Asked by: Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish a breakdown of the number of full-time staff working on the Defending Democracy Taskforce in each year since it began.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Defending Democracy Taskforce comprises Ministers and senior officials from multiple government departments, alongside representatives from law enforcement, the Parliamentary authorities, the Electoral Commission, and the UK Intelligence Community.
The Taskforce draws on expertise and skills from across this community. However, each department remains responsible for delivery on their respective priorities for the Taskforce, and provides resources as required.
There is also a dedicated Home Office team which supports the Taskforce in its work, including delivery of time limited work, which is reflected in the changing number of full time staff. In the financial year 2022-2023 and in 2023-2024, the staffing allocation to this central team was 12 full-time staff. In 2024-2025 this allocation was 9 full time-staff and the staffing allocation for the current year, 2025-2026, is 8.5 full-time staff.
Asked by: Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Defending Democracy Taskforce has had with (1) the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and (2) the devolved administrations, about the risks of foreign interference in UK elections.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Taskforce brings Ministers and senior officials from across government together with operational partners to deliver a whole-of-government response to the threats our democracy faces. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is a core member of the Taskforce.
On 16 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an independent review into countering foreign influence and interference in UK politics, chaired by Phillip Rycroft. This will report into both MHCLG and the Security Minister in his role as Chair of the Taskforce.
The Taskforce regularly engages with the Devolved Governments on its works. This engagement by the Taskforce and the Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit (JESP), which leads on election security, will increase in run up to May’s elections.
Asked by: Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make an annual statement to Parliament about the work and key findings of the Defending Democracy Taskforce.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
While the Security Minister is not planning an annual statement about the work of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Minister regularly updates Parliament about its progress and priorities, most recently as part of his November 2025 statement to the House on tackling espionage threats from China.
In addition, the Security Minister gave evidence on the work of the Taskforce to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in March 2025, the Speaker’s Conference on the security of MPs, candidates and elections in April 2025 and the Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to Transnational Repression in May 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the technical annex of the white paper published on 12 May, Restoring control over the immigration system, how many of the 22 higher education institutions that it is assumed will not meet at least one of the criteria set out in the paper are in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, and (3) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The estimates in the technical annex are illustrative and based on data from 2023-24, or 2022-23 where the former is not available. The actual institutions which will be impacted will depend on their compliance with the criteria at the time.
Asked by: Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the technical annex of the white paper published on 12 May, Restoring control over the immigration system, how many of the five higher education institutions that it is assumed will not pass the revised basic compliance assessment are in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, and (3) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The estimates in the technical annex are illustrative and based on data from 2023-24, or 2022-23 where the former is not available. The actual institutions which will be impacted will depend on their compliance with the criteria at the time.