussed our resources since the election.

We must use all the tools in our armoury and stop and search, of course, is one of them.

15:05

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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I'm Martin. >> Mr Speaker Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government remains grateful for the generosity shown to the Ukrainians generosity shown to the Ukrainians who sought sanctuary here. The recent 24 month extension of the UPP scheme demonstrates our intent to ensure people have stability through the Ukraine schemes. The government has always been clear that this bespoke offer of sanctuary is temporary and in line with the wishes of the Ukrainian government. That position has not changed. We are, however, monitoring developments in Ukraine and intend to update the House on long term plans later this year.

15:06

Mike Martin MP (Tunbridge Wells, Liberal Democrat)

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I've often. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister will listen carefully to this question because he used to live in Tunbridge Wells. So Elena live in Tunbridge Wells. So Elena is a Ukrainian woman who works in our local hospital. She hasn't been able to advance her career because she's not able to study because of her visa restrictions. Now, I know that the government doesn't want to give Ukrainians permanent settlement. They've made that very clear. But will the Minister at least divine a pathway by which they can give visa security to Ukrainians so that they can get mortgages, they can get jobs and they can study, because those are the three things at the moment that they're really restricted in being able to do.

15:06

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that I am listening and that these concerns I listening and that these concerns I do take seriously. I assure you that the U.P. scheme does provide continuing access to work, to benefits and to services. Once they provide that proof of immigration status using the share code. Long term plans on this cohort, who are a bespoke cohort that we have been clear is temporary, will be laid out later this year.

15:07

Q13. How many asylum seekers were in asylum accommodation on (a) 30 September 2025 and (b) 30 June 2024. (908446)

David Smith. >> Mr Speaker Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and with your permission, I'll group this question with question 16. The Home Office published quarterly Office published quarterly statistics show that on the 30th of December 2025, there were 103,426

15:07

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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individuals in asylum accommodation, individuals in asylum accommodation, compared with 108,085 on the 30th of September 2025, and 96,642 on of September 2025, and 96,642 on the 30th of June 2024. Of course, this is time series is not a like for like comparison, but for reference. Colleagues will be reference. Colleagues will be interested to know that the final September. Under the previous government, there were more than 119,000 asylum seekers in 119,000 asylum seekers in accommodation to the comparable figure from September 2025 is well down on that level, sir.

15:08

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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Mr. speaker, sir, the numbers published by the Home Office show around a 7% rise in the numbers in asylum and dispersal accommodation. My Hillingdon constituents would know, because we have the highest numbers of asylum seekers, per capita of any local authority area in the country in particular. This is putting huge pressure on supply of temporary accommodation, and my local conservative council argues that it should put the needs of long standing local residents for housing ahead of those newly arrived as asylum seekers.

Does the Minister agree?

15:08

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Well, I mean, I suspect the hon. Gentleman would say this too, but I Gentleman would say this too, but I wish the previous government had used their time to actually build some houses. That's at the root of our housing crisis. But it is doubtless true that the estate is running hot, which is why he will be pleased to hear of those figures falling September on September. And I'll say to him that future publication of data, without running ahead of that, is likely to show that that trend is one that's continuing.

I think one, we would all support.

15:09

Sarah Bool MP (South Northamptonshire, Conservative)

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Sarah Bool thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since Labour came into power, the number of people in asylum accommodation, whether that asylum accommodation, whether that is hotels or now into dispersal accommodation, is up by over 6000 people. Now with figures like this, no resident in South Northamptonshire believes that this government is tackling this issue, especially with the continued operation of the migrant hotel in my constituency. So with the warmer weather coming and the better, better weather with that can, the boat crossings will obviously continue to increase.

So what is the government going to do differently to tackle this and stop the boats as they promised?

15:09

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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The hon. Lady will know that in the asylum policy statement, we set out the most significant reforms to asylum system, certainly in my asylum system, certainly in my lifetime. We've already introduced the reduced protection period. We're making quick decisions, better decisions than ever before. We've increased removals, 30% increase on our predecessors. Those together are decreasing those numbers. As I say, that's September on September number with perhaps future good news to come.

15:10

Connor Naismith MP (Crewe and Nantwich, Labour)

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Connor Naismith thank. he is doing to. >> Close asylum. >> Hotels, including the Crewe Arms Hotel in my constituency, and can I encourage him to go further still to close the Royal Hotel in my constituency? But will he also join with me in reminding the members opposite that it was under a Tory government, prominent members of which now sit with the turquoise Tories over there, that the concept of asylum hotels was invented, and who presided over the opening up of the business model for small boat crossings in the first place?

15:10

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Well, the hon. Gentleman is right. And, you know, reform wants to say that there are a new voice to say that there are a new voice in politics, but they look very similar to the old voice, if you ask me. But the important thing that his constituents will know is that the government, the opposition, when in government, the Tories opposite, they were the ones that opened those hotels and Labour will be the ones that closed them.

15:11

Matt Vickers MP (Stockton West, Conservative)

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Matt Vickers Cheltenham Minister you, Mr. Speaker, on the 30th of June 24, there were 96,642 in asylum accommodation. The latest figures show there are more than figures show there are more than 103,000. So despite the creative interpretation, the number is up, not down. There's a distinct lack of gang smashing going on. Crossings are up 45% and the government's new border commander has already given up and quit. When will the government accept their approach is making things significantly worse?

15:11

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. >> I mean, I would say to the hon. Gentleman, I think creativity is pointing a different dates in the calendar of a profile that he knows calendar of a profile that he knows has seasonal elements to it and trying to compare them as like for like, he knows that doesn't work, but in terms of, but he gives, but, but he is very, he's very kind. He's very kind in, in giving me the opportunity to say that with regards to tackling organised immigration crime, that work is at its record level, 37% increase under this government with 5000 disruptions.

That's the serious work. They'll throw rocks from the

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sideline, but that's what they do, isn't it? Max Wilkinson Liberal Democrats. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Home Secretary's.

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Secretary's. Authoritarian tendencies. Often pleased. The Reform Party. In the Tories, but some in her own party are apparently less happy own party are apparently less happy with that approach to immigration and asylum. The changes to ILR, in particular risk busting efforts at social cohesion while harming public services and the economy, and creating unworkable bureaucracy and creating unworkable bureaucracy in the Home Office. Now, Liberal Democrats have expressed concerns about these proposals, and many on her own backbenches are now reportedly very unhappy.

So does the Home Secretary really feel comfortable that she might be comfortable that she might be reliant on support from the hon. Member for Clacton and the Tories to force through her flagship project? Yeah.

15:12

Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, I'm slightly concerned if the hon. Gentleman thinks that people who've come as part of economic migration schemes are in some way in the asylum population. Those two, of course, are very significantly different things. Nevertheless, we have made significant proposals in this space, including increasing the the main basis time to settlement to ten years with the ability to earn down based on working, not committing crimes, learning the English language. I think all very sensible language. I think all very sensible changes.

We of course had a consultation that closed only last month, had more than 200,000 responses to it, and we're looking at them very closely.

15:13

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Sian Berry 14 Mr Speaker Minister.

15:13

Q14. What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the introduction of the visa brake on Chevening scholars. (908447)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have, of course, discussed the introduction of visa breaks across introduction of visa breaks across government, including the impact on the achievement scholars. The evening continues to attract and

15:13

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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support exceptional future leaders across the globe and will continue to do so. Restoring order and to do so. Restoring order and control to our system is a top priority. Through the visa break, we are acting quickly and we are acting quickly and decisively to address high numbers and proportions of visa linked asylum claims by the year end September 25th, asylum applications from students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan had risen to over 470% of their 2021 level.

15:14

Siân Berry MP (Brighton Pavilion, Green Party)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, including prestigious Chevening scholarships in the government's scholarships in the government's clampdown on certain study visas is devastating for those who have been shortlisted, including students set to join our world leading programs at Sussex University. It raises questions about the value government puts on nurturing talent, particularly for women from Afghanistan, from whom I've seen heartbreaking accounts of having their applications terminated. So will the Minister and Home Secretary urgently revisit this decision?

15:14

Mike Tapp MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I laid out the concerns and the reasons for this break. And Afghanistan, for this break. And Afghanistan, for example, has seen 93% of those coming over as students claiming asylum. The Green Party may well want open borders. That's not what we stand for. We stand for control. We stand for order. But at the same time, compassion, which is exactly why we're looking at safe and legal routes whilst working to control the borders.

15:15

Q15. What steps she is taking to help tackle violence against women and girls. (908448)

A vote. >> Please Minister. >> We are delivering the cross-Government freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy published in December, which sets out concrete actions to halve Vawg in a decade through preventing violence and abuse, pursuing perpetrators and supporting victims. As part of this, we have already launched our Behaviour Change campaign, rolled out domestic abuse protection orders and embedded domestic abuse specialists in police control rooms under a named law.

15:15

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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Survivors in Monmouthshire tell me the economic abuse did not only

15:15

Catherine Fookes MP (Monmouthshire, Labour)

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feature in the course of their relationship, it has stopped them rebuilding their lives long after rebuilding their lives long after they have left. For some, the separation compromised their business, others faced continued business, others faced continued control through child maintenance disputes. So can the Minister please tell us what measurable please tell us what measurable outcomes have been set within the strategy to tackle economic abuse, and how that progress will be

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and how that progress will be reported on to this House and elsewhere? I thank the hon. Lady and what I committed to in the launch of the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, was to annually update

15:16

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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the House on progress across a number of different metrics. But the overarching and those that sit the overarching and those that sit within different government departments who I have to say are having to take responsibility for this, some of them for the first time, but specifically working with the financial sector and regulators. the financial sector and regulators. We are. The strategy talks about exploring how financial products, including joint mortgages, can be including joint mortgages, can be used as a tool of abuse.

So we will be working with departments like the Treasury to look at exactly how we can monitor progress against all of our aims, and I will report on that annually.

15:16

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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Clive Jones thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. One of my constituents suffered. Such coercive. suffered. Such coercive. >> Violence that her partner. >> Was. >> Able to force her to allow him back into the home. She couldn't tell anyone, and he continued to assault her daily. She reported this behaviour to the police, but they did very little. The partner is now in prison for under five years and authorities are concerned that he will target her again when he is released. What is the Minister doing to ensure women are properly protected against coercive violence and justice is carried out against.

15:17

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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Ex-partners to end this awful cycle of violence? cycle of violence? >> I thank the hon. Gentleman and send all my sympathy to his constituent, who sounds like she constituent, who sounds like she has had a terrible ordeal. So one of just off the top of my head, one of the measures that the government has rolled out is the Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, which have the power of arrest if breached, and also for the first domestic abuse order that includes coercive and controlling behaviour, as I think that those orders can be taken out and the evidence so far of the police responses to those orders compared to other orders has been really, really heartening.

And we will be rolling that out across the country.

15:18

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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To topicals. >> To topicals. >> Mary Kelly Foy thank you, Mr.

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Speaker, and I. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to address the terrible scenes in to address the terrible scenes in Golders Green last night where four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire. Mercifully, no one was hurt. And for that, we owe our thanks to the police and fire services who responded with speed and professionalism. An investigation is underway. We know the Metropolitan Police are treating this as an anti-Semitic hate crime, and have stepped up their support to Jewish communities across London.

That the attack was directed at Hatzolah, a community ambulance service, an institution devoted to saving lives, illustrates how warped those behind this attack are. I am pleased that the Health Secretary is providing replacement ambulances, but clearly justice is required. There have as yet been no arrests, but the perpetrators must be in. No doubt we will pursue them and make them face the consequences of this wicked crime. I urge anyone with information to contact the police who have the full support of my department.

This incident comes at a time of soaring antisemitism in our country, and today my message to our Jewish community is clear we stand with you. We will do everything in our power to protect you, and we will fight relentlessly to rid our society of antisemitism for.

15:19

Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to congratulate Maya's law campaigners, particularly Maya's campaigners, particularly Maya's great aunts at Gemma and Rachel, for their passion and tenacity in lobbying MPs to support their campaign to improve child protection laws in the UK. Does the Minister agree with me that it's unforgivable that someone who is supposed to look after a child could end up hurting them instead? And will they ensure that the debate my hon. Friend from Blaydon and Consett has secured on Maya's law receives full support from the government.

15:20

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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Thank you. The circumstances that she outlines are obviously horrifying, and it is abhorrent for anyone entrusted with the care of a child to cause harm to them. Can I assure her the government will absolutely be engaging fully and constructively with the debate that she mentions?

15:20

Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)

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Cheltenham. Secretary. Chris Philp. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have come here directly from Golders Green, where I have just visited the scene of the appalling attack the scene of the appalling attack on the Hatzolah Ambulance Service, and I strongly urge the Home Secretary to visit as well. I thank the police, Fire Service and Hatzolah volunteers for their response in the early hours of this morning. The Jewish community I spoke to this morning in Golders Green feel under attack, so what more can the Home Secretary say about the government's plans to protect the Jewish community, including potentially using CT style surveillance powers to identify and disrupt anti-Semitic attacks before they occur? Does the Home Secretary agree that calls on our streets at marches for jihad and intifada? Are calls for violence which fuel anti-Semitism? And does she agree that they should no longer be allowed.

And finally, will she ensure that all antisemites and extremists who are not British citizens get deported?

15:21

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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Home Secretary. >> I thank the shadow Home Secretary for his questions. Let me just assure him, and most importantly, the community, not importantly, the community, not just in Golders Green, but the whole of the British Jewish community. This government takes very seriously the rise in anti-Semitism that we've seen across our country. We are approaching this with a whole of government response. My colleagues in health, in education, and in the communities and local government department are all taking forward the government's Social cohesion Action plan and taking specific measures to tackle anti-Semitic hate crimes.

There must be zero tolerance, and I know that across this House, there is unanimity by all members that there must be zero tolerance of antisemitism. He already knows that we have an independent review on public order and hate crime legislation. We will bring forward more proposals in due course, but we will never tolerate anti-Semitism in our country.

15:22

Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)

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Chris Philp I'll be pursuing these questions with the Security Minister in the statement later. Minister in the statement later. Mr. Speaker. Media reports suggest the Home Secretary is under pressure from the former Deputy Prime Minister on her ILR policy. So will the Home Secretary tell the House who is running the government's immigration policy now? Is it her or is it the former

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deputy Prime Minister? Will the Home Secretary confirm to the House now? Order, order, order. I'm just

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Order, order, order. I'm just going to say to both frontbenchers, these are topicals. There are members on both sides. I gave a lot members on both sides. I gave a lot of leeway in the first question. This one you've already asked one question. Now you come in with another question. It's not another question. It's not acceptable to either side of the House that I'm trying to look after. Please. One question in topicals, not the big statements. We've got a statement on the whole of the subject.

It's a very important issue. I am very concerned, but I've got to get back. Benson, it is unfair for both front benches. Take the time.

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Home Secretary Mr. Speaker, I've almost forgotten the question that almost forgotten the question that the hon. Gentleman had, but the assertion that he makes at the heart of what he just said is absolute rubbish. He knows that the absolute rubbish. He knows that the government has already said that we are going to be consulting on the changes that we wish to make, and I'll bring forward those proposals

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I'll bring forward those proposals in due course. Well. Thank you very much. Last week, I. Visited Estonia. With the Education Committee.

15:23

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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>> With the Education Committee. >> To learn about their early years education and heard about how even nursery aged children are taught to spot fake news. What conversations has my hon. Friend had with colleagues across government about creating a whole of society approach to mis and disinformation?

15:23

Dan Jarvis MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Barnsley North, Labour)

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Well. >> Well. >> Mr. Speaker, my hon. >> Friend is. >> Right to raise this because. >> Mis and disinformation seeks to undermine our institutions and undermine our institutions and divide our communities. The Defending Democracy Taskforce is addressing these threats through a whole of society approach, and we are also working closely with partners to hold platforms accountable for harmful content under the Online Safety Act. spokesperson.

15:24

Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)

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Mr Speaker the agreement to fund >> Mr Speaker the agreement to fund French police activities to prevent small boats leaving the French coast is about to run out. This risks the resumption of high numbers of small boat crossings, placing lives at risk and undermining efforts to bring control to the asylum system in this country. With many in her own party crying out for the government to speed up reintegration with the EU and public opinion on the failures of Brexit now clear. Will the Home Secretary go to Cabinet colleagues and advise them that it would be easier to fix the asylum system if we had a much closer relationship with Europe?

15:24

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Yeah. we work very closely with our European counterparts, particularly and especially France, as our nearest neighbours. He mentions the important work we do together, important work we do together, which of course has prevented 40,000 crossings since we took office. We want that work to continue. We are having those conversations with France at the moment. You wouldn't expect me to, I think, negotiate from this.

15:25

Ian Lavery MP (Blyth and Ashington, Labour)

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Dispatch Box. Ian Lavery. >> Mr Speaker. Northumbria Police have announced that to close the custody suite in Bedlington in my constituency, that means anybody arrested in south east north London will have to travel to the city of Newcastle for the custody suite. That will mean ultimately mean frontline policing being reduced in an already stretched community of Blyth in action. Can the Minister, will the Minister agree to meet with me to discuss this unacceptable situation?

15:25

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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And without stepping on the operational independence of his operational independence of his local police force? I'm very happy to have a meeting with him and talk about this. I take a keen interest in custody suites and with arrests up 5% under this Labour government in the last year, we need to make sure we're we're running this properly.

15:25

Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)

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Peter Fortune thank. recent London elections, Sadiq Khan made a manifesto pledge not to close Bromley's 24 hour police counter. So obviously Bromley's 24 hour police counter is now closed. Does the Minister think that the closure of this vital service is good for my constituents, or good for community safety?

15:26

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Oh. lot more front counters than than Steve Khan has, but that's a different issue. Look, we are putting more funding into frontline policing. We want police on our streets, in our neighbourhoods, not behind desks like they were under the previous government. That's where the public want to see them.

15:26

Michelle Welsh MP (Sherwood Forest, Labour)

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Joe Walsh. she's taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in town centres such as Hucknall, where we have some persistent disorder, including a recent racist attack on a chef shop owner. These are impacting In our neighbourhoods. We are introducing respect orders to tackle anti-social behaviour. We are seeing shop theft charges going up in our town centres. We're having targeted approach with our policing to really tackle our town centres and take anti-social centres and take anti-social behaviour very seriously, and we will continue to work to make sure we are making our streets safer, which they they are becoming and they will be more so when we have 13,000 additional officers on our streets.

streets.

15:27

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Mr Speaker residents in Devon want to see visible community policing. The new Towns Taskforce recommended a new settlement called Malcolm in East Devon. When new towns are built, how are additional police officers allocated to the area? Please? Mr.

15:27

Richard Foord MP (Honiton and Sidmouth, Liberal Democrat)

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So, of course, we are ensuring that each police force has the support that it needs in terms of additional funding and then rolling out our target for 13,000 extra additional police. He asked an interesting question about new towns and making sure that we've towns and making sure that we've got policing in that. We are also reviewing the police funding formula, which, as everyone in this formula, which, as everyone in this place knows, is outdated. So all of these things together, we will ensure his community is supported.

ensure his community is supported.

15:27

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I welcome the Home Secretary's commitment to community sponsorship of refugees coming here under

15:28

proposed new safe and legal routes. We've got several good examples of this in my constituency. What steps is she taking in line with the recent asylum policy statement to allow more communities like mine to sponsor refugees and support the government's Safe and Legal government's Safe and Legal Specific types of safe and legal routes for students, for workers, and also a community sponsorship scheme. The student scheme will go

15:28

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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scheme. The student scheme will go live later this year, with the first applicants arriving autumn of next year, and we are designing the community sponsorship route with community organisations and international partners as well. I'm sure he'll be wanting to make representations for what his community might want to contribute to the new route, but the design is underway and they will be rolled out in due course.

15:28

Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)

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Stafford given the ongoing >> Stafford given the ongoing national security concerns, including risk of foreign interference in elections, will the Home Secretary set out what her department is doing to ensure that individuals convicted of terrorism offences are prevented from standing for elected office in the UK?

15:29

Dan Jarvis MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Barnsley North, Labour)

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As the hon. Gentleman knows, these are matters that we take very seriously on addressing through the work of the Defending Democracy Task Force. >> Kirith Entwistle thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm currently supporting a constituent who, after leaving her abuser, was locked out of her home, left with thousands of pounds of arrears run up in her name and denied access to her own bank account. Does the Minister agree that Post-separation abuse is too often overlooked and still not recognised widely enough? And what steps is she taking to better protect victims? protect victims?

15:29

Kirith Entwistle MP (Bolton North East, Labour)

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Sir, I thank the hon. Lady and I absolutely agree with her that the violence against women and girls strategy will really, really focus on the specific issues of ensuring that we have that services such as the police get it right about post-separation coercive and controlling behaviour. controlling behaviour.

15:29

Jess Phillips MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Yardley, Labour)

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Sarah Mr Speaker. Criminal gangs are targeting isolated farm and

15:29

Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)

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woodland, dumping lorry loads of illegal waste, serious environmental risks The Environment Agency reports that offenders are Agency reports that offenders are saving thousands of pounds in disposal costs, whilst landowners face the financial responsibility face the financial responsibility of clearing the site. So will the Minister support the National Crime Agency in preventing and Agency in preventing and effectively prosecuting serious and organised rural waste crime?

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organised rural waste crime? It is absolutely right. This rural waste crime is completely unacceptable, often driven by a larger, serious, organised criminal gangs and we are absolutely determined to bear down on it. Yes.

15:30

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Graham Stringer.

15:30

Graham Stringer MP (Blackley and Middleton South, Labour)

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and attacks on Jewish institutions, particularly since the two members of the congregation, the Heaton Park Synagogue, were killed after that attack. The MacDonald report, or the MacDonald inquiry, was set or the MacDonald inquiry, was set up to look into hate crime and public order. I think for the first public order. I think for the first time this afternoon, we have heard that that's not going to report till May, when it was promised for February this year. Can you speed it up, please?

15:31

Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Birmingham Ladywood, Labour)

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Yes, it is an independent review and I'm in constant discussion with Lord MacDonald. He has requested a short extension in order to deal with the matters comprehensively, and I think it is right that the independent review has the time it needs, but it will be brought forward very soon.

15:31

John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)

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John Glen thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> John Glen thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been reported that under the SNP, Police Scotland has written off 25,000 crimes without investigation, including investigation, including shoplifting, theft and vandalism. Does the Minister agree with me that this is a surrender to criminals leaves people wondering why they report crimes in the first place? It shows that life in Scotland is a soft touch to criminals under the SNP.

15:31

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that the England and Gentleman that the England and Wales policing with which I am responsible for will get the support it needs and bear down on criminals in exactly the way it should.

15:32

Janet Daby MP (Lewisham East, Labour)

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Janet Daby thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. speaker, I meet regularly with stakeholders in my regularly with stakeholders in my constituency who work passionately to keep children safe and to reduce knife crime. Can the government say what work they are doing, working with grassroots organisations to support them in their work to prevent knife crime?

15:32

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Hey. >> This government funds violence reduction units and our police and crime commissioners where we don't have them. Also, make sure we are have them. Also, make sure we are funding a raft of organisations who know what's happening on the ground, know what the interventions are, know how he can drag children out of the out of crime and into into making better choices? I see that in my constituency. I know she sees it in hers. And those those community leaders really are the bedrock and we must support them as much as we can.

15:32

Sarah Pochin MP (Runcorn and Helsby, Reform UK)

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Sarah Pochin thank you, Mr. >> Sarah Pochin thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Home Secretary comfortable with the reality that as a woman, she could not stand and pray alongside the mayor of London at last week's event in Trafalgar Square?

15:33

Jonathan Hinder MP (Pendle and Clitheroe, Labour)

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I am I will always be a very proud British Muslim. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I commend Northumbria Police for overseeing a huge and safe policing operation at the Newcastle Sunderland match over the weekend, Sunderland match over the weekend, one of the many, many matches every season that British policing successfully polices. But given these officers are taken from normal day jobs in response and neighbourhood and so forth, would she agree with me? It's time to think about the Premier League contributing more than the 20% they currently do towards those costs, so that we can put that money back into policing?

15:33

Sarah Jones MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Croydon West, Labour)

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Yes, and we are looking at this >> Yes, and we are looking at this as we speak and making sure we strike the right balance. But it is absolutely the case that at the absolutely the case that at the moment there is a huge cost to policing for football matches and indeed other events more widely that are not covered. And we don't have that support. And we think it's right that we look at this.

15:33

John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway, Conservative)

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Cool. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Returns run around 6%. >> Of the total numbers arriving here, but the Home Secretary denies this is anything to do with the this is anything to do with the ECHR. So if not the HR, which part of the government's flawed policy is is responsible for this feeble rate?

15:34

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Well, the hon. Gentleman will have heard me say that removals have heard me say that removals under this government have now reached 60,000, 31% up on our predecessors. So I can't agree to predecessors. So I can't agree to an argument that says that we're not removing people at pace and at scale, those with regards to the routes by which people come, it generally tends to be which country they come from and how likely they are to have their claim accepted.

15:34

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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Rachael Maskell Mr. Speaker, my constituent has just 13 months. When she came to this country as a teenager, she was taken into care. She was then groomed and exploited into county lines and now is serving time in prison. Why is this government deporting her when she is only known in this country? And why would they instead look at giving a proper rehabilitation and getting her life back on track?

15:35

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Well, the Secretary of State has >> Well, the Secretary of State has a strict legal liability to remove anybody who gets a sentence of of a year or more and indeed from today, year or more and indeed from today, a suspended sentence of a year or more. But nevertheless, the hon. Gentleman, the hon. Members raised a very important case. And if she sends the details, I'll look at it closely.

15:35

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

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Steve Barclay Mr. Speaker, the >> Steve Barclay Mr. Speaker, the government is making top up payments to asylum support enhancement cards, but has refused enhancement cards, but has refused to answer my written parliamentary questions regarding how many payments and how much is being spent. Even though this is information the department must have, it's held digitally and the accounting officer under chapter three are managing public money has a duty to demonstrate these payments constitute value for money. So can the Home Secretary say why she's covering this information up?

15:35

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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Well, the hon. Gentleman checks the record. He'll see that I answer an awful lot of questions from colleagues on a daily basis, and I colleagues on a daily basis, and I seek to give the fullest available information so we can have the best and most based, in fact, debate possible on what is a very contentious issue. I'll have to look more closely at the the element that he raises, but he will also know from his time in government that cost and person time is a factor in what we can and

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cannot pull together and release. Oral Question Pete Wishart. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. In the past few weeks, the Home Secretary has announced a whole swathe of new restrictions, restrictive asylum and immigration

15:36

Pete Wishart MP (Perth and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party)

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policies which, as we know over the weekend, are at best contentious. them? >> We are here.

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We are here. Well, the hon. Gentleman hosted and called and secured a very, very good debate only last week, Mr.

15:36

Alex Norris MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Nottingham North and Kimberley, Labour )

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good debate only last week, Mr. Speaker, that was well subscribed and we had a very good conversation there. But I'll say to him, as someone who's well experienced in this place, that we need primary legislation, there will be primary legislation. When we need secondary legislation, there'll be secondary legislation. If things are matters for policy, will there be a matter for policy? benches.

15:37

Ministerial statement: Middle East Update

Defence John Healey. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to update the House on the UK military operations in the Middle military operations in the Middle East. But before I begin, can I express my total disgust at the

15:37

Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Secretary of State for Defence (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)

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anti-Semitic attack in North London overnight? And our thoughts are with the Jewish community. Today, with the Jewish community. Today, the House will have a statement from the Security Minister after this. But let me start this this. But let me start this statement, if I may, Mr. Speaker, by thanking every single person across defence that is working flat across defence that is working flat out from our senior leaders to our junior ranks, military and junior ranks, military and civilians alike, our planners in Pjhq, our counter-drone units protecting coalition bases, our air defence teams in Cyprus, our fast jet pilots across the region, and our sailors in the Eastern Mediterranean.

I say to them, on behalf of the House, you approving yet again, you are the best of Britain in action. Mr. Speaker, with the fast moving events in the Middle East, we're maintaining a clear, consistent approach. And as I said in my statement to the House last week, the UK government's decisions and actions around three principles. The first is defensive, taking the necessary action to strengthen our collective defence. That's why I've been putting vital military assets into the region since January.

Second is coordination with allies, leading and coordinating our responses with NATO allies and with partners including the US, the G7, E5 and Gulf nations. The third is legal, ensuring a legal basis for our decisions, allowing Ministers to make sound choices and allowing our military to operate with the fullest confidence. And UK action remains grounded in these principles and our purpose to protect British people, protect British bases and protect British allies. Mr Speaker. Iran is a threat to us all.

It's lashing out and its attacks across the region are escalating. Since the start of the war, Iran has attacked 12 countries. It's fired over 3500 ballistic missiles and drones. Both military and civilians are in their sights. Oil refineries bombed embassies and bases targeted. Commercial ships hit some allies, such as France and the US, have had service personnel killed. And the House will want to join me in offering our condolences to their families and to their comrades in in conflict, you can never remove risk, but I am able to say that all UK personnel so far are fully accounted for.

Mr. speaker, Iran's attacks are widespread and disruptive. I can confirm to the House. In the early hours of Friday morning, two Iranian missiles were launched in the direction of Diego Garcia, our joint UK and US base one fell short of its target. The other was brought down short of its target. Neither got close to Diego Garcia. The UK was not required to take action and normal operations continue. I totally condemn Iran's reckless attacks. Iran must stop.

It must deescalate. We want to see this war end now. Mr. Speaker, my priority is defence Secretary. Is the protection of UK personnel and I continue to keep the force protection across the region at the very highest levels. And those measures are reviewed daily by both the chief of the Defence Staff and the Chief of Joint Operations to ensure that our personnel are as safe as possible. Mr. speaker, we know, however, that Iran's aggression and intent reaches beyond the Middle East, so we continue to track the potential threats here at home.

And over the last year, we've been boosting our defence, cyber defences and tightening base security. And I want to thank the military, police and Police Scotland for their quick work to arrest, then charge two individuals who approached the Clyde base last week and unsuccessfully attempted to enter. Mr. speaker, in terms of our UK defensive operations in the region since last January, weeks before this conflict started, we took significant steps to pre-position typhoons, F-35s, counter drones, teams, radars and air defences in the region.

And it was these advanced preparations that made a real difference and meant that from day one we have been defending activity and mounting those actions to protect ourselves and protect our allies. And when Iran started hitting out putting British people and British allies and service personnel at risk, I committed further resources to the region, including more fighter jets, helicopters and a warship. RAF and Navy pilots have now racked up nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

We have more jets in the region than at any time in the last 15 years. There are an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus, and as more military capabilities are committed to the eastern Mediterranean, we're working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to coordinate the contribution of allies including the US, France and Greece, to reinforce the security of Cyprus. And I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, and tonight begins operational integration into Cyprus's defence alongside allies more widely, UK Space Command is monitoring daily Iranian missile activity and provided early warning to our armed forces and to our allies operating across the region.

Our military and our industry have a shared mission in the UK and that is to step up support and to help defend Gulf partners during this conflict. So last week, we brought together Gulf ambassadors and defence attachÃ©s with UK defence firms, and the MoD has now established task force Sabre with industry to support partners across the Middle East with rapid procurement. We will soon deploy lightweight multiple launchers to Bahrain, including with training, and we will be deploying rapid century to Kuwait and Rapid Century is a battle tested, ground based air defence missile system that has already proved highly effective for UK forces taking down drones in the region.

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Mr. Speaker, people and businesses are increasingly worried about the economic impact of this war and the Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting later this afternoon to discuss the economic impact, which I will attend, because Iran is holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage by laying mines targeting ships, including red Ensign vessels and putting lives in danger. This is complex, and any resolution requires close work with allies and multinational support.

So the UK, along with 29 other nations, signed a joint statement late last week which condemned in the strongest terms these attacks on unarmed ships strongly backed the freedom of navigation and

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