theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of Community Interest Companies to the provision of day care services for people with early-stage dementia. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards and may include day care services.

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all people.

Our health system has struggled to support those with complex needs, including those with dementia. Under the 10-Year Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.  We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of children recommended to have annual eye tests who have not done so in each of the past five years. \p Stephen Kinnock: Free National Health Service sight tests are widely available for children under 16 years old and under 19 years old in full time education. It is recommended that all children under 16 years old should have an annual sight test. Sight tests for children under seven years old with binocular vision anomaly or corrected refractive error and children over seven and under 16 years old with binocular vision anomaly or rapidly progressing myopia are recommended every six months.

Although data on the number of NHS sight tests is collected, it is not routinely broken down to be able to identify the numbers of sight tests provided to children. We are therefore unable to estimate the number of children who have not had a sight test.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the merits of allowing the adoption of Limited Liability Partnerships for GPs. \p Stephen Kinnock: Currently, Limited Liability Partnerships cannot hold General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services contracts. However, general practice (GP) partners can take steps to reduce their personal liability and financial risk. For example, limited companies can be used to manage risks in the partnership. GP partnerships can also manage different liabilities through indemnities and different forms of insurance. As independent contractors and small business owners, these are decisions that GP partners make, with legal and accounting advice.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans plans to review the Legal Aid regulations where (a) assistance has been received for a case and (b) several appeals are lodged with legal aid assistance to prevent the release of information via Freedom of Information legislation about the cost of such assistance. \p Sarah Sackman: Legal aid for proceedings within England and Wales is subject to the provisions of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and regulations made under that Act. The legislation places restrictions on the scope of services funded and the eligibility criteria which need to be satisfied before legal aid is granted.

Civil legal aid services relating to an appeal arising from or relating to a decision to release information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are not within the scope of funded services. Legal aid may be available as exceptional case funding where failure to provide legal aid would breach or risk breaching an individual’s human rights or other enforceable legal rights. There are no plans to review the scope of legal aid in this area.

Applications for legal aid, including that provided as exceptional case funding, are subject to a merits test. This helps ensure that public funding is used responsibly and not spent on cases that are unlikely to succeed or are repeated without new grounds.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to remove parental rights from people convicted of rape in cases where a child has been conceived as a result of that offence. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government has received a number of representations seeking to broaden the parental responsibility measure in the Victims and Courts Bill, including proposals to restrict the exercise of parental responsibility by individuals convicted of rape in cases where a child has been conceived as a result of that offence. We are carefully considering these suggestions as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence have died while housed in approved premises in each of the last 10 years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Deaths in Approved Premises are rare, accounting for less than 1% of deaths of offenders in the community during 2023/24, and the number of deaths annually has been decreasing. Some of the deaths, while resident in Approved Premises, occurred away from the premises.

Five individuals serving an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence died whilst housed in Approved Premises between 2019/20 and 2023/24. The number of deaths can be broken down as follows:

2020/21 - 3

2022/23 - 2

The figure is 0 for all other years since 2019/20.

As per previously published data to date, there have been no deaths of IPP-sentenced individuals under this Government.

Data prior to April 2019 would require a manual matching exercise and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Extended Sentence for Public Protection sentences were given in each year between 2005 and 2012. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: An Extended Sentence for Public Protection (EPP) was a determinate sentence in use from 2005 until its abolition in 2012.

The sentence was handed down to individuals convicted of specified offences where Section 227 or Section 228 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 applied, and where the courts believed there was a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public on commission of further specified offences.

The table below sets out how many EPP sentences were given in each year between 2005 and 2012.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

1,493

1,299

1,131

671

434

453

648

332
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to support victims of violence against women through the criminal justice system in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency. \p Alex Davies-Jones: This Government was elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and we have already taken steps to support victims through the criminal justice system, including in the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Ministry of Justice provides funding for support services for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, both nationally and locally. Most of this funding is delivered through the Police and Crime Commissioners, such as the one in Hertfordshire, who commission services based on local need. This includes ringfenced funding for domestic and sexual violence services, including Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors, and domestic abuse and sexual violence services such as Refuge.

Nationally, we also fund over 60 specialist organisations through the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund and operate a 24/7 support line for victims of sexual violence. The MoJ-funded National Witness Service also provides emotional and practical support on the day of trial, helping victims navigate the court process. All Crown Prosecution Service areas, including Thames and Chiltern, now have a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer to support victims of rape and serious sexual offences in the criminal justice system. We are also committing to establish specialist rape and sexual offences teams within every police force, enhancing the support network for victims across the country.

Furthermore, in line with the Independent Sentencing Review’s recommendations, we are looking to expand specialist domestic abuse courts and are continuing the provision for free sentencing transcripts for victims of rape and sexual offences whose cases are heard in the Crown Courts.
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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reduce electricity costs. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Over this Parliament the government will be working relentlessly to translate the much cheaper wholesale costs of clean power into lower bills for consumers. This will be core to every decision we make.
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Henry Tufnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) heat batteries as low-carbon heating systems and (b) including those batteries in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: On 30 April, the Government launched a consultation on potential changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, including proposals to support air-to-air heat pumps and alternative electric heating technologies such as heat batteries. The consultation closed on the 11 June, and a government response will be set out in due course.

The Department will continue to review our position on heat batteries, and other alternative electric heating technologies, as the supporting evidence base develops.
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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to incentivise the uptake of heat pumps. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides grants to property owners to enable them to transition away from fossil fuel to low carbon heating. The grant available under the scheme for air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps is £7,500.

Support is also available to low-income households and social housing tenants under the Energy Company Obligation, Warm Homes: Local Grant, and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund to install low-carbon heating measures, including heat pumps.

This is in addition to the 0% rate of VAT on the installation of heat pumps, which will last until March 2027.
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Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to appoint a new Minister with responsibility for nuclear energy. \p Michael Shanks: Yes, in the meantime I am covering nuclear as part of my portfolio. The appointment of Ministers is a matter for my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking with the transport and logistics industry to identify where new energy infrastructure will be required to support the transition to electric vehicles in (a) commercial freight, (b) delivery and (c) other networks. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is introducing new strategic spatial planning processes, at national level (the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan) and regional level (Regional Energy Strategic Plans), to help ensure energy infrastructure meets future demand, including that of transport. The Government is encouraging transport stakeholders, such as the Freight Energy Forum (an expert advisory body led by the Department for Transport), to engage with the producer of these plans (the National Energy System Operator) and Ofgem to provide clarity and evidence on transport and electric vehicle requirements.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) wood pellets and (b) other biomass has been imported from North Korea in the last 10 years. \p Michael Shanks: The UK does not import wood pellets or biomass from North Korea for fuel or electricity generation. There are no plans to import wood pellets or biomass from North Korea.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the UK has imported (a) wood pellets and (b) other biomass from Afghanistan in the last 10 years. \p Michael Shanks: The UK does not import wood pellets or biomass from Afghanistan for fuel or electricity generation. There are no plans to import wood pellets or biomass from Afghanistan.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the carbon footprint of importing wood pellets in the last 10 years. \p Michael Shanks: Emissions from importing wood pellets are constrained by biomass sustainability requirements. The supply chain emissions threshold for large scale biomass electricity generators to receive support is capped at 55.6gCO2e/MJ. This threshold will be tightened further under proposed future arrangements with Drax to 36.6 gCO2e/MJ.

Compliance with sustainability criteria under the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes are a matter for Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, and LCCC, as the counterparty to the CfD.

Large scale biomass generators, such as Drax, do also publish emissions data as part of their annual ESG reports.
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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has undertaken a risk assessment on solar radiation modification. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). Given the significant uncertainty around the possible risks and impacts of deployment on the climate and environment, the Government is not deploying SRM and has no plans to do so.

The Department works closely with the research community to evaluate the latest research on the potential risks and impacts of solar radiation modification.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the Charity Commission on the activities of (a) Dar Al-Hekma and (b) Abrar Islamic Foundation. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth recently met with the Charity Commission to discuss a range of issues. The Charity Commission has live regulatory compliance cases open into the Abrar Islamic Foundation and the Dar Alhekma Trust and they will not hesitate to take regulatory action if necessary. Given the nature of the allegations, the Commission has also referred the serious allegations to the Metropolitan Police Service.

As the independent regulator, the Charity Commission has a wide range of powers to tackle misconduct or mismanagement in charities. It acts robustly to tackle those who abuse charities. We keep the Charity Commission's powers under regular review and are actively considering whether further powers are required.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the long-term financial sustainability of arts centres. \p Chris Bryant: The Government is working closely with the sector to understand the needs of arts centres, which are integral to communities up and down the country. Through sector engagement, as well as the recent Arup and Future Arts Centres report, Evaluating Capital Investment Needs for Arts Centres in the UK, we are aware that arts centres are facing challenges with their estates.

The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. An important part of this government’s growth mission, this fund aims to strengthen the long-term economic viability of the creative and cultural industries. The fund will support organisations to continue delivering creative or cultural activity, support growth and increase opportunities to develop creative skills and engage in high-quality creative work.

Arts centres that meet other eligibility criteria will be eligible to apply for the fund. This fund will offer vital support to prevent the closure of operating cultural spaces and the potential irrevocable loss to local communities and economies. However, inspections on building conditions are excluded from the CFF. Full eligibility details in the guidance can be found on ACE’s website.
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Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to publish stakeholder responses to its consultation entitled Putting Fans First: consultation on the resale of live events tickets, published on 10 January 2025. \p Chris Bryant: We will publish a Government response later in the summer.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support music and arts programmes in (a) Eastbourne and (b) England. \p Chris Bryant: For 2023 - 2026 our arms-length-body Arts Council England is investing around £444 million per annum into their National Portfolio Organisations across England. This includes nearly £550k of annual funding to the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne, which attracts over 175,000 visitors a year, and engages with over 55,000 participants a year through its learning and outreach programme.

Arts Council England’s open funding programme, National Lottery Project Grants provides over £100 million of support annually to individuals and organisations, and since 2023 has invested over £600k into arts projects across Eastbourne.

The government wants to ensure everyone has access to high quality arts and culture in the places they call home, and the new Creative Foundations Fund, announced in February, will invest £85 million to support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. This will ensure their buildings and infrastructure will provide improved user experience for visitors and ensure they can be enjoyed by visitors for many more years to come. Guidance for the fund was published at the end of May and Arts Council England will be accepting Expressions of Interest until 25 July. With grants available from £100,000 and up to £10 million, this fund is a significant opportunity for eligible organisations across the country, including those in Eastbourne, to address their capital needs.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to promote the UK fashion sector through the Creative Industries Growth strategy. \p Chris Bryant: Through the Creative Industries Sector Plan, we are backing the UK fashion sector as a key part of our world-leading creative industries. This includes targeted support for emerging designers with a specific funding commitment to the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN programme - helping talent showcase at London Fashion Week and access business mentoring.

The Sector Plan also recognises the important role that fashion plays in the connected ecosystem of the Creative Industries. It sets out support through wider cross-cutting measures, including increased access to equity and debt finance via the British Business Bank, a £50 million expansion of the Creative Industries Clusters programme, and a new R&D strategy due in 2025. We're addressing skills gaps with new training flexibilities, enhanced specialist education provision, and the launch of a new Creative Sector Skills Forum. And a refreshed creative careers service, backed by £9 million, will also help young people access careers in the creative industries, including the fashion sector.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his speech at the British Chambers of Commerce on 20 March 2025, how many diplomats have been seconded to businesses since 20 March 2025; what the (a) cost and (b) staffing requirement will be of the Diplomatic Advisory Hub; which priority markets have been identified; whether he has set (i) targets and (ii) key performance indicators for ambassadors in priority markets; when he plans to announce the programme of domestic roadshows; on which dates the quarterly Lancaster House Business Engagement Series will take place in (A) 2025 and (B) future years; and which ambassadors have produced Strategic Economic Growth Plans. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is driving UK growth across the new Industrial Strategy's priority sectors through Strategic Economic Growth Plans. These prioritise markets with the biggest potential to drive UK Growth, including the EU, the US and China, and a range of other economically important markets, such as India and Japan. The Foreign Secretary chairs regular Delivery Boards to monitor and accelerate delivery across the FCDO towards the Government's Growth Mission, for which key performance indicators are being developed, and agreed. The FCDO is planning a number of events for the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series, including a first event set for July. The FCDO is progressing work on a range of business placements, the first due later this year, and working with the British Chambers of Commerce on plans for the Diplomatic Advisory Hub.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what initiatives his Department is funding to (a) monitor and (b) support the (i) registration and (ii) legal recognition of religious communities in Vietnam. \p Catherine West: The UK Government is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) globally, including in Vietnam. During Vietnam's 2024 Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, the UK put forward recommendations urging Vietnam to take steps to ensure the protection of the right to freedom of religion. Bilaterally, the UK raises FoRB concerns with Vietnamese counterparts. Our Embassy in Hanoi engages with the diplomatic community and civil society to monitor developments and support dialogue on religious freedom.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62574 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost Effectiveness, what savings he expects to make from the FCDO2030 change programme in each of the next five years. \p Catherine West: As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Spending Review settlement, we will invest £290 million in capability-building and digital tools that will transform how we work over the coming years. FCDO will be a more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. We anticipate a significant reduction in terms of headcount across all staff by the end of 2028/29.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Caribbean governments on tackling irregular migration. \p Catherine West: The Foreign Secretary has discussed concerns over Haiti with Caribbean Ministers, including its instability and subsequent effect on illegal migration into British Caribbean Overseas Territories particularly the nearby Turks and Caicos Islands. Officials working in the Caribbean raise irregular migration concerns with their hosts when necessary, most recently with Trinidad & Tobago ahead of the UK's decision to implement a visa regime due to the significant increase in individuals from Trinidad & Tobago seeking to misuse our immigration system.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support civil society organisations in Venezuela. \p Catherine West: Further to my answer given on 15 May 2025 to question 50066, the UK is firmly committed to championing democracy and human rights around the world, including in Venezuela. We remain deeply concerned by the repression of civil society in Venezuela, including the harassment and intimidation of political figures, journalists, and human rights defenders. The UK has repeatedly called for an immediate end to repression and the unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained, most recently through a UK statement at the Human Rights Council on 27 June.
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James Naish:o ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered publishing a consolidated UK list of Chinese companies (a) credibly implicated in forced-labour abuses in Xinjiang and (b) linked to the People’s Liberation Army. \p Catherine West: The human rights situation in China, including China's persecution of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities, remains a priority for the government. The UK regularly discusses issues of common concern with likeminded partners, including through the G7.

There are a number of ways in which His Majesty's Government currently tackles the issue of Uyghur forced labour in supply chains. The Overseas Business Risk Guidance makes clear to UK companies the risk of operating in certain regions and urges them to conduct appropriate due diligence when making business decisions.

Last month, this Government launched a review of its approach to ensuring responsible business conduct, focusing on the global supply chains of businesses operating in the UK. This includes a review of alternative measures to tackle forced labour.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the China Audit made an assessment of the proposal for a new Chinese Embassy. \p Catherine West: No. The determination of the Chinese planning application is an independent process. The decision will be made by Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in their quasi-judicial capacity.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has (a) accepted and (b) implemented all recommendations from the China Audit. \p Catherine West: The Government will take forward work to deliver each of the actions recommended by the China Audit. These will be delivered as part of the Government's broader strategic approach to China.
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Sir Desmond Swayne:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has raised the religious persecution of Leah Sharibu in bilateral discussions with President Tinubu of Nigeria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK strongly condemns Leah Sharibu's abduction and has repeatedly called for her release and the release of all those abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA). We have raised Leah's case with the Government of Nigeria, and the Minister for Africa will continue to do so in future engagements. More broadly, we continue to engage with the Government of Nigeria to support efforts to tackle insecurity and prevent further kidnappings, which includes support to Nigeria's anti-kidnap cell, through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy political party has been disbanded; and if he will have discussions with (a) the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and (b) his Chinese counterparts on the role of Hong Kong’s National Security Law on this decision. \p Catherine West: The League of Social Democrats (LSD) is a concerning development that further demonstrates how China's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent. Alternative voices in Hong Kong's executive, legislature, civil society, and media have been all but extinguished. The UK has called for the National Security Law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it, and we regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese government and with Ministers in the Government of Hong Kong.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Hong Kong officials on the use of arrest warrants against British citizens. \p Catherine West: The UK Government is clear that it will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, especially in the UK. The Government will continue to stand with and support members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.

The Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 24 December 2024 condemning the Hong Kong police's latest arrest warrants and calling on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law. UK Ministers have repeatedly raised our opposition to these actions with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities; most recently, I did so directly with Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration on 30 May.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law on British businesses operating in Hong Kong. \p Catherine West: The UK Government has been clear in its opposition to the National Security Law (NSL). China's imposition of the NSL on Hong Kong has seen opposition stifled and dissent criminalised. Alternative voices in Hong Kong's executive, legislature, civil society, and media have been all but extinguished. The UK has called for the National Security Law to be repealed.

The UK Government provides a range of services and advice to support companies doing business in Hong Kong, through our extensive network, both in the UK and at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong. In addition to our digital platforms, such as Great.gov.uk and the Digital Exporting Programme, the Overseas Business Risk (OBR) service provides information on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas. The OBR refers to the NSL under Section 4. Business and human rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of anti-conversion laws in India. \p Catherine West: The UK is firmly committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, as a fundamental human right. We are aware of concerns regarding anti-conversion laws in India, and their potential impact on religious minorities. Where issues arise, we raise them directly with the Government of India, both at national and state levels. Our diplomatic network across India monitor developments closely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_291

Chris Philp:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to establish an independent national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation. \p Jess Phillips: On the 16 June the Home Secretary announced that she had accepted all 12 of Baroness Casey’s recommendations from her National Audit into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

As part of this, and as recommended by Baroness Casey, the Government is moving swiftly to establish an Independent Commission on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation under the Inquiries Act 2005.

We are working closely with partners across government and beyond to develop the Terms of Reference, which will be shaped through engagement with the appointed Chair, victims and survivors, and other key stakeholders.

Following the appointment of the independent Chair and the establishment of the inquiry structure, the Commission will begin considering evidence and data to select the first local areas for targeted investigations.

Further details will be announced in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_292

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the primary countries of origin for legal migrants in Upper Bann constituency in the last five years. \p Seema Malhotra: The requested information is not held in a reportable format. To provide this information would require a manual review of case records, which could only be done for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_293

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of immigration salary thresholds for staff currently employed in the social care sector. \p Seema Malhotra: Salary thresholds are an important way of ensuring those coming to work in the UK are able to support themselves. These workers do not have access to public funds so it is important a rate is set which will ensure people are earning sufficient income without having to rely on public funds. A number of health and care and education occupations are subject to lower rates of pay than other occupations.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been asked to consider whether there should continue to be a different threshold for health and care worker visas. We look forward to receiving the MAC’s recommendations in due course.

Individuals who are sponsored in roles at band 3 before the rules change on 22 July will be eligible to extend their visa providing they meet all the requirements at the time including being paid the appropriate salary. Salary thresholds and going rates are routinely updated and sponsored workers will need to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply for their visa to be renewed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_294

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to propose an extension to the commissioning date of the Asylum Reception Centre at the former RAF Wethersfield. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_295

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided (a) funding and (b) guidance to (i) private contractors and (b) local authorities for the provision of free TV licences to people seeking asylum. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question 65010.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_296

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 23 June 2025, 30 June 2025 and 7 July 2025 to Questions 60413, 61747 and 63990 on Asylum: Northern Ireland, whether she plans to purchase (a) tower blocks and (b) student accommodation solely to house people already living in Northern Ireland and claiming asylum not the wider cohort living elsewhere. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer he received on 23 June 2025 to UIN 60413.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_297

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that French authorities uphold agreements on stopping asylum seekers attempting to cross the English Channel. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Our current cooperation with France on irregular and illegal migration is underpinned by the commitments made in the UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration - GOV.UK. Any future agreements will be published in the normal way in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_298

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) funding and (b) guidance has been given to (i) private contractors and (ii) local authorities on providing free (A) TV licences and (B) driving licences to asylum seekers. \p Dame Angela Eagle: None.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_299

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 58059 on Street Trading: Licensing, what guidance he has given to local authorities on the use of Public Space Protection Orders to ban street stalls by political campaigners engaging in lawful free speech. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The statutory framework for PSPOs sets out clear conditions for their use.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_300

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle county lines gangs operating in Lancashire. \p Dame Diana Johnson: To deliver our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade, it is crucial that we tackle the drug gangs that run county lines through violence and exploitation. That is why we are investing more than £43m this financial year (25/26) in the County Lines Programme, to target exploitative drug dealing gangs whilst breaking the organised crime groups behind this trade.

While the majority of lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, West Yorkshire Police and Greater Manchester Police, county lines is a national issue which affects all forces.

That is why, through the County Lines Programme, we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC) to monitor the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. The County Lines Programme taskforces regularly conduct joint operations with other forces, and we have established a dedicated fund which provides local forces with additional funding to tackle county lines, including Lancashire Police.

The NCLCC also regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in. The most recent of these took place 23-29 June 2025 and resulted in 241 lines closed, as well as 1,965 arrests, 1,179 individuals safe-guarded and 501 weapons seized.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_301

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on tackling county lines gangs in schools. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office works closely with the Department for Education to tackle knife crime and the criminal exploitation of children.

Ministers from both Departments met recently for a targeted conversation on tackling child criminal exploitation and county lines.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_302

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department holds on the total value of stock lost through shoplifting in each of the last five years. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office has published data from the Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) which collects data from business premises in England and Wales about their experience of crime.

The data includes an assessment, made by the business, of the level of the financial impact of crime they experienced in the previous year as a result of being the victim of crime. This includes incidents theft committed by customers. Separate estimates were published for the retail sector. Data is not collected on the exact value of any goods stolen by customers, or the impact of customer theft separate from other types of crime. The most recent data is from 2023, and can be found here: Crime against businesses statistics - GOV.UK

Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are committed to ensuring that people feel safe on our streets and in their communities. To help tackle retail crime, we will provide £5 million over the next three years to continue to fund Opal, the national policing intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime.

We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime.

Through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We will also end the effective immunity for shop theft of and below £200 sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_303

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of people engaged in county lines activity. \p Dame Diana Johnson: According to the NCLCC’s latest Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment, 13,084 individuals were identified by the police as linked to County Lines between April 2023 and March 2024.

These individuals had a variety of roles, including offenders, drug users and victims.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-14 conversation_304

Jake Richards:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty across her Departmental responsibilities. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office greatly values the contribution of all service personnel and remains committed to upholding its moral obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Department already embeds the principles of the Covenant, specifically within the provisions of the Appendix HM Armed Forces route which ensures that service personnel and their families are not disadvantaged in immigration matters due to their service.