Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of businesses issued with fines for employing illegal workers (a) dissolving and (b) liquidating before fines are paid.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office pursues debt recovery in every case and proactively monitors liable companies through Companies House from the point a civil penalty referral is logged. This enables the early identification of proposed strike-offs and timely objections, helping to prevent companies from dissolving before civil penalties can be pursued or recovered.
The Home Office does not routinely assess trends in the number of businesses issued with civil penalties for employing illegal workers that subsequently dissolve or enter liquidation before penalties are paid.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what she defines as immigration pull factors to the United Kingdom; and what steps she is taking to remove those pull factors.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government considers immigration pull factors to be aspects of the UK's asylum and immigration system that may incentivise irregular migration to the United Kingdom. Through the Restoring Order and Control Policy Statement and the Immigration and Asylum Bill, introduced on 30 June 2026 the Government is reforming the asylum and returns system to reduce such incentives while continuing to meet its international obligations to those in need of protection.
Measures include reforms to refugee leave, settlement and family reunion arrangements; stronger compliance requirements; action to recover accommodation and support costs from those able to contribute; increased enforcement against illegal working; improvements to returns and removals, including reforms to the framework governing Article 8 claims; expanded returns agreements with international partners; and action to reduce reliance on asylum accommodation, including hotels. The Government is also strengthening border security, disrupting organised immigration crime and expanding safe and legal routes for those who require protection.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that those who have had asylum claims rejected are removed from the United Kingdom; and what percentage of rejected claimants have been removed from the UK since July 2024.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
Since the July 2024 election, asylum-related returns have reached their highest level since 2010.
The monthly breakdown in asylum related returns since July 2024 is published in the ad-hoc transparency release, which can be found here: Returns from the UK between 1 July 2024 and 31 July 2026 - GOV.UK
Ramping up returns is an important part of the government’s system-wide action to strengthen UK border security and restore order to the asylum and immigration system. Immigration Enforcement are clear that individuals who have no legal basis to remain in the UK should leave and we remain resolute in our commitment to increasing returns, as set out in our statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was paid to to (a) foreign national offenders and (b) immediate family members of foreign national offenders removed from the UK under the Facilitated Return Scheme in the last 12 months.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Since this Government came to power almost 10,000 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned, an increase of 36%, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.
The information you have requested regarding the Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) is not available from published statistics.
FRS offers all FNOs with a determinate prison sentence the opportunity to volunteer to return to their country of origin. The scheme also allows for immediate qualifying family members departing the UK with the eligible FNO a financial support package.
It is not an alternative to removal or deportation but facilitates the early removal of FNOs and helps them to re-settle and remain in their country of origin. Voluntary removals benefit the UK taxpayer as detention and appeals are significantly reduced.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) foreign national offenders and (b) immediate family members of foreign national offenders were removed from the UK under the Facilitated Return Scheme in the last 12 months.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Since this Government came to power almost 10,000 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned, an increase of 36%, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.
The information you have requested regarding the Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) is not available from published statistics.
FRS offers all FNOs with a determinate prison sentence the opportunity to volunteer to return to their country of origin. The scheme also allows for immediate qualifying family members departing the UK with the eligible FNO a financial support package.
It is not an alternative to removal or deportation but facilitates the early removal of FNOs and helps them to re-settle and remain in their country of origin. Voluntary removals benefit the UK taxpayer as detention and appeals are significantly reduced.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help reduce crimes committed with catapults, especially against animals.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government shares concerns over the misuse of catapults, whether against people, property or wildlife.
There are a wide range of laws in place to punish those who misuse catapults. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs). The Prevention of Crime Act 1953 creates the offence of carrying an offensive weapon in a public place and there are significant penalties under the Offences against the Person Act 1861 if a person is deliberately harmed.
Specific to animals and birds, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales. It is illegal under this Act to deliberately attempt to kill, injure, or harm protected species of wild birds. There are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect wild animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of crimes under these Acts.
We have noted proposals for new restrictions, and we are actively considering what more might be done around enforcement.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help prevent radicalisation amongst religious groups.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
As a society we must not permit those that radicalise others into violence and terrorism to act with impunity. Prevent is about stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism and tackles the ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation.
Although Prevent does not target any one community and deals with all forms of terrorist ideologies, part of this work involves working closely with religious communities and organisations to support them in safeguarding individuals susceptible to radicalisation and disrupting groups that radicalise others, online and in communities.
Further information on the number of individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme from April 2024-March 2025 can be found at Individuals referred to Prevent: to March 2025 - GOV.UK
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the police to establish a National Police Trust funded from money seized from the proceeds of crime.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to depriving criminals of their illicit gains and reinvesting recovered proceeds to tackle crime and protect communities.
Funds recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) are distributed via the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS). The Scheme aims to enhance asset recovery performance by incentivising law enforcement agencies to recover criminal assets, and by supporting local and national initiatives that strengthen asset recovery efforts. Its overarching goal is to reduce crime and deliver justice.
Under ARIS, up to 50% of receipts are returned to operational partners, with an additional ÂŁ13.9 million ring-fenced annually for national and regional capabilities. Agencies, including police forces, have discretion over how ARIS allocations are spent and may choose to support wider initiatives if appropriate.
The Government is committed to reviewing ARIS and is working closely with law enforcement agencies, including policing partners, to ensure the Scheme continues to strengthen asset recovery and the effective reinvestment of criminal proceeds.
Detail on the current use of ARIS funding can be found in the Asset Recovery Statistical Bulletin (ASB) at section 7: Asset recovery statistical bulletin: financial years ending 2020 to 2025.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 84932 on Business and Tourism: Greater London, if she will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of organised protests on tourism and businesses in London.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not plan to make a formal assessment of the potential economic impact of organised protests on tourism or businesses in London. Responsibility for tourism policy rests primarily with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, while business resilience and economic analysis are led by the Department for Business and Trade.
The Government continues to work closely with police to ensure their public order powers are used effectively and we continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and to ensure that lawful protest is facilitated while minimising disruption to the public and economic activity.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to cease the purchasing of non-essential items, including vapes, for illegal migrants.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Home Office does not purchase vapes for people held in immigration detention, and no public money is spent on the purchase of these or any other goods sold at immigration removal centres.
Following a comprehensive review of asylum support, we have taken decisive action to block spending on non-essential goods and services on ASPEN cards and implement enhanced due diligence measures.