theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_53

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's correspondence entitled ACMD 3-year work programme 2025 to 2028: commissioning letter, published on 2 June 2025, if she will consult families of people reliant on medical cannabis to treat drug-resistant epilepsy as part of the review of Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use. \p Sarah Jones: The Government commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (‘ACMD’) to review the current evidence on cannabis-based products for medicinal (‘CBPMs’) on 2 June 2025. The commission invited the ACMD to consider whether the legislation has had the desired impact and any unintended consequences, including on clinical trials.

The Government recognises the importance of this matter to families who are affected by conditions like drug-resistant epilepsy, and this is why we have asked the ACMD to prioritise this work. The ACMD is an independent scientific advisory body and determines its own procedures. The Government has confidence in its ability to consider the full breadth of the evidence. The Government will consider the ACMD’s advice carefully before taking any action.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_54

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects the Police Remuneration Review Body Report to be published. \p Sarah Jones: On 1 August, the previous Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025.

To support forces with the cost of the pay award, the Home Office is providing additional funding of £120m in 2025/26.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_55

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Police Uplift Programme in high-crime areas. \p Sarah Jones: The Police Uplift Programme supported forces in England and Wales to deliver the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023.

The deployment of police officers is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constable and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Mayors with PCC functions.

An evaluation of the impact of the Police Uplift Programme, which focuses on the impact of the programme on policing as a service, policing as an employer, and longer-term policing and crime outcomes is expected to be published later this year.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_56

Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service on the time taken to process Subject Access Requests. \p Sarah Jones: Compliance with data protection obligations, including the handling of Subject Access Requests (SARs), is the responsibility of individual police forces. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) produces guidance for organisations on how to comply with data protection law.

The Data (Use and Access) Act received Royal Assent in June 2025 and includes some changes to data protection obligations while maintaining high standards of protection for personal data. As part of the development of that legislation, Home Office officials engaged with policing stakeholders in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_57

Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress the Metropolitan Police has made on abolishing the Gangs Matrix Database. \p Sarah Jones: The Metropolitan Police confirmed on their website that they discontinued the Gangs Matrix on 13th February 2024.

Data was retained for 12 months to ensure the force could serve any Right of Access requests and the data was deleted on 13th February 2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_58

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps have been taken to prevent knife crime in (a) Slough and (b) the Thames Valley region. \p Sarah Jones: Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Preventing knife crime across the UK, including Slough and the Thames Valley region, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.

To date, we have taken action to ban zombie knives and the ban on ninja swords came into force on 1 August 2025 - it is now illegal to sell or own these weapons. We have also implemented, “Ronan’s Law”, a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives.

Over £66 million is available to all 43 police force areas to fund the 'Hotspot Action' programme in 2025/26. This includes Thames Valley Police who have been allocated £1.69m for 2025/26. This programme is a combination of increased high visibility foot patrols and funding of problem-oriented policing (POP) tactics. POP is bespoke to the local areas to tackle the underlying drivers of crime using a comprehensive menu of policing interventions, such as increased targeted knife sweeps, and licensed premises checks.

Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will establish Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships across the country, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.

As part of this, the Government will pilot new multi-agency Prevention Partnership Panels, led by Violence Reduction Units (VRUs), to identify and refer vulnerable children and young people to a range of support services, including the Young Futures Hubs. More than twenty panels will be up and running in the coming months, across the areas of the country that collectively account for more than 80% knife crime, with more to follow.

VRUs bring together partners, including from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area. In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP), alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty. The Home Office has also made additional funding available for the set up of panels.

This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes the continuation of a Focused Deterrence intervention in Slough. This project will be targeted to young people who carry knives and provide them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the delivery of Operation Deter, which provides support for young people in custody following knife possession offences, helping them access education, mentoring and rehabilitation services.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_59

Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question 69007 on Stop and Search: West Midlands, whether the number of times stop and search powers were used under Serious Violence Reduction Orders in the West Midlands pilot will be published as part of the final independent evaluation of the scheme. \p Sarah Jones: Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) were piloted for two years throughout Merseyside, Sussex, Thames Valley and West Midlands police force areas. The pilot took place between 19 April 2023 and 18 April 2025.

The SVRO pilot has been independently evaluated. The final evaluation report of the pilot, due shortly, will look at the effectiveness of SVROs overall, including the use of the SVRO stop and search power and the effectiveness of SVROs in reducing reoffending and knife carrying.

Further information on the evaluation report and its findings will be available in due course.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_60

Yasmin Qureshi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how she defines mainly by retail in Clause 15 of the Crime and Policing Bill. \p Sarah Jones: Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 created a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public, including public-facing roles in banks, bureau de changes and building societies.

Alongside this, through our Crime and Policing Bill, this Government has introduced a new specific standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker to help tackle the epidemic of shop theft and violence towards shop workers that we have seen in recent years, and protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

For the purposes of this new offence, our definition of a ‘retail worker’ is intentionally narrow given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, and the assault took place in the course of their work.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_61

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the process is for risk assessing the pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet. \p Sarah Jones: There is no prohibition on undertaking a pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Decisions on when to initiate a pursuit involving a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet are operational matters for the police, taking into account each particular set of circumstances. When deciding whether or not to undertake or continue a pursuit, an officer should take into account the guidance offered in the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Roads Policing Police Pursuits.

The APP makes clear that the key consideration is whether the pursuit is necessary, proportionate and balanced against the threat, risk and harm of pursuit to the person being pursued, the officers and others who may be affected and sets out the authorisation requirements for the pursuit.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_62

Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department has to provide additional financial support for the widows of police officers who completed the majority of their service under the 1987 Pension Scheme even if they have remarried or cohabit after losing a spouse. \p Sarah Jones: The 1987 Police Pension Scheme provides survivor benefits to widows, widowers, and civil partners of police officers who die. In line with most public service pension schemes of that era, these benefits cease upon remarriage or cohabitation.

With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 Police Pension Schemes, all eligible officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including for those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.

The 1987 police pension scheme is a closed scheme and there are no plans at this time to make any further improvements to benefits accrued in it.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_63

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered the potential merits of allocating funding to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service. \p Sarah Jones: The National Vehicle Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is a national policing unit funded by industry, including finance and leasing companies, insurers and hauliers, to provide dedicated specialist intelligence and enforcement. NAVICS undertakes enforcement action at ports which are intelligence-led operations to tackle vehicle crime.

Whilst the Government does not fund NaVCIS, we provided £250,000 last year to other law enforcement partners to help support enforcement at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including additional staff and specialist equipment.

This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime. We are working with the automotive industry and police, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on the issue, to ensure the strongest response possible. I recently met the previous NPCC vehicle crime lead, ACC Jenny Sims, as well as other law enforcement representatives and representatives from industry, to discuss how we work together to tackle these damaging crimes.

Via the recently established National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, we are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of and from vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.

In the Crime and Policing Bill we have banned electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_64

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62750 on Sharing Economy: Data Protection, what her policy is on the impact of committing this offence on the asylum applications of people seeking refugee status. \p Alex Norris: All foreign nationals, including asylum seekers, can and will face prosecution for criminal offences in the same way as any other individual in the UK, and their criminality is considered if convicted. Anyone convicted of a particularly serious crime resulting in a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, and who is considered a danger to the UK, will be denied the protection of asylum and will be considered for removal from the UK.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_66

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the publication entitled Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of animals impacted by non-compliance incidents in British laboratories; and what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce the number of non-compliance cases, (b) improve animal welfare standards in scientific research and (c) support the transition to non-animal research methods. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office Regulator takes non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 very seriously. The numbers of non-compliance cases vary in any given year. The total number of non-compliance cases reduced from 175 to 169 cases from 2022-23. Between these same years there was also a 48% reduction in adverse welfare cases.

All establishments licensed to breed or supply animals, or to carry out regulated procedures on animals in the United Kingdom are subject to the full requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).

The Regulator conducts audits to assure establishments' compliance with the terms of their licences, the Code of Practice and with ASPA. Each establishment will receive an audit at least every three years if it does not hold special species and at least every year if it holds specially protected species.

The Regulator is undertaking a structured programme of reforms to most effectively deliver its purpose of protecting animals in science through maintaining compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The effect of the changes will be strengthened protections for animals; increased adherence to the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement; an enhanced quality of service for the science sector; and increased assurance to the public of the protections the UK continues to deliver for animals in science. The programme will increase the total number of Inspectors from 17 at the end of 2023, to 22 by end of 2025.

The Government is committed to supporting non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_67

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure mental health services are included in the Prevent strategy. \p Dan Jarvis: The aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Healthcare professionals have a key role in Prevent because they will meet and treat people who may be susceptible to radicalisation and those working for the NHS play an important role under the Prevent duty.

Prevent works closely with DHSC and the NHS to ensure mental health services are actively involved in Prevent where appropriate, and the Prevent duty guidance encourages collaboration between local authorities, health services, and police to ensure coordinated support.

If a healthcare professional is concerned that a patient is being radicalised, a Prevent referral could allow the patient to get the help and support needed to prevent them being radicalised into terrorism.

Where a person is referred to Prevent due to radicalisation concerns, as part of a Channel panel, multi-agency partners can conduct an assessment and offer a tailored package of support. Mental health professionals are represented on Channel panels and provide advice and guidance to put a support plan in place.

In a written ministerial statement on 16 July 2025, the Home Secretary noted that: 'the first stage of the strategic policy review into how Prevent manages people with mental ill-health or who are neurodivergent has also concluded. Action is underway to implement those findings.' The Home Office is continuing to work with the DHSC and partners to ensure that mental health considerations are fully integrated into Prevent delivery.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_68

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Prevent-funded community resilience projects in the last three years have targeted far-right extremism. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office recognises the importance of this issue, and the Prevent Duty Guidance notes that “Extreme Right-Wing ideology is resurgent.”

Prevent tackles the ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation. We work continually to ensure Prevent is ready to respond to all radicalisation risks. This includes developing our understanding of the range of factors that lead to someone being drawn into terrorism.

Prevent is run locally by experts who understand the risks and issues in their area, and how best to support their communities. These experts include local authorities, the Police, charities and community organisations.

Prevent provides funding for all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to address radicalisation risks through targeted projects, under the Preventing Radicalisation Fund.

In the year March 2023 to March 2024, 19% of Prevent funded projects focused solely on building resilience to Extreme Right-Wing (ERWT) ideology, and a further 57% focussed on both Islamist Extremist (IE) and ERWT ideology.

In the current funding year March 2025 to March 2026, the Home Office has received 78 project bids from local authorities. Of those bids, 15% solely focus on Extreme Right Wing ideology with a further 54% of bids covering both Islamist Extremism and Extreme Right Wing ideologies.

Our Prevent local delivery model ensures every local authority has ready access to expertise, guidance and support in tackling local radicalisation and extremism risks via a team of region-based expert Prevent Advisers, who work hand-in-hand with local partners across England, Scotland and Wales.

By working with and upskilling these local experts who best understand the risks and issues in their area, we are improving our ability to help frontline workers identify and protect those most susceptible to radicalisation.

Analytical teams within the Home Office assess all available information, including material from these local experts, in order to maintain the most up to date picture of the current risks and threats pertaining to radicalisation. This includes issues affecting rural areas and communities, and at a regional level across England, Scotland and Wales.

Due to operational and legal sensitivities, the Home Office does not publish specific details of the current intelligence assessment picture.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_69

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses to determine whether contracts for projects funded by the UK Government in Tunisia should be suspended due to alleged violations of human rights; and whether those criteria have been published. \p Alex Norris: The UK Government routinely carries out Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments before agreeing to undertake capacity building and other collaborative activities with overseas governments and agencies.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_70

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which individual local authorities have received funding from her Department under the Prevent scheme in 2024-25; and what the (a) mechanism and (b) timing is by which the funding will be distributed in 2025-26. \p Dan Jarvis: The Following local authorities received funding under the Prevent Programme in 2024-25:

Priority Areas FY24/25 (Alphabetical order)

1

Birmingham

2

Blackburn with Darwen

3

Bradford

4

Brent

5

Bristol

6

Calderdale

7

Cardiff

8

Croydon

9

Derby

10

Ealing

11

Enfield

12

Hackney

13

Haringey

14

Kent

15

Kirklees

16

Lambeth

17

Leeds

18

Leicester

19

Liverpool

20

Luton

21

Manchester

22

Newcastle upon Tyne

23

Newham

24

Nottingham

25

Redbridge

26

Sandwell

27

Sheffield

28

Tower Hamlets

29

Waltham Forest

30

Westminster

Each year the Home Office conducts an annual prioritisation exercise led by the Home Office’s Homeland Security Analysis and Insight (HSAI) team to understand which Local Authorities are facing the highest threat of radicalisation. The model incorporates both quantitative and qualitative elements.

The prioritisation exercise is carried out in the autumn and funding is granted from 1 April for the following financial year. The exercise for the financial year 2025/26 took place in the Autumn of 2024 and funding was released via grants from 1 April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_71

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on (a) transparency and local scrutiny on how Prevent funding is spent and (b) which organisations receive it. \p Dan Jarvis: In 2023, the Home Office updated its assurance process to help ensure that local authorities are delivering their statutory Prevent duty in line with the Prevent duty guidance. This includes assurance of local authorities that receive Prevent funding due to being assessed as having high levels of terrorism threat and risk.

The ‘Prevent duty toolkit for local authorities’ outlines eight benchmarks that Prevent delivery is measured against and includes suggested examples of good and best practice.

The Home Office works with all local authority Prevent Leads in England, Wales and Scotland to complete a Prevent assurance exercise each year against 7 of the Prevent duty benchmarks. An assurance of the eighth benchmark, Channel, is subject to a separate process (the Channel Annual Assurance Statement).

This exercise provides local Prevent Partnerships and the Home Office with assurances that the Prevent duty is being met in proportion to the threat and risk in each area. It also helps to understand where there are gaps in Prevent delivery, to identify and share good practice, and to improve performance and standards.

Prevent also funds Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to deliver projects in communities. CSOs in receipt of Prevent funding are required to demonstrate that outcomes they have delivered contribute to Prevent’s overall aim: to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

As a requirement of Prevent funding, every CSO must adhere to best practice principles for programme design, delivery and monitoring and evaluation. All project providers are subject to random project delivery observation from the Home Office, and comprehensive due diligence is completed for all CSOs that receive Prevent funding.

The groups we work with are vital partners in protecting society from the dangers of radicalisation, and providing support to people who are being radicalised.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_72

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the National Protective Security Authority has provided advice on the proposed new Chinese Embassy. \p Dan Jarvis: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and he will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.

We have been clear that national security is the first duty of Government and that we have considered the breadth of national security issues. Where necessary, relevant agencies and departments have been consulted on the national security implications of the application. It would be inappropriate to provide any further specific detail.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_73

Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications from Afghan women who have been denied asylum status at initial decision since the fall of Kabul in 2021 have subsequently (a) appealed that decision and (b) had that appeal granted. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum appeals lodged and determined, by nationality and sex, is published in tables Asy_D06 and Asy_D07, respectively, of the asylum detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to 2023 Q1 (January to March). Appeals data for April 2023 onwards is not available due to ongoing work on a new case working system. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration system statistics release.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_74

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to (a) protect exiled Hong Kong activists from (i) threats and (ii) bounties issued under Hong Kong’s national security law and (b) ensure the right to freedom of expression in the United Kingdom. \p Dan Jarvis: The UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong and will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK.

While it is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on security and intelligence matters, wherever we identify such threats, we will use any and all measures, including through our world-class intelligence services, to mitigate the risk to individuals.

The Hong Kong Police's issuing of arrest warrants and bounties encourages reckless behaviour on UK soil and damages Hong Kong's reputation. In July 2025, the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary publicly condemned the Hong Kong police's targeting of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression and called on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_75

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question HL8772 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, through what mechanism her Department had access to the unredacted drawings. \p Dan Jarvis: It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on issues of national security, but as set out in the written representations by the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary to the Planning Inspectorate, we have carefully considered the breadth of national security risks associated with China's planning application.

A final decision has yet to be made. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in his independent, quasi-judicial role will make the final decision in due course.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_76

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people referred to the Prevent programme were identified as linked to far-right extremism in West Dorset constituency in the last 12 months. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office produces annual statistics setting out the number of individuals referred to Prevent by type of concern and region. The number of referrals made to the Prevent programme in the South West region, in which the area you ask is contained, is provided in the table below. These are the latest published figures, year ending March 2024.

This information, together with further information about Prevent referrals and Channel cases can be found on GOV.UK Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme statistics - GOV.UK.

Referrals for the period April 2024 to March 2025 will be released later this year in the upcoming publication "Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme: to March 2025". As per official statistics guidelines under the Code of Practice for Statistics, we are unable to release these statistics ahead of the formal publication date. More information on this forthcoming publication will be pre-announced on the statistics release calendar which can be found on the GOV.UK website: Statistics release calendar (www.gov.uk).
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_77

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of counter-terrorism training provided to frontline emergency services in non-metropolitan areas. \p Dan Jarvis: Our emergency services regularly train together to test different scenarios. We keep our preparedness under constant review, and the response to a range of terrorist threats is exercised regularly at both local and national levels, allowing responder organisations to learn lessons and embed best practice.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_78

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Prevent referrals from educational settings in the 2023-24 academic year led to Channel interventions; and how many and what proportion of those involved children below the age of 15. \p Dan Jarvis: Prevent is a national programme that aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate interventions, and communities are protected against radicalising influences.

The Home Office produces annual statistics setting out the number of individuals referred to Prevent, discussed at Channel Panel and adopted as a Channel case. Below are the latest published figures for the year ending March 2024. Referrals for the period April 2024 to March 2025 will be released later this year in the upcoming publication "Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme: to March 2025". As per official statistics guidelines under the Code of Practice for Statistics, we are unable to release these statistics ahead of the formal publication date. More information on this forthcoming publication will be pre-announced on the statistics release calendar which can be found on the GOV.UK website: Statistics release calendar (www.gov.uk).

In the year ending March 2024, approximately 76% of referrals from the education sector involved individuals aged 15 and under. Of these, around 8% received Channel intervention - meaning they were formally adopted as Channel cases.

This information, together with further information about Prevent referrals and Channel cases can be found on GOV.UK Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme statistics - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_79

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people referred to the Prevent programme were identified as linked to far-right extremism in the last 12 months. \p Dan Jarvis: Prevent aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are offered appropriate interventions and support, and that communities are protected against radicalising influences.

In the year ending March 2024, a total of 1,314 people were recorded as having been referred to Prevent due to extreme right-wing concerns. The Home Office produces annual statistics setting out the number of individuals referred to Prevent by type of concern. Below are the latest published figures, year ending March 2024.

This information, together with further information about Prevent referrals and Channel cases can be found on GOV.UK Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme statistics - GOV.UK.

Referrals for the period April 2024 to March 2025 will be released later this year in the upcoming publication “Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme: to March 2025”. As per official statistics guidelines under the Code of Practice for Statistics, we are unable to release these statistics ahead of the formal publication date. More information on this forthcoming publication will be pre-announced on the statistics release calendar which can be found on the GOV.UK website: Statistics release calendar (www.gov.uk).
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_80

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to increase funding for technology to detect early online radicalisation in rural communities. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office is strengthening action to tackle online radicalisation and protect young people from harm. The Independent Prevent Commissioner, Lord Anderson, recommended that we explore how evidence of online activity can be used to identify potential subjects for Prevent. To fulfil this, we will take steps to strengthen our approach to tackling online radicalisation through working with tech companies, like-minded international partners, and consider new approaches to identifying and supporting susceptible individuals online. This includes developing new capabilities to better equip Prevent to manage online radicalisation risks across all of our communities.

This renewed focus on online threats reflects the fact that the threat posed by radicalisation is not confined to a relatively small number of local authorities and is in fact increasingly diffuse. A local authority does not need to be high threat to be high risk. In response to this, we have evolved our Prevent local delivery model to ensure every local authority, including those in rural areas, has ready access to expertise, best practice, and support in tackling local radicalisation risks. Even while we continue to provide additional support and direct funding to those with the highest risk.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_81

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Prevent duty in reducing radicalisation among children and young people in the long term. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office works continually to enhance and strengthen our approach to preventing radicalisation among children and young people. Each year, a significant number of young people are referred to Prevent for support. In the year ending 31 March 2024, individuals aged 11 to 15 accounted for the largest proportion of the 6,884 referrals to Prevent (2,729; 40%) where age was known, and a slightly larger proportion of both those discussed at a Channel Panel (374; 42%) and those adopted as a Channel case (254; 50%).

To assess the effectiveness of the programme, a Channel evaluation programme launched in April 2025 and has begun collecting data on outcomes for participants of Channel in England and Wales. The evaluation has also been expanded to Prevent multi-agency panels (PMAP) in Scotland. The evaluation programme is consulting practitioners nationally and conducting case studies across six local authorities to review how Channel is being delivered. This is a significant piece of work to improve our understanding of Channel's impact on counter-terrorism outcomes and radicalisation risk. The evaluation will report at the end of 2026.

Earlier this year, Prevent launched new guidance to ensure that repeat referrals to Prevent receive the multi-agency consideration they require. In January 2025, the Channel multi-agency programme was extended to enable interventions in cases where people are under police investigation. This means specialist support can be provided to individuals -  and particularly young people -  who are already on a pathway to terrorism offending, to reduce their risk of harm.

An end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds has also been concluded, and its recommendations will strengthen our approach to the assessment and management of Prevent referrals, including where young people are identified as being at risk. Pilots are now running across the country, to ensure that where young people do not meet Prevent thresholds, they receive the support they need from wider services.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_82

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the UK-France one-in, one-out pilot scheme signed on 4 August 2025, what (a) security checks and (b) acceptance criteria are applied to asylum seekers accepted to the UK under the terms of the deal. \p Alex Norris: Applicants are required to meet eligibility criteria set out in published Immigration Rules and guidance and are subject to identity and security checks consistent with existing UK immigration processes.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_83

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59362 on Asylum: Housing, whether local authorities have a right of objection to the housing of asylum seekers in (a) hostels, (b) hotels, (c) HMOs and (d) private rented sector accommodation in their locality. \p Alex Norris: An important part of our procurement process allows for local authorities across the UK to feed in local intelligence before our providers commit to accommodation. They have the opportunity to respond to consultation requests from our providers regarding either individual properties or specific postcode areas.

We are committed to working closely with communities and stakeholders to ensure destitute asylum seekers are housed in safe, secure and suitable accommodation, and that they are treated with dignity while their asylum claim is considered.

The asylum accommodation estate is provided by Serco, Mears, Clearsprings Ready Homes and CTM.

The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_84

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to improve cross-border intelligence-sharing between regional counter-terrorism units and devolved Administrations. \p Dan Jarvis: Counter-terrorism – like all issues of national security – is a reserved matter. The UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, outlines the importance of working together with the devolved governments on a shared strategic response to the threat of terrorism posed across the UK. Regional counter-terrorism units work around the clock with the UK intelligence agencies, local communities and partners to keep us safe. For security reasons, we do not comment on specifics of intelligence or operations.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_85

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the two-child benefit cap on levels of child poverty. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_86

Sir Mel Stride:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) proportion and (b) amount of Universal Credit expenditure was for adults with non-Common Travel Area immigration status in the latest period for which information is available. \p Andrew Western: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_87

Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lower-layer super output areas are within Telford constituency; how those areas are ranked by top (a) 1%, (b) 5% and (c) 10% in the index of multiple deprivation; and what impact that data has on the allocation of funding by her Department. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_88

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of abolishing the two-child benefit cap on children in poverty. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_89

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the current Child Maintenance Service income-based model on middle-income paying parents. \p Andrew Western: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_90

Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of parents who are unable to take up or remain in employment because they have children with special educational needs and disabilities that do not have access adequate educational provision and require full-time care at home. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-08 conversation_91

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employees of the National Employment Savings Trust will be paid more than £160,000 in the current financial year. \p Torsten Bell: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.