theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she next plans to publish guidance on the (a) implementation and (b) enforcement of the electronic travel authorisation in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland. \p Alex Norris: The electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme is fully implemented for non-visa national visitors to the UK. There were 13.4 million ETAs granted since the introduction of the scheme up to the end of June 2025.

We expect carriers to begin enforcement of the scheme in early 2026 and will consider whether the existing guidance for visitors or the industry requires updating nearer that time.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been prosecuted for offences related to people smuggling by small boat crossings since 1 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: The information requested on those identified as being involved in people smuggling activity and on prosecutions is not currently available from published statistics.

On returns, in the year ending June 2025, there were 2,330 returns of people who had arrived by small boat, this information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-june-2025/how-many-people-are-returned-from-the-uk#s-5

The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in each quarter in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ : https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

The latest data on returns of people who arrived by small boat crossings are presented in table Ret_06 of the ‘returns summary tables’ (of which ‘deportations’ are a subset) and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#returns

The latest data relate to the year ending June 2025.

The Home Office also publishes data on small boat arrivals, with data available in table Irr_01 of the ‘Irregular migration summary tables’ : ‘https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release’

In further publications, The National Crime Agency (NCA) publish a performance overview in their ‘Annual Report and Accounts’. This provides a summary of the NCA’s purpose, objectives and performance during the year, including information on organised immigration crime disruptions. The latest report can be found here: National Crime Agency Annual Report and Accounts - 2024-2025.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many irregular migrants are housed in the Great Yarmouth Borough Council area; what accommodation is used to house those migrants; and what the cost is of housing those migrants. \p Alex Norris: Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in different areas is routinely published by the Government in table ASY D_11 here:

Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

The Home Office does not publish asylum support data disaggregated by method of arrival.

Costs are subject to change depending on numbers being accommodated within the asylum system. Accommodation costs are considered to be commercially confidential. Therefore, the Home Office does not publish this information. However, total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's press release entitled First small boat migrant returned under new UK-France agreement, published on 18 September 2025, what the terms of the contract are under which the man was removed. \p Alex Norris: Details of changes to the Immigration Rules covering the UK-France Treaty are published on gov.uk in an explanatory memorandum here.

It means that those who use dangerous small boats crossings to enter the UK can be returned to France. The Home Office uses existing legislative provisions, guidance and operational processes including the inadmissibility guidance to facilitate the readmission process under the pilot. These powers enable the UK to declare an asylum claim as inadmissible and not substantially consider the claim, where the individual has a connection to a safe third country such as France.

Further details on inadmissible claims are published here on gov.uk.
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Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) dental nurses and (b) dentists have been refused Skilled Worker visas since 22 July 2025. \p Mike Tapp: We do not routinely publish data on visas refused by occupation.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by quarter and visa type in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants of visas by occupation are published in table ‘Occ_D02’ of the sponsored work visas by occupation and industry dataset, and data on the outcomes of visas, including visas refused, are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance dataset. Please note the data does not show the number of visas refused by occupation.

Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2005 up to the end of June 2025.

Data on entry clearance visas for 2025 Q3 (July to September) will be published on 27 November 2025. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reducing the proposed qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain for (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) other NHS workers in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Mike Tapp: Within the new settlement rules, individuals will have the opportunity to reduce their qualifying period based on contributions to the UK economy and society. We will be consulting on those new rules later this year.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what vetting processes are in place to prevent people with a history of violence or extremism from being granted asylum, in the context of recent developments in the Middle East. \p Mike Tapp: All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to establish their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks. These checks are critical to the delivery of a safe and secure immigration system.

In line with the Refugee Convention, we will apply the relevant exclusion criteria and deny the benefits of refugee status to those who commit serious crimes and are a danger to the community or those who are a threat to national security.

Extremists and other criminals who are denied protection status who cannot be removed because doing so would breach our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, may be granted shorter more restrictive leave and will be subject to regular review. They are not eligible for the same range of benefits as those with protection status and cannot qualify for settlement. Such individuals are not welcome in the UK and will be removed at the earliest opportunity.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees there are by nationality. \p Mike Tapp: The information you have requested is published in the Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK. Data on asylum seekers who have been granted refugee permission at initial decision is published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum detailed datasets. Data on resettled refugees is published in table Res_D02 of the resettlement detailed datasets. The latest data is available up to the end of June 2025 and includes breakdowns by nationality. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Israeli authorities on the sharing of (a) intelligence, (b) biometric data and (c) watchlists in relation to people released under prisoner agreements related to conflict in the Middle East. \p Mike Tapp: It is the long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment publicly on discussions related to the UK sharing intelligence with international partners. 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. It is a longstanding policy that HMG does not comment on the specific data held on the watchlist, how the data is used, or its source, as to do so would be harmful to the national security of the UK.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help support skilled fishermen in Northern Ireland through the visa system. \p Mike Tapp: We are aware of concerns around labour shortages in the fishing industry and seafood processing sectors. The generally more remote location of the jobs, as well as pay and the challenging working conditions, all present challenges for UK and devolved governments, and the industry, to address. It is important that the industry looks to the domestic workforce to fill vacancies.

Following publication of our Immigration White Paper, the threshold for Skilled Worker visas was raised to graduate professions, but fishing occupations remain on the Immigration Salary List, as a transitional measure until the end of 2026. The industry will need to adapt away from relying on the visa system in that time.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of EU Settlement Scheme applications submitted before December 2022 have yet to be processed. \p Mike Tapp: The information requested is not centrally held but the current EUSS processing times are published on GOV.UK - EU Settlement Scheme: current estimated processing times for applications - GOV.UK.

EUSS applications are considered on the specific facts of each case.

The most recent data on EUSS applications is published in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

The latest data relates up to June 2025.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the changes to income thresholds in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 997, published on 1 July 2025, on the number of people employed on Skilled Worker Visas who no longer have leave to remain. \p Mike Tapp: On 12 May, we published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. We made Immigration Rules changes bringing the first of these reforms into effect. The 22 July changes included raising the skills threshold to RQF 6 and a routine uplift of salary going rates.

The salary uplift is based on changes in UK workers’ earnings, as recorded in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings conducted by the Office of National Statistics. This ensures that migrant workers are not used to undercut UK workers and are not exploited by being underpaid, which would create downward pressure on wages.

Recent salary changes only affect those already in the Skilled Worker route when they next make an application to change employment, extend their stay, or settle. Sponsors are not required to increase salary in line with the new salary requirements for the duration of a worker’s existing permission. The changes only apply when they next make an application to change employment or extend their stay. This is in line with normal practice.

Those who have been in the route since before 4 April 2024 continue to be subject to lower overall salary requirements.

On 2 July we asked the Migration Advisory Committee to advise on future salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas and the Temporary Shortage List.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to share the findings from the national inquiry into grooming gangs with her counterparts in the devolved administrations. \p Jess Phillips: Whilst child protection is fully devolved in the UK and policing devolved except for Wales, all parts of the UK must work together to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice and we are engaging with devolved administrations as part of our response to Baroness Casey’s recommendations.

We expect any relevant findings to be shared with devolved administrations to support a comprehensive approach across the UK. All parts of the UK must work together to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice. We will set out further details on the establishment of the national inquiry in due course and how this may interact with the responsibilities of devolved administrations.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full time equivalent employees at the National Crime Agency are working on cases relating to group-based child sexual exploitation. \p Jess Phillips: The NCA is helping to tackle the heinous crime of Group Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse through its work overseeing Operation Beaconport in collaboration with policing and conducting Operation Stovewood on behalf of South Yorkshire Police. Resource allocation is rightfully a matter for the NCA as an operationally independent organisation.

Operation Beaconport, which has already begun, is part of the government’s response to recommendations from Baroness Casey’s Independent Audit and will enable us to ensure that past failures are addressed, justice is delivered, best practice is shared, and that we equip the system to deal with complex cases effectively.

Operation Stovewood is the single largest law enforcement investigation into non-familial child sexual exploitation and abuse in the UK. The operation is paid for by South Yorkshire, who are supported by the department through Police Special Grant for this operation.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including (a) military service and (b) the military service of a (i) partner and (ii) parent in the contribution criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain. \p Mike Tapp: We will be consulting on the new earned settlement rules later this year.

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.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its updated violence against women and girls strategy. \p Jess Phillips: This Government has been clear that the level of violence against women andgirls (VAWG) in our country is intolerable, and we are treating it as the national emergency that it is.The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving forward the Government’s bold ambition to halve VAWG within ten years. Thisis a landmark commitment that demands a truly transformational approach.

We are working tirelessly across government to deliver a Strategy that will setout bold, concrete actions to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetratorsand bring them to justice, and protect victims and survivors. It’s vital we get itright.

We’re working towards publication of the Strategy as soon as possibleand I will continue to keep the House updated on its development andforthcoming publication.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people travelling to the UK from the Republic of Ireland are required to provide biometric data when they land at UK airports. \p Mike Tapp: Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes – away from the land border. If an individual is suspected to be unlawfully in the UK their biometrics maybe checked in order to ascertain their identity.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Transport and (b) the Home Department on the potential impact of increases in biometric checks at borders on people travelling in the Common Travel Area between the (i) Republic of Ireland and (ii) UK. \p Mike Tapp: No discussions have taken place.

Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes – away from the land border. If an individual is suspected to be unlawfully in the UK their biometrics maybe checked in order to ascertain their identity and status.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce the time taken for processing of Disclosure and Barring Service checks. \p Jess Phillips: As an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Home Office, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent and responsible for the service it provides.

It currently operates to formalised service standards of completing 85% of Basic check applications within 2 days, 85% of Standard check applications within 3 days, and 80% of Enhanced check applications within 14 days.

Its latest performance against these service standards is available at DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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Stephen Gethins:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in requirements for (a) visa approvals and (b) course enrolments on the higher education sector. \p Mike Tapp: An assessment of the potential impact of the increase in the requirements of each Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metric can be found at Restoring control over the immigration system: technical annex (accessible) - GOV.UK. This provides an estimate of the number of Higher Education Institutions that could be affected, and offers an initial, illustrative analysis of its impact on migration inflows.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the updated Violence Against Women and Girls strategy will include policies on tackling harms against (a) young boys vulnerable to child sexual abuse and (b) all children. \p Jess Phillips: This Government has been clear that the level of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in our country is intolerable, and we are treating it as the national emergency that it is.

The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving forward the Government’s bold ambition to halve VAWG within ten years. This is a landmark commitment that demands a truly transformational approach.

Tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation of both boys and girls will be clearly reflected in the VAWG strategy. But we also recognise that tackling child sexual abuse requires a tailored and child-centred approach. Which is why we are taking forward a separate and ambitious programme of work across Government, including through our response to the Baroness Casey Audit and IICSA recommendations.

The new VAWG Strategy is being finalised, and we will be publishing as soon as possible.
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Gill German:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 997, published on 1 July 2025m what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of removing (a) dental hygienists and (b) dental technicians from the Skilled Worker visa eligible occupation list on (i) sustainability of the dental workforce sustainability and (ii) patient access to care. \p Mike Tapp: On 12 May, the Government published its Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. A technical annex (www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex) was published alongside the Immigration White Paper setting out the impact of some of the key policy changes.

The Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules laid on 1 July represent the first step in delivering on the Governments White Paper and included raising the skills threshold for Skilled Worker, excepting an interim Temporary Shortage List of lower skilled occupations deemed critical to the UK’s Industrial Strategy, which was based on advice from the Department of Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury.

Home Office and DHSC continue to work very closely to understand the impact of all Immigration Routes on sector workforce. It is our intention to publish an Impact Assessment (IA) at the earliest opportunity. NHS Employers has published www.nhsemployers.org/articles/immigration-rule-changes-july-2025 which explains the impact of the changes on health and social care occupations.
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Dawn Butler:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made recent progress on processing applications for (a) asylum and (b) other forms of settlement made by people from Syria. \p Mike Tapp: The pause on processing asylum claims and settlement protection applications from Syrian nationals has been lifted.

We are working through the outstanding cases in line with the relevant published policy guidance taking into account the latest published country policy information on Syria. Each application will be considered on its individual merits and some cases may require further consideration and evidence gathering.

We will not remove anyone to their own or any country where they would face persecution or serious harm.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on tackling sales of THC liquids containing spice to young people. \p Sarah Jones: The Government is committed to tackling the supply of illegal drugs, including online, and the harms associated with their misuse.

Home Office Ministers and officials work closely with Ofcom, as well as social media platforms, on the issue of illegal online content.

We have strengthened the regulatory framework to address online harms and the unlawful sale of controlled drugs online is a priority offence under the illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act 2023. In-scope providers are legally required to implement measures to protect their users and to remove illegal content from their platforms, including that related to the sale of THC liquids containing spice. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the Act, is monitoring compliance with the regime.

The National Crime Agency also works with partners in the UK and internationally to identify offenders operating online, and to take down UK-based sites committing offences.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has paid to Serco in each of the last ten years. \p Sarah Jones: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided in PQ 15558.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will allocate funding to support mental health services for police (a) officers and (b) staff in the Autumn Budget 2025. \p Sarah Jones: This Government is committed to supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of all police officers and staff.

We continue to fund the National Police Wellbeing Service, which helps forces identify mental health risks, build resilience, and provide timely support, including through initiatives such as the 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support Line. Through the Police Covenant, we are also improving mental health training and occupational health standards across policing.

It is for individual Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine how best to use their funding, including how to support the wellbeing of their workforce, based on local needs and priorities.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her policy paper entitled Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules: HC 1333, published on 14 October 2025, whether she has made an estimate of the number of workers currently employed on a Skilled Worker visa who will no longer have leave to remain. \p Mike Tapp: The changes to the Immigration Rules in respect of English language requirements set out in HC1333 come into force on 8 January 2026 and do not affect the position of those given leave to remain as a Skilled Worker before that date. The changes to the Rules specify that a Skilled Worder previously given leave to remain on the basis of having met the previous requirement at B1 level will be able to extend their stay without needing to meet the new requirement.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2025 to Question 31604 on Refugees: Ukraine, if she will ensure gov.uk sites are updated to show the correct length of the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. \p Mike Tapp: On 1 September, the Government announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permission under UPE.

More detail will follow in due course and shared on the relevant GOV.UK pages.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent the formation of criminal cash-intensive businesses. \p Sarah Jones: The latest National Risk Assessment, published by this Government in July, highlights the continued threat of cash-based money laundering to the UK. The Government is committed to ensuring cash-intensive businesses such as candy retail stores and barbershops are not exploited by criminals who seek to launder their cash enabling them to profit from their illegal activities.

The Government’s approach to tackling money laundering is set out in the Economic Crime Plan 2 which includes action to disrupt cash-based money laundering and strengthen system wide coordination. The Government, working in partnership with law enforcement and other agencies, is closely monitoring the level of illicit activity in the high street and actively considering whether further systemic interventions are needed to tackle this threat.

Using new powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House is also taking stronger action to monitor and safeguard the company register to ensure accurate information, prevent misuse of the register for economic crime, and build public trust in the UK business environment.

Operationally, in March 2025, the National Economic Crime Centre in the National Crime Agency, coordinated a three-week crackdown against barbershops and other cash intensive businesses involving 19 different police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units, as well as national agencies including HMRC, Trading Standards and Home Office Immigration Enforcement. In total, 380 premises were visited across the three-week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants and arrested 35 individuals. Officers also seized more than £40,000 in cash, 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, over 8,000 illegal vapes and two vehicles.

This is the first phase of targeted action against criminals and organised crime groups who use high-street businesses to launder criminal monies.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that lessons learned from grooming gang cases are applied nationally. \p Jess Phillips: This Government is committed to strengthening local and national responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse, through the new national police operation in response to Baroness Casey’s Audit recommendations, which will identify inconsistencies in approach to investigating group based child sexual exploitation (including grooming gangs) and ensure identified best practice and lessons learnt are shared through guidance, including on the identification and protection of children at risk.

Additionally we continue to support existing investments to support policing to tackle this type of offending.

Central to these efforts is the Home Office-funded Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce which provides practical, expert, on the ground support for all 43 forces in England and Wales. This includes identifying best practice and promoting it nationally to ensure any lessons learnt are shared widely, and providing specialist interventions where needed to support forces’ capabilities to identify and tackle group-based offending more effectively. The Home Office engages regularly with the Taskforce and policing leaders on this work which has victims and survivors at its heart.

The Home Office is also investing over £9 million this year in the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme (TOEX), including an expedited rollout of its Capabilities Environment to ensure all police investigators in England and Wales have access to an array of AI-enabled and time-saving tools. This will increase law enforcement’s capability to respond to organised exploitation, including child sexual exploitation by providing dedicated intelligence, analytical and technical expertise.

The Department has regular discussions with policing on the identification and protection of children at risk, particularly in relation to the risk of sexual exploitation due to policing’s duties as a statutory safeguarding partner. This is particularly the case as reforms are implemented through the introduction of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

We are also working with the College of Policing and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection to consider how forces’ most important resource can be bolstered – its officers. We continue to identify opportunities to strengthen officer training at all ranks to ensure the most effective and up-to-date methods to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse are utilised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_120

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recounting experiences during police complaint procedures on (a) victims and (b) survivors of stalking. \p Jess Phillips: This Government recognises the devastating impact stalking can have on victims and survivors, and that they may be retraumatised by recounting their experiences.

In submitting a complaint, it can be necessary for a complainant to recount some of the episodes which gave rise to their complaints. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) sets the standards for the handling of police complaints and have issued guidance to support police in acting with sensitivity and using appropriate language when communicating with victims of violence against women and girls.

We are committed to taking further action to tackle stalking. That is why we are legislating in the Crime and Policing Bill to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking for agencies (including the police) and announced on 22 October that a specialist barrister has been appointed to lead a review of stalking legislation to ensure it is fit for purpose.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_121

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of resourcing of information sharing between police forces in stalking cases; and what steps he is taking to improve this process. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is committed to tackling stalking as part of its mission to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade. While the handling and investigation of cases is an operational matter for policing, it is vital that they have effective information sharing protocols in place between forces. This is important in stalking cases where robustly managing perpetrators and supporting victims as early as possible is essential for reducing harm.

To enable this, police forces have information sharing procedures in place underpinned by the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice on information sharing. This helps ensure the timely and lawful sharing of information in stalking cases.

To improve the overall police response to violence against women and girls and child sexual abuse, the Home Office has invested £13.1 million funding to launch a new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP). This funding includes an uplift of nearly £2 million to enable policing to better target these crimes, including through better information sharing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_122

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that SMEs in the private security sector that are not (a) Approved Contractor Scheme accredited and (b) members of the S12 Security Leadership Group are able to contribute to future policy development impacting that sector. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government is keen to work with the industry on reforming the private security industry.

The Home Office continues to engage with the range of different organisations representing sectoral interest on an ongoing basis both directly and through the Security Industry Authority, including public consultations on major policy changes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_123

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make English language proficiency a mandatory condition for (a) police recruits, (b) community support officers and (c) detention custody staff. \p Sarah Jones: This Government is committed to ensuring consistent, high standards for entry into the police, including for police staff. As set out in Regulations, police officers must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English.

We are working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that forces continue to make improvements to all entry routes. As part of this work, the College of Policing is currently consulting police leaders to assess and determine the appropriate English language standard required for all policing roles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_124

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to require proof of legal immigration status when registering with a GP or dentist. \p Alex Norris: In-country controls, introduced over many decades, regulate a migrant's access to public services and deny access to those in the UK with no lawful status. These policies and checks form part of the UK's domestic compliance and enforcement arrangements, aimed at deterring illegal migration, promoting compliance with immigration laws and supporting enforcement whilst protecting vulnerable migrants from exploitation.

Only those ordinarily resident in the UK are eligible for free healthcare. Non-urgent secondary healthcare, unless it has been paid for, is denied to all migrants who are not ordinarily resident or who have not paid the Immigration Health Surcharge. Migrants without lawful status can be charged for treatment. The relevant legislation in England is the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015.

Immigration status data is already shared with the NHS in England and Wales via the Home Office Right to Healthcare Application Programming Interface (API) to enable the determination of who is eligible for free NHS treatment and who is chargeable for treatment.

In some areas where access to services is regulated, the measures require a third party to take action such as checking an individual's eligibility to access work or rent a property. Sanctions exist where these requirements are not complied with.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_125

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to allow Immigration Enforcement to issue immediate civil fines for non-compliance with Right to Work or Right to Rent requirements. \p Alex Norris: In some areas where access to work, services or benefits is regulated, the measures require a third party to take action such as checking an individual’s eligibility to access work or rent a property. Sanctions exist where these requirements are not complied with.

In 2024 the Right to Rent Order amended the Immigration Act 2014 (the 2014 Act) to increase the maximum penalty that may be imposed on a landlord or agent who contravenes section 22 of that Act. The civil penalty was raised to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier for a first breach, with repeat breaches set at £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier up from £500 and £3,000 respectively. There is no upper limit to the penalty amount, it is calculated on a per-person basis.

The Immigration Act 2016 introduced the criminal offence of leasing a property whilst knowing or having ‘reasonable cause to believe’ the tenant does not have the right to rent’, which supplements the 2014 Act and is aimed at targeting criminally intent landlords who continue to flout the rules.

In tandem, changes also came into force to reflect that the civil penalty for employers, was increased to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach from £15,000, and up to £60,000 for repeat breaches, from the previous level of £20,000. There is no upper limit to what an employer could be penalised, penalties are imposed on a per-person basis. In criminal cases, a conviction for illegal employing a person carries a sentence of up to 5 years and/or an unlimited fine, for the most serious cases, those exploiting migrants could face criminal conviction for facilitation or trafficking offences and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The Government is leading a UK-wide crackdown on illegal working as part of a whole system approach to tackle illegal migration and to ensure fairness, order and control within the immigration and asylum system. This includes measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to clamp down on illegal working, Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams intensifying operational activity across the UK as well as the recently announced introduction of digital ID by the end of this Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_126

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the amount of time taken by police forces to complete digital advice examinations; and what steps her Department is taking to help reduce those times. \p Sarah Jones: We are aware that the amount of time taken by forces to examine digital devices varies considerably, but that urgent requests are always prioritised.

Chief Constables, and ultimately Police and Crime Commissioners, are currently responsible for forensics procurement and delivery, with some regional coordination. We are exploring the creation of a specialist national capability for police forensics, within the proposed National Centre for Policing, and have recruited a Director of Forensic Services to stabilise and reform forensics in the meantime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_127

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the (a) screening procedures, (b) trauma training and (c) other mental health support for the police. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office recognises that the police, through the nature of their work, are often exposed to traumatic incidents that can have a lasting impact on their mental health. That is why we are committed to the Police Covenant, ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce is fully supported throughout their careers and beyond.

The Home Office works closely with policing partners, including the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, to ensure appropriate psychological risk assessments, trauma management training, and wider wellbeing support are in place, including regularly reviewing force performance against agreed standards. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assess forces’ performance on wellbeing through its annual PEEL inspections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_128

James Asser:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle shoplifting. \p Sarah Jones: Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level. We will not stand for this.

Our approach is clear – we want to see more officers on the streets and those officers to be armed with new powers.

That is why we’re giving officers the powers they need through this government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which is introducing a new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker and ending the effective immunity that currently applies for theft of goods of and under £200. We want to remove the perception that those committing shop theft will escape punishment by ensuring there are visible and meaningful consequences for those caught breaking the law.

We are also providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team to disrupt organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.

We are committed to harnessing the collective power of Government, law enforcement and businesses to bear down on retail crime. That is why we are backing the Tackling Retail Crime Together strategy, jointly developed by the police and the private sector. This collaborative approach brings together industry knowledge and experience with policing powers, fostering the local and national partnerships that will make a real difference in local areas.

But we want to go further and faster, which is why the Home Secretary recently declared a “Winter of Action”, building on the success of our Safer Streets Summer campaign to tackle town centre crime including shop theft and anti-social behaviour.