Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 104116 on Firearms Licensing, whether the government will set out a timeline for publication of the consultation on firearms licensing; and whether the impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government will be publishing the public consultation paper on strengthening the controls on shotguns shortly.
The Government will provide the necessary impact assessments in due course, depending on whether we decide to make any changes following the consultation.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the High Streets Illegality Taskforce; and how she measures that effectiveness.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
At the Autumn Budget 2025, the Chancellor announced the creation of a dedicated cross-government taskforce to tackle money laundering and associated criminality on our high streets.
The Taskforce is currently being established. It will develop an intelligence-led understanding of the threat, design systemic interventions to disrupt money laundering and related criminality and set strategic priorities for future operational activity. Effectiveness will be assessed through systematic monitoring and evaluation of progress against its objectives. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what process will her Department follow in order to set the visa allocations under the Seasonal Worker Scheme beyond 2026; and what factors will be considered when tapering the allocation.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The UK Government is committed to supporting the UK Horticulture sector, but it is also important that the sector reduces its ongoing reliance on significant numbers of seasonal workers from overseas. Decisions on future allocations will take into account a broad range of factors including, current usage, steps taken to reduce ongoing reliance, such as the adoption of automative technology, and the ongoing costs of operating the route, including compliance and asylum costs.
The Home Office will work closely with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to determine future scheme allocations.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
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 20-year baseline for refugees on core protection routes for Hong Kongers (a) born after 1997 and (b) whose parents did not register for BN(O) status; whether B1 English-language qualifications will remain valid for BN(O) visa holders approaching eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain; and what her Department's plans are for BN(O) residents who contribute to society in non-financial ways, including carers, elderly people, students and stay-at-home parents.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.
BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements. Children of BN(O) status holders born after 1997 are eligible for the BN(O) route and will therefore qualify for the same reduction.
We are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation, including which groups might be exempted from requirements to demonstrate earnings.
In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the current B1 English language requirement.