theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_246

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce (a) sulphur dioxide and (b) nitrogen oxide emissions from power generation. \p Emma Hardy: Regulation of emissions of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only.

A regulatory framework, the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016, controls pollution from industry, including power generation. Sites are required to obtain environmental permits and meet limits on emissions of air pollutants, including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, as set out in the Regulations. All large industrial facilities, including Large Combustion Plant, are regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) and must use best available techniques (BAT) to reduce emissions and report their emissions. The BAT approach ensures standards are enhanced over time by defining the available techniques which are the best for preventing or minimising emissions and impacts on the environment.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_247

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor (a) noise and (b) air pollution arising from ongoing (i) housing (ii) rail and (iii) motorway construction projects in Mid Leicestershire constituency; and what assessment she has made of the potential impacts of such projects on public health in Mid Leicestershire constituency. \p Emma Hardy: Local authorities are responsible for monitoring air quality in their areas and reporting annually. Planning authorities require developers of housing, rail, and motorway projects to assess and mitigate air pollution, including dust and emissions, during construction. Similarly, noise impacts must be considered under the planning system, with strong protections in place to minimise adverse effects on health and quality of life. The Planning Practice Guidance and National Planning Policy Framework set out how noise should be addressed in both plan-making and decision-making. Under the Control of Pollution Act, local authorities must ensure that the best practicable means are used to minimise noise during construction.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_248

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of food labelling regulations in supporting consumers to make informed choices. \p Dame Angela Eagle: All food and drink sold on the UK market, including that which is imported, must comply with food labelling rules. The rules require what information must be provided to consumers and how this must be done. The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must be labelled effectively.

The government continues to review the effectiveness of existing legislation through post implementation reviews. Food regulations contain a statutory review clause which requires the Secretary of State to publish a report every five years.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_249
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_249

Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of method-of-production labelling on UK animal products on (a) the economy and (b) export growth opportunities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We are considering the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the Government’s wider animal welfare strategy.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_250
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_250

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to ban the use of electric shock collars. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is currently considering available evidence around the use of hand-controlled e-collars and their effects on the welfare of animals.  We will be outlining more detail on next steps in due course.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_251
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_251

Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure a level playing field between companies who export plastic recycling and UK based plastic reprocessors. \p Mary Creagh: The export of waste is subject to strict controls set out in UK legislation. Facilities receiving UK waste must be operated in accordance with human health and environmental protection standards that are broadly equivalent to those established in UK legislation.

Defra is committed to building a circular economy that enhances growth and capitalises on the UK’s potential in plastic processing, whilst realising our environmental objectives. The Government’s collection and packaging reforms will help to stimulate investment in the UK reprocessing infrastructure.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_252
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_252

Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent the closure of mechanical recycling sites. \p Mary Creagh: The Collection and Packaging Reforms – Simpler Recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) – will help stimulate investment in recycling services across the UK.

Defra is working with HMT on Plastic Packaging Tax reform, to further incentivise producers to use recycled plastic, stimulating demand.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_253
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_253

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect swans. \p Mary Creagh: In England all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, including Swans. This makes it an offence to kill, injure or take wild birds and to take or damage their eggs and nests.

Defra supports the valuable work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit and is a principal funder. The unit helps to prevent and detect wildlife crime (including crimes against swans) by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis, and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_254
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_254

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support farmers to strengthen the resilience of domestic food supply chains. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthier food is one of the 10 priority outcomes that the Government announced in the Good Food Cycle in July 2025. Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise across the whole of the food supply chain. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_255

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the resilience of long-term water supply in Lincolnshire. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) continually assesses the resilience of water supply across England, including Lincolnshire, to balance the needs of public supply, agriculture, and the environment. The National Framework for Water (2025) identified key actions for the EA to take forward to develop this resilience. These include creating a user-friendly, digital service for abstractors to ensure sustainable water use, coordinating drought management, and shaping long-term multi-sector water resource plans. It also invests in water transfer schemes, such as the Trent-Witham-Ancholme transfer, which play a vital role in securing future supply. In Lincolnshire, the EA is a key partner in the Strategic Pipeline Alliance, which is constructing hundreds of kilometres of interconnecting pipelines to support climate resilience. Additionally, the EA is working with Anglian Water on the proposed Lincolnshire Reservoir near Sleaford. Once operational, it will supply up to 166 million litres of water daily, securing resources for the region's future.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_256
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_256

Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of people who (a) have indefinite leave to remain status and (b) are employed in the (i) NHS and (ii) social care sector. \p Mike Tapp: The information requested is not centrally held.

The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics relating to decisions on applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and those made through the EU Settlement Scheme, in the Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK publication, both of which provide an overview of those persons with indefinite leave to remain in the UK. However, we do not link indefinite leave to remain grants to current occupation.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_257
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_257

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure that (a) police forces and (b) local authorities are preserving all relevant evidence and records that may be required by the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. \p Jess Phillips: I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_258
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_258

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were reported missing in each of the last five years. \p Jess Phillips: The Home Office does not hold this data centrally.

Information about current missing persons incidents is held by individual police forces. The National Crime Agency’s UK Missing Persons Unit holds the national database for all missing incidents that are unresolved after 72hours, allowing the police to have access to missing persons information across force boundaries. In addition, annual missing persons statistics, broken down to police force level, are published by the National Crime Agency’s Missing Person’s Unit in its annual data report which can be found here: Downloads - National Crime Agency
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_259
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_259

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many life jackets given to people illegally crossing the English Channel by French authorities have been returned to those authorities since 5 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_260
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_260

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 74856 on Deportation: Sanctions, what sanctions have been applied under sections 70-74 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 in each year since 2022. \p Alex Norris: Sections 70-74 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 refer to the power to impose visa penalties on countries who, in the opinion of the Home Secretary, are a) uncooperative on the return of any its nationals or citizens, or b), pose a risk to international peace and security.

These provisions have not been used since their introduction in 2022. But we will use all levers available to ensure the removal of those with no right to remain in the UK, including visa penalties where necessary, and will do whatever it takes to secure the UK’s border.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_261
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_261

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with companies in the gig economy on tackling illegal working. \p Alex Norris: The Government is working closely with food delivery platforms in the gig economy to ensure they understand their responsibilities in preventing illegal working. As a result, Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat are undertaking right to work checks on all of their workers and recently introduced enhanced checks on registered substitutes following a ministerial roundtable in June.

In September, the Home Office commenced data sharing with these food delivery firms. The Department is committed to work alongside delivery firms to deepen cooperation and this measure is another important step to tackle illegal working hotspots and root out this criminality from within communities. By sharing this data, it means the firms will have more information to track down and suspend accounts of delivery riders working illegally.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_262
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_262

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when it plans to end the use of the Victoria Hotel in Oldham for the placement of asylum seekers. \p Alex Norris: It has been the longstanding policy of the Home Office under successive governments not to disclose information about specific hotels which may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.

However, the Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders to fulfil our statutory obligations and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels, by the end of this Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_263
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_263

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of foreign nationals living in the UK unlawfully who are liable for deportation. \p Alex Norris: By its very nature, it is not possible to know the exact size of the illegal population, or the number of people who arrive illegally, and so we do not seek to make any official estimates of the illegal population. In June 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a note on ‘measuring illegal migration’, which can be found here: Measuring illegal migration: our current view - Office for National Statistics.

This government has already removed almost 5,200 FNOs in its first year of office, a 14 per cent increase on the previous twelve months (5 July 2024 to 4 July 2025) and we will continue to crack down on any foreign nationals who come to this country and break our rules.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_264
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_264

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of leaving European Convention on Human Rights on the ability of the UK to deport foreign nationals. \p Alex Norris: We set out in our Immigration White Paper our intention to bring forward legislation to allow us to more easily remove foreign national offenders.

Later this year we will set out more detailed reforms and stronger measures to ensure our laws are upheld, including streamlining and speeding up the removals process. That will include establishing new procedures so that the Home Office can more easily take enforcement and removal action and revoke visas in a much wider range of crimes where noncustodial sentences have been given, not just cases which are sent to prison.

The Government is fully committed to complying with international law and the protection of human rights. Work is underway on reviewing the application of Article 3 and Article 8 in immigration cases.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_265
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_265

Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for (a) small boats, (b) dinghies and (c) other vessels that are seized for trying to transport migrants into the UK. \p Alex Norris: All vessels that have been subject to seizure, are held by Border Force until the completion of criminal investigations and any resulting legal proceedings. The majority of boats, dinghies and other vessels are not fit to ever go to sea again, as they arrive in very poor condition and may be damaged during the recovery process. The boats, dinghies and vessels are disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors and where appropriate, any suitable materials are recycled.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_266
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_266

Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the estimated annual cost of providing (a) healthcare, (b) education, and (a) welfare support to illegal migrants in (i) the UK and (b) in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office does not hold the information sought in these questions at the level of granularity requested.

Collating and verifying that information for the purposes of answering these questions could only be done at disproportionate cost and would also require the exclusion of any commercially sensitive material.

However the Home Office publishes all available information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_267
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_267

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of induction processes for new asylum seekers. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office recognises that individuals new to the UK and unfamiliar with the asylum process may have questions and uncertainties, and so it issues an information booklet to asylum claimants at the point of claim, which outlines the asylum process and the claimant’s responsibilities within it. The booklet (which is also available on GOV.UK) includes sections on legal advice, additional help and assistance, with links to relevant legal bodies and support organisations.

New and existing asylum seekers are also able to contact in their own language the asylum helpline run by Migrant Help. The helpline provides information about the asylum process including asylum support and adapting to life in the UK. Migrant Help services are also available face-to-face in initial accommodation.

All asylum processes, including those for new asylum seekers, are kept under review.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_268
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_268

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of immigration on patterns of social cohesion. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office will increase existing English language requirements for economic migrants and introduce new English language requirements for dependants of those coming under economic routes.

These measures support the integration of those coming here to work here (and their families) into UK communities, as well; as ensuring that those coming to work here are less vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in the workplace.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_269
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_269

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policies are in place to review or revoke asylum status in cases where the individual travels to their home country after being granted asylum in the UK. \p Alex Norris: The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who genuinely need it, for as long as it is needed, in accordance with our international obligations.

However, if there is any evidence to suggest that an individual who has been recognised as a refugee has returned to their home country, the circumstances will be investigated, and refugee status may be revoked.

If someone returns to their home country, this will usually indicate ‘voluntary re-availment’ and may lead to revocation of refugee status under paragraph 339A(i)-(vi) or humanitarian protection under paragraph 339GA of the Immigration Rules.

All cases are considered on a case-by-case basis and protection status will only be revoked in these circumstances where there is no protection need on any grounds.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_270
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_270

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who illegally crossed the English Channel were brought ashore by (a) Border Force, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) Royal National Lifeboat Institution since 5 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: Information of this kind is only readily available for whole calendar years and the current year to date, rather than the part year commencing 5 July 2024 when the present Government came into office. The specific information requested could therefore only be obtained at a disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.

The Royal Navy does not, and has never, rescued migrants from small boats. The vast majority of rescues of migrants in small boats in the Channel have been made by Border Force vessels, including during the period when MOD had primacy for the operational response to Channel crossings in 2022-23. The split between Border Force rescues and those made by RNLI in the years 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025 is:

% of Migrants recovered on RNLI Vessels

% of Migrants recovered on BF Vessels

2025

6%

94%

2024

7%

93%

2023

8%

92%

It should be noted that these figures come from management information, and should be viewed as indicative only and not assured data.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_271
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_271

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department will extend English language testing requirements to foreign nationals working in (a) private security or (b) enforcement roles contracted by the Department. \p Mike Tapp: The Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) 2001 created the Security Industry Authority (SIA) as the regulator of the private security industry.

The SIA sets minimum training standards and issues licenses to applicants who have acquired the correct licence-linked qualifications. Before a learner can take a licence-linked qualification, they must prove they have English language skills to B2 standard on the Home Office list of recommended qualifications. This standard means that the learner has a degree of fluency in English. The SIA reviews training standards every five years to ensure that individuals seeking to work in regulated roles meet refreshed minimum standards, and that skills keep pace with emerging threats to public safety.

Where overseas nationals fill enforcement roles contracted by the Home Office, they require an immigration permission to do so, and they may be subject to English language requirements mandated by the Immigration Rules. For the Skilled Worker immigration route, the required level of English is being increased from B1 to B2 level (effective from 8 January 2026).
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_272
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_272

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the length of time covered by overseas criminal record certificates. \p Mike Tapp: We take the issue of preventing foreign criminals entering the UK extremely seriously.

Overseas criminal record certificates are one of a number of checks undertaken to establish whether a person has committed any offences overseas.

Visa applicants coming here to work in education, health and social care sectors must provide a criminal record certificate from any country they have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. This continues to be considered a fair balance between capturing any significant and recent criminal history, and what is available from some territories’ criminal record data systems.

The requirement strengthens the existing process of checks enabling us to establish whether the person has committed any offences overseas, including standard self-declaration of any criminal history as part of an application to come to the UK.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_273
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_273

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have dependent visas associated with a holder of a charity worker visa. \p Mike Tapp: In total, 3,971 Charity Worker visas have been issued from 2023 to the end of June 2025.

Data on charity worker visas issued is published as part of the Immigration system statistics data tables regular releases on the Gov.uk website at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_274
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_274

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Skilled Worker visas have been granted for (a) childcare and (b) early years posts since their inclusion on the eligible occupations list. \p Mike Tapp: The Home Office publishes data on sponsored work visas by visa type and occupation in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants of visas are published in table ‘Occ_D02’ of the sponsored work visas by occupation and industry dataset.

Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2021 up to the end of June 2025.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_275
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_275

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what security checks her Department undertakes on refugees coming to the UK from Gaza. \p Mike Tapp: The Government is supporting a group of Chevening Scholars and fully funded scholarship students to depart from Gaza to take up university places in the UK in Autumn for the 2025/26 academic year. The Government has also committed to evacuate a limited number of sick and injured children out of Gaza to receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK. These individuals are not refugees and are not entering the UK using refugee resettlement routes.

All visa applicants are required to provide their biographic and biometric data to enable a range of security checks to be completed, including criminality checks.

Robust security checks are being undertaken on all individuals who enter the UK through this process. Biometrics are collected as part of the visa application process and prior to travel to the UK.

The Home Office uses various tools to detect and disrupt travel by terrorists, by criminals and by individuals excluded from the UK; previously deported from the UK; or using lost, stolen or revoked documents and visas. This includes the use of domestic and international watchlists. The Home Office works with both law enforcement and wider government partners to ensure appropriate action is taken before travel or at the border when individuals of concern are identified. It would not be appropriate to provide further information about the nature and scope of security checks.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_276
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_276

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed extension of the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Skilled Worker route will apply to people already residing in the UK under that route. \p Mike Tapp: We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_277
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_277

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the letter of 7 September 2025 from the hon. Member for West Suffolk. \p Mike Tapp: The letter of 7 September 2025 was transferred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for response.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_278
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_278

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 26 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps her Department has taken to remove (a) platforms and (b) privileges to people who do not follow those rules. \p Mike Tapp: The information requested on visa data is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office is committed to countering extremism in all its forms where it divides communities and inflames tensions. Regardless of the worldview it draws from, if an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism we will take action to prevent this and to safeguard susceptible individuals.

It is a privilege to participate in and be a part of UK society. The Government is improving our range of powers to ensure those who abuse this privilege will be penalised. We have introduced a pilot to improve our ability to stop those intent on promoting extreme ideologies from traveling to the UK from overseas, and we are currently drafting proposed secondary legislation to further strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers around disqualification and discretionary powers.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_279
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_279

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what monitoring and reporting arrangements are in place to track the immigration and residency status of those admitted under the Gaza injured children scheme after their treatment concludes. \p Mike Tapp: The children medically evacuated to the UK, alongside their immediate family members, have been issued with visas and granted leave to remain for up to two years. These families have the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK.

Should these individuals wish to remain in the UK beyond the initial two years, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_280
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_280

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of digital ID cards on illegal immigration. \p Mike Tapp: The Digital ID programme is part of a broader strategy to tackle illegal immigration. By making it harder for people without the right to work to gain employment, the government plans to reduce incentives for unlawful entry.   Mandating digital ID for right to work checks will strengthen our current approach by:

o Acting as a deterrent to would-be migrants hoping to work in the UK illegally.

o Ensuring consistency and simplifying the checks that employers must carry out, making it easier for UK citizens and legal residents to demonstrate they have the right to work.

o Removing the reliance on physical documents in the UK, making it harder for forged documents to be used as proof of right to work.

The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, and has begun engaging with several key stakeholders already. We will continue to engage with a range of organisations over the coming weeks as we prepare the consultation. Police representative bodies will have the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_281
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_281

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much illegally imported meat coming has been seized in 2025. \p Mike Tapp: Due to the way in which meat seizures are recorded, the data requested is not available in an accessible format.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_282
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_282

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her predecessor's oral contribution in response to the hon. Member for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green during the Oral Statement of 12 May 2025 on the Immigration System, Official Report, column 53, whether her Department has consulted civil society organisations that provide services to (a) migrants experiencing (i) poverty and (ii) destitution and (b) all migrants in the development of the proposed consultation on settlement and citizenship changes. \p Mike Tapp: We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Following that, we will provide details of how this initiative will work, including on any transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

The citizenship proposals will be developed in line with the settlement ones and further details on the proposed citizenship scheme will be provided at a suitable stage.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_283
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_283

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing flexible payment options for visa renewal fees under the family route. \p Mike Tapp: The Home Office publishes the estimated unit cost of processing immigration and nationality applications on Gov.UK. This can be reviewed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

Where a fee is required, the full payment must accompany the application in order for it to be considered as a valid application. The Government has no current plans for visa fees to be payable in instalments.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_284
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_284

Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timeline is for waiving visa fees for spouses and children of current and former serving personnel who are of non-UK nationality. \p Mike Tapp: The Government remains committed to supporting current and former serving personnel and their families; ensuring that they do not face any disadvantage due to their service.

The Home Office is actively working with the Ministry of Defence on the manifesto commitment to scrap visa fees for veterans and their dependants and will keep stakeholders updated on progress.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_285
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_285

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review the adequacy of the (a) salary and (b) eligibility requirements for (i) childcare and (ii) early years workers under the Skilled Worker visa route. \p Mike Tapp: On 12 May, the Government published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. On 22 July the first phase of changes took effect, including raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level occupations. Nursery education teaching professionals meet this new threshold.

Other occupations in childcare and early years work are classed as medium skilled roles and are not on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or Immigration Salary List (ISL). Therefore, new applicants from overseas are ineligible, and those in the UK on other visa routes will not be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route.

Those on Skilled Worker visas before 22 July 2025 and who need to extend their stay can continue to apply in medium skilled roles and will have to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply.

On 2 July we asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on future salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas. We expect the MAC to respond around the end of the year.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_286
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_286

Colum Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2025 to Question 76347 on Palestine Action, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the decision to proscribe Palestine Action on Northern Ireland. \p Dan Jarvis: Decisions on proscription are not taken lightly. They are informed by a robust evidence-based process, with contributions from a wide range of experts from across government, the police and the intelligence community. The intelligence and advice from the UK’s world leading counter-terrorism system was clear – Palestine Action satisfied the relevant tests in the Terrorism Act 2000, and should be proscribed.

The Home Secretary takes into account various factors when exercising her decision to proscribe including; the nature and scale of an organisation’s activities, the specific threat that it poses to the UK and the impacts of proscription.

The enforcement of proscription offences is an operational matter for police forces, which includes the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_287
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_287

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 25 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, whether she plans to add other countries to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. \p Dan Jarvis: As set out in the National Security Act 2023, the Secretary of State may make a specification under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) where they consider it is reasonably necessary to do so to protect the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.

On China, no decision has been made in relation to specifying this country on the enhanced tier of FIRS.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_288
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_288

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 39 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, whether she plans to place China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. \p Dan Jarvis: As set out in the National Security Act 2023, the Secretary of State may make a specification under the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) where they consider it is reasonably necessary to do so to protect the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.

On China, no decision has been made in relation to specifying this country on the enhanced tier of FIRS.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_289
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_289

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on delivering the Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Service. \p Dan Jarvis: We are working with City of London Police to replace Action Fraud with a new andimproved national police reporting service for fraud and cyber crime. The new servicewill use the latest technology to improve reporting and support services for victims,providing far greater intelligence to policing for investigations, and allowing forgreater prevention and disruption at scale. This will support victims of fraud to comeforward, report instances of fraud, and know that their case will be dealt with properly.

The first phase of this, a new crime and intelligence management system, wasintroduced in November 2024. This will improve the analysis of reports, the quality ofintelligence drawn from them, and how quickly they can be disseminated to policeforces for investigation.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_290
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_290

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Contract Research Organisations have used beagles from MBR Acres in pre-clinical work on potential pandemic vaccines. \p Dan Jarvis: Regulatory testing to assure the efficacy and safety of human medicines, including vaccines, may require the use of animals where non animal alternatives are not available. This sometimes includes the use of beagles, for which MBR acres is the only UK facility with this capability.

The government is actively funding research through the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs) to develop computational and mathematical models that would be a virtual second species and thereby ultimately replace the use of beagles in drug development. More information is available at: www.nc3rs.org.uk/crackit/virtual-second-species

The Home Office does not collect specific data on how many beagles from MBR Acres have been used in Great Britain in the development of Covid-19 or pandemic vaccines, or whether Contract Research Organisations have used beagles from MBR Acres in pre-clinical work on potential pandemic vaccines.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_291
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_291

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) resources and (b) support her Department plans to provide to (i) public authorities and (ii) businesses to support compliance with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government is committed to providing dedicated guidance to support those responsible for qualifying premises and events to comply with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act.

The Government has committed to an implementation period of at least 24 months, during which the Act requires the production of two separate pieces of guidance: statutory guidance for those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand how they might meet the requirements of the legislation; and operational guidance which will set out how the regulator will discharge its duties. These will be published in good time, ahead of commencement, to ensure that those in scope have the required information on what to do and how best to do it.

We are continuing to raise awareness through communications and engagement campaigns, helping people to understand the purpose of this legislation and how to meet these new requirements. The Government will continue to consider how and where it can otherwise support those in scope.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_292
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_292

David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies on China of the case of Carmen Lau. \p Dan Jarvis: Upholding national security and keeping the public safe is the first duty of Government.

The Government, working alongside operational partners, keeps potential threats to the UK and its residents, including from China, under constant review and, where necessary, we use all the tools at our disposal to mitigate these.

Where we identify individuals at heightened risk, we are front footed in deploying protective security guidance and other measures as appropriate.

Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact the police via 101, a local police station or dial 999 in an emergency.
wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_293
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-21 conversation_293

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to conduct a post-implementation review of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill in consultation with stakeholders from the (a) events, (b) hospitality and (c) security sectors. \p Dan Jarvis: The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The new Act will ensure the public are better protected from terrorism by requiring certain public premises and events to be prepared and ready to keep people safe in the event of an attack.

It is expected that the implementation period will be at least 24 months from April 2025, to allow for the set-up of the regulator (Security Industry Authority) and to ensure sufficient time for those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand their new obligations, and to plan and prepare accordingly.

As detailed in the Act’s Impact Assessment of July 2024, a post-implementation review (PIR) will be undertaken, which will assess whether the new Act delivers the Government’s policy objectives and as detailed in the Impact Assessment, this will include analysis of the costs and impacts on qualifying premises and events.

To support delivery of the PIR, the Government has developed a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Programme to: assess whether the Act is meeting its stated objectives; demonstrate its ongoing and long-term impact; evidence how it works in practice; and enhance ongoing delivery of supporting activities. This will incorporate all sectors in scope of the Act, including qualifying events and qualifying premises that amongst other criteria are used for one or more uses set out in Schedule 1, such as for entertainment and leisure, for retail or for visitor attractions. The M&E programme will continue throughout the Act’s implementation period and after commencement.