theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to review England and Wales’ Eel Management Plans (EMPs), in order to accelerate progress towards meeting silver eel escapement targets. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This is a devolved matter and therefore the information provided relates to England only.

The Environment Agency (EA) are responsible for delivering EMPs in England to meet silver eel escapement targets. Defra is not planning to review EMPs at this time as the EA is progressing the delivery of EMPs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the (a) Environment Agency and (b) other relevant bodies to (i) monitor and regulate pollution, (ii) assess habitat degradation, (iii) measure silver eel escapement, (iv) ensure that pumps friendly and (v) ensure that barriers are eel friendly. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This is a devolved matter and therefore the information provided relates to England only.

The Environment Agency (EA) are responsible for eel management in England. As a non-departmental public body, the EA determine how to allocate their funding from Defra across their activities. Defra has recently committed £350,000 for research and development projects to drive improvements in eel management and conservation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to provide additional support to (a) the Somerset Eel Recovery Project and (b) other local recovery projects to enable the (i) delivery of eel passes, (ii) habitat improvements, (iii) increased Assisted migration and (iv) local community engagement work. \p Dame Angela Eagle: In England, the Environment Agency is responsible for eel management and working with local delivery partners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in her Department is made by a British manufacturer. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra purchases crockery and tableware through a contract let under the previous Public Contracting Regulations 2015. We cannot confirm the proportion made by a British manufacturer, as this was not stipulated in the contract but it could be in future contracts.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts.

The new Procurement Act creates a simpler and more transparent system that will support British businesses bidding for work.

The Act also allows contracting authorities to set standards that recognise the quality and standard of UK businesses and products.

Alongside this, the National Procurement Policy Statement encourages contracting authorities to consider this Government’s Industrial strategy and the sectors vital to our economic growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the trends in the number of verifications of catch certificates accompanying seafood imports undertaken by UK authorities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra and the Marine Management Organisation work closely with Devolved Governments, Local Authorities and Port Health Authorities to ensure illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing documentary checks are completed at the border and appropriate verifications are conducted on seafood imports to the UK. Verifications, defined under Article 17 of the UK’s IUU Regulation, are formal checks beyond standard documentary reviews. Competent Authorities conduct risk-based checks, and if concerns arise, the MMO may hold consignments and carry out verifications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July to Question 61881 on Western Sahara: Origin Marking, what discussions her Department has had with Tesco on the adequacy of its labelling of products from Western Sahara. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under UK regulations, supermarket product selection remains a matter of retailer discretion, contingent upon compliance with food and labelling laws. Retailers operate independently and make sourcing decisions based on commercial, ethical, and consumer considerations.

All supermarkets are expected to support honest and transparent labelling of food products, and the Government routinely engages with industry representatives to support best practices.

We work to maintain high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions.
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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the recruitment process to appoint a new Chair of the Office For Environmental Protection has not yet commenced. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has initiated the internal process for appointing a new Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection, which includes consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and relevant Select Committees. The competition will be launched shortly.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of potential sanitary and phytosanitary alignment with the EU on the UK's ability to (a) implement and (b) maintain a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter or fattening. \p Dame Angela Eagle: It is too soon to discuss the details of the SPS agreement, which is subject to negotiation. We have been clear with the EU about the importance of establishing arrangements which enable us to maintain high animal welfare standards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to establish new statutory action standards for PFAS in drinking water. \p Emma Hardy: The Drinking Water Inspectorate published a report  on 26 February 2025 recommending revisions to some of the parameters listed in the drinking water regulations; this included a new standard for PFAS. Defra and the DWI will work together to consider potential regulatory updates to England’s drinking water quality legislation based on these recommendations. DWI have issued guidance to water companies on PFAS. Concentrations of ‘sum of 48 PFAS’ reported as greater than 0.1 micrograms (or 100 nanograms) must be reported to the DWI as a water quality event and all necessary actions to reduce concentrations below this value must be taken. There is no evidence of PFAS above 0.1 micrograms (or 100 nanograms) in drinking water supplies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65783 on landfill, what estimate she has made of the amount of waste transported from Scotland to landfill sites in England by (a) volume and (b) lorry or container load. \p Mary Creagh: I have engaged with the Scottish Government on the potential impacts of their forthcoming ban on the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste. We don’t have an estimate for the amount of waste transported from Scotland to England, but the Scottish Government has assured the department that it is not acceptable for a large amount of waste to be transported from Scotland to landfills in England and they are working closely with Scottish Local Authorities to prevent this outcome.
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Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers are residing in Suffolk. \p Mike Tapp: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum seekers in receipt of support, by support type and by local authority, is published in table Asy_D11 of the ‘Asylum support detailed datasets’.

Individuals receiving Section 4 support have had their asylum claim refused but they are destitute and there are reasons that temporarily prevent them from leaving the UK. Please note that Section 95 support data includes some failed asylum seekers who had children in their household when their appeal rights were exhausted.

The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025. Data for as at 30 September 2025 will be published on 27 November 2025. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.
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Mike Reader:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many households which include children born in the UK include (a) one and (b) two adults with indefinite leave to remain. \p Mike Tapp: The information requested is not centrally held.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press notice entitled Record number of gang leaders charged for county lines offences, published on 8 October 2025, how many of the deal lines were in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) Huntingdon constituency. \p Sarah Jones: County Lines is the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we are targeting exploitative drug dealing gangs while breaking the organised crime groups behind this trade.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, law enforcement activity through the County Lines Programme taskforces has resulted in more than 2,300 deal lines closed, 6,200 arrests (including the arrest and subsequent charge of over 1,100 deal line holders), 3,200 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people, and 600 knives seized.

While the majority of county lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire Police, we recognise that this is a national issue which affects all forces, which is why we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC) to monitor the intelligence picture and co-ordinate a national law enforcement response.

NCLCC’s most recent Strategic Assessment found that Cambridgeshire was one of the top five importing areas for county lines in 2023/24. County Lines Programme taskforces regularly conduct joint operations with importer forces such as Cambridgeshire Constabulary. We also have a dedicated fund which provides local forces, including Cambridgeshire Constabulary, with additional funding to tackle county lines.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring football clubs to contribute towards the cost of matchday policing. \p Sarah Jones: Section 25 of the Police Act 1996 allows the police to recover costs for Special Police Services. This includes the policing of events, including football matches.

However, the proportion of costs recoverable is currently constrained by case law. As a result, each year police forces in England and Wales incur costs in the tens of millions of pounds from policing commercial events like football.

The Home Office is concerned that the cost of policing football matches that is currently falling to the public purse is too high and is exploring ways to address this. This is an important issue that requires careful consideration in order to ensure a balance between the costs to the public purse and the wider cultural and economic value of these events.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on maintaining political neutrality whilst on duty. \p Sarah Jones: All police officers are required by law to act with impartiality in discharging their duties, under the Police Regulations 2003. This is underlined in the oath of attestation that all police officers personally take on appointment and the Policing Protocol is clear that each Chief Constable is accountable for leading their force in a way that is consistent with that duty of impartiality.

The College of Policing sets standards and provides guidance for policing, including an updated Code of Ethics published in 2024 and a complementary statutory Code of Practice for Ethical Policing.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures her Department has in place to continue to run critical services in the event of a major internet outage. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office has in place a range of measures to continue to run critical services in the event of major internet outages.

This includes critical incident, crisis and business continuity plans depending on the nature of the outage and what is impacted. It would not be appropriate to document the specific detail of those measures.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to help increase the number of police officers in the Harrow West constituency since the end of June 2024. \p Sarah Jones: The Government has launched the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. This will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues, and that neighbourhood teams spend the majority of their time in their communities providing visible patrols and engaging with local communities and businesses.

As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we have made £200 million available in 2025/26 to support the first steps towards delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel. Out of that funding, the Metropolitan Police Service have been allocated £45,638,456, enabling a projected growth of 420 police officers (FTE) and 50 Police Community Support Officers (FTE).

We expect policing to make use of this funding to increase neighbourhood teams across every force this year. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will clearly demonstrate to the public that the police are dealing with local concerns, supporting more visible policing and greater public confidence. Where officers and resources are deployed, remains a local operational decision.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to prevent police officers under investigation from (a) resigning and (b) retiring before disciplinary proceedings are completed. \p Sarah Jones: It’s crucial that police officers are held to the high standards rightly expected of them, and we’re committed to ensuring that the right mechanisms are in place to create an open and transparent police discipline system which delivers fair results for all.

There are provisions in place that enable disciplinary proceedings to proceed if an officer resigns or retires, In addition, where the former officers and those who resign or retire whilst under investigation are taken through formal misconduct proceedings and it is determined they would have been dismissed, they are placed on the Barred List, which prevents those dismissed from re-joining policing.

In May, we strengthened the system for holding former officers to account by introducing a statutory presumption of fast-track hearings for former officers, ensuring swifter proceedings for those who resign or retire before misconduct proceedings. Former officers who would have been dismissed had they still been serving will continue to be barred from future service.

The Home Office publishes data on the number of allegations of misconduct involving police staff officers and staff, including breakdowns by outcome and misconduct finding level, as a part of its annual Police Misconduct, England and Wales statistical series, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics

Information is not currently available on the total number of officers who resign or retire whilst under investigation for misconduct.

Where an officer leaves the service during the course of an investigation of gross misconduct, it is in the public interest that investigations and proceedings that would have led to dismissal are taken to their conclusion. Data on the number of former officers who received an outcome of “would have been dismissed” at a misconduct hearing or accelerated hearing can be found in table MP4 of the data tables accompanying the latest statistical release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-misconduct-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2024

This data is designated ‘Official Statistics in Development’ to acknowledge ongoing work to develop both the scope and data quality of these statistics. The Home Office is working with data providers to explore the availability of further data on officers who leave the service whilst under investigation.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing AI solutions to minimise the need for the police to redact case files shared with the CPS. \p Sarah Jones: Redaction is an important activity ensuring personal and sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands. Any criminal justice process must ensure personal data is handled appropriately and lawfully, maintaining victim and witness confidence and public trust.

However, we recognise the administrative burden this places on policing at the pre-charge stage, especially for those cases that do not proceed to charge. The Policing Productivity Review estimated that over 200,000 hours could be saved by not redacting cases that do not progress beyond the Crown Prosecution Service.

Technology is key to reducing this burden, freeing up officer time for the frontline. For text redaction, automated tools are available on the market, which we understand that the majority of forces have now adopted, or are planning to implement.

Audio visual redaction of material such as body worn video, CCTV and audio recordings remains a challenge, as tools rely on more complex AI models and the market is less mature. However, Home Office-funded engagement with forces and suppliers has shown that AI-enabled tools are now available which offer significant time savings on audio visual redaction, used as part of an efficient operational process. In FY 2025/26, the Home Office is funding an initiative to improve policing’s audio visual redaction technology and processes, and we have developed guidance for all forces on how to make audio visual redaction more efficient.

We are also committed, working with criminal justice partners, to explore through process change how casefile redaction can be made as proportionate and efficient as possible, and will evaluate the impact of any changes.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press notice entitled New police powers to protect communities from disruption caused by protests, published on 5 October 2025, what assessment she made of the potential impact of the use of these powers on the removal of the protest site at MBR Acres. \p Sarah Jones: On 5 October, the Home Secretary announced that police forces will be granted new powers to put conditions on repeat protests. If a protest has taken place at the same site for weeks on end, and caused repeated disorder, the police will have the authority to instruct organisers to hold the event somewhere else. Anyone who breaches the conditions will risk arrest and prosecution.

Whether these offences apply in any given circumstance is a decision for the police. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department will respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Newton Abbot sent on 18 September 2025 with case ref MW01823. \p Sarah Jones: The correspondence of 18 September 2025 was transferred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for response.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in her Department is made by a British manufacturer. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office does not collect data at this level of granularity and the information would only be available at disproportionate cost.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of organised protests on (a) tourism to and (b) businesses in London. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office has not made a formal assessment of the potential economic impact of organised protests on tourism or businesses in London. Responsibility for tourism policy rests primarily with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, while business resilience and economic analysis are led by the Department for Business and Trade.

We continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and to ensure that lawful protest is facilitated while minimising disruption to the public and economic activity.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of mechanisms for sharing police misconduct data between forces. \p Sarah Jones: The British tradition of policing by consent relies on mutual bonds of trust between the public and the police, and where police officers fall below the high standards the public rightly expects of them, it is crucial they are held to account.

Since 2015, there has been a presumption that all police misconduct hearings are made public, bar in exceptional circumstances. There is a statutory requirement for forces to publish the outcomes of misconduct hearings, unless preventing disclosure is considered necessary (e.g. in the interests of national security), for a period of at least 28 days. Members of the public can access published police misconduct outcomes via the website of the relevant police force.

There are processes in place for the collection and publication of police misconduct data. The Home Office publishes data on the number of police officers subject to misconduct investigations, including breakdowns by outcome and misconduct finding level, as part of the annual Police Misconduct, England and Wales statistical series, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics

Officers and staff moving from one force to another must obtain a new vetting clearance from the force they are transferring to before they are confirmed. In accordance with the College of Policing’s vetting authorised professional practice (APP), the parent force’s professional standards department (PSD) must provide a full complaint and misconduct history and any counter corruption intelligence relating to the officer concerned to the receiving force.

In addition, the Police Barred List prevents those dismissed for gross misconduct and gross incompetence from re-joining policing. Forces must check whether a proposed employee or appointee is on the barred list before hiring them.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) undertaking an urgent review of all asylum claims approved in the last ten years and (b) removing protection status for all people who entered the UK illegally. \p Alex Norris: We are committed to our international obligations under the Refugee Convention when someone claims asylum in the UK, which provide that we must not penalise an individual on account of their illegal entry or presence, if they come directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened, present themselves without delay to authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.

The Convention establishes the principle of ‘non-refoulement’, which means that refugees must not be removed to a place where “their life or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion”.

Any application for further leave to remain in the UK at the end of a grant of asylum leave is considered on its merits. A review of all asylum grants over the past decade would be disproportionate.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses to define constructive dialogue with NGOs in relation to the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum. \p Alex Norris: When engaging with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) and Strategic Engagement Group (SEG), minutes are taken at these meetings. There are no criteria defining ‘constructive dialogue’ with NGOs.

A list of non-governmental organisations who attended NASF and SEG since January 2023 is provided below:

Micro Rainbow

The No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)

British Red Cross

Refugee Action

Asylum Matters

Scottish Refugee Council

Refugee Council

Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)

Freedom from Torture

Rainbow Migration

Helen Bamber Foundation

Migrant Help

Immigration Law Practitioners Network (ILPA)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

No formal risk assessment has been undertaken. The disclosure of meeting records is handled in the usual way taking into account the wider Home Office risk assessment framework, disclosure and data protection provisions, and, where applicable, Freedom of Information guidance.

The Home Office publishes Freedom of Information (FOI) performance data, including the number of times exemptions under sections 36 and 38 of the FOI Act have been applied. This information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics

Establishing whether these exemptions were applied for reasons relating to asylum policy or stakeholder engagement could only be obtained for the purposes of this question at disproportionate cost.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she provides to (a) local authorities and (b) accommodation providers on (i) fencing, (ii) lighting, and (iii) security staffing at asylum accommodation sites. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office, and wider government, work closely with Local Authorities to discuss proposed accommodation sites in their area. Each site has its own property and planning requirements which must be complied with. The Home Office ensures that all accommodation is safe, fit for purpose and meets all regulatory requirements.

As part of its assurance processes, the Home Office conducts regular inspections and monitoring of asylum accommodation sites to ensure compliance with contractual and safety standards. These checks include reviewing security arrangements, staffing levels, and physical infrastructure such as fencing and lighting. Feedback from local authorities and service users is also considered to inform improvements.

All sites have security staff, but the numbers vary depending upon the size of the sites. Some sites have additional measures including fencing installed to reduce access and unmanned access points to sites.

The Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and to the standards we expect. Full details of this can be found here: AASC Schedule 2 - Statement of Requirements.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers housed contingency accommodation in Horsham District are adult males not accompanied by family members; and what proportion of contingency accommodation locations in Horsham District house asylum seekers who are adult males not accompanied by family members. \p Alex Norris: Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the initial grant rate of asylum applications by the (a) ethnicity (b) nationality of the decision makers. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office collates and publishes diversity data on staff, this can be accessed via Home Office workforce diversity statistics - GOV.UK.

However, the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the employment rate of refugees in each of the last ten years. \p Mike Tapp: The Home Office recently published “Refugee Integration Outcomes (RIO) Insights: Embarks, Economic Activity, and Housing between 2015 and 2021” on GOV.UK. This article presents analysis—including employment rate—from linked Census 2021 and administrative data for asylum and resettled refugees in England and Wales who were granted refugee status between 2015 and 2021.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration crime network disruptions were led by the UK National Crime Agency in the last 12 months. \p Alex Norris: Last year, the National Crime Agency delivered approximately 350 disruptions targeting people smuggling networks - each one removing, preventing, or reducing a criminal threat. This marked a 40% increase compared to the previous year.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is she taking to prevent irregular migrants who have been removed under the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, published on 5 August 2025, from returning to the UK. \p Alex Norris: As of 20 October, 42 returns have taken place under the exchange agreement. Anyone who re-enters illegally may face immediate detention and, where appropriate, we will seek to expedite removal. This will not count as a new removal in the reciprocal scheme.

We continue close cooperation with France to strengthen border security and disrupt criminal gangs.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children who remained in the UK without a deported parent were taken into care in each of the last ten years. \p Alex Norris: The information you have requested is not available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would be a breach of a person’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.

The deportation of a foreign national offender is considered on its individual merits, including assessment of a genuine and subsisting relationship with a child and the effect of deportation on the child.

In every decision, Home Office staff will have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the best interests of any children in line with our duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether asylum applicants are informed of a timeframe within which they would receive a decision in relation to their application to come to the UK under the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys. \p Alex Norris: Individuals who make an expression of interest application to the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme will be contacted when a decision is made on their application. Timeframes for considering applications may vary depending on the application. Applications are considered in accordance with the published Immigration Rules and guidance for the scheme.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how she communicates to migrants in France about the route to the UK under the Migration Treaty with France. \p Alex Norris: Information about applying to the scheme is available online at the following link: UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme - GOV.UK and applications continue to be received from migrants in France seeking to come to the UK. We continue to monitor engagement with the scheme to ensure it is being accessed by those wishing to consider making an application.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Immigration Platform Technologies programme on the efficiency of her Department. \p Alex Norris: The Immigration Platform Technologies Programme delivered three integrated technology services that improved efficiency through driving automation and reducing manual processes, facilitating improved data transparency, and supporting more consistent decision making. It has also enabled rapid responses to Government priorities, such as launching new routes for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and the Afghan Resettlement scheme. The Accounting Officer Assessment for IPT was published on 6 September 2022 (6 September 2022: Immigration Platform Technologies (IPT) Programme Accounting Officer Assessment - GOV.UK)

The Immigration Platform Technologies programme completed delivery and closed on 15 May 2025.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the statutory guidance entitled Working together to safeguard children, last updated on 12 June 2025, in preventing grooming gang activity. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is committed to protecting children and continuing to strengthen our response to combat all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The current Working Together to Safeguard Children statutory guidance provides an important framework to support frontline professionals understand their responsibilities in ensuring effective safeguarding of children across the country. This clarifies that children at risk of harm outside their home, including online, should receive a coordinated multi-agency response in a timely way. Ofsted inspects the provision and quality of children’s social care services across all local authorities and is responsible for ensuring that local authorities adhere to statutory guidance including Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This statutory guidance is one important tool, supported by additional measures to make sure frontline professionals have an effective and robust response to safeguarding and protecting children.

This includes funding the independent Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse work to improve information-sharing where there are concerns of child sexual abuse and work to embed the Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway across a range of local areas. And the Prevention delivered by The Children's Society, also seeks to raise awareness of child exploitation to professionals working within the private, statutory and third sectors, as well as the general public, and upskills staff to better respond to, disrupt and prevent multiple forms of child exploitation, including child sexual exploitation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-28)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a cross-party commission to progress the public inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is driving forward work to establish the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse under the Inquiries Act 2005. It will be overseen by an Independent Commission with statutory powers to compel evidence and testimony so that institutions can be held to account for current and historic failures.

To further strengthen this work, the Prime Minister has confirmed that Baroness Louise Casey will support the inquiry, bringing her extensive experience to help uncover the truth and drive meaningful change.

Cross-party collaboration is vital in tackling child sexual abuse, including group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. We are committed to enhancing transparency, public confidence, and progress in this vital area.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had (a) discussions and (b) correspondence with Oldham Council on the proposed grooming gang inquiry since January 2024; and whether her Department has issued any guidance to local authorities concerning the structure or format of such projects. \p Jess Phillips: In June this year, Baroness Casey published her independent audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, and the Government accepted every recommendation it made, including establishing a new national inquiry. The national inquiry, equipped with statutory powers under the Inquiries Act 2005, will direct targeted local reviews in specific areas.

The former Home Secretary previously committed in January to provide guidance and establish a £5 million fund which would have supported non-statutory local inquiries. Our new approach of establishing a national statutory inquiry, will be strengthened through its statutory powers – therefore, we have discontinued work related to the previously announced guidance and £5 million fund.

In relation to Oldham specifically, the former Home Secretary made a commitment to support Oldham Council in undertaking their own local inquiry. The Department has been in discussions with Oldham Council about the right approach for Oldham, in light of the Government’s commitment to a new national inquiry. We also intend to consult the prospective chair of the national inquiry once appointed. We therefore intend to confirm the proposed approach for Oldham alongside further details about the national inquiry in due course.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces on the adequacy of their capacity to investigate complex fraud cases. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office is leading cross-system efforts to tackle complex fraud, and improving law enforcement capability is a key part of this work.

Having now completed recruitment of the new National Fraud Squad, we continue to work closely with key partners to ensure the delivery of a new, improved national reporting service and to enhance fraud training and skills. These measures will ensure a proactive, intelligence-based approach to investigating complex fraud cases.

From 2026, we will monitor each force in England and Wales on their performance in tackling fraud through the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Police Efficiency Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) framework. This will provide valuable insight on investigative practices including capacity to investigate complex fraud cases.

Further detail will be set out in the forthcoming Fraud Strategy.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her Kosovan counterparts on a bilateral security agreement. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Secretary met with her Kosovan counterpart as part of the Western Balkans Summit Interior Ministers meeting.

They discussed a range of issues in the bilateral relationship, including the UK’s support for Kosovo’s security. The UK remains committed to its close and longstanding partnership with Kosovo.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle anti-social behaviour in large housing developments. \p Sarah Jones: Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

We understand that ASB causes great harm and misery to our communities, and, if left unchecked, can lead to more serious offending.

When tenants commit anti-social behaviour (ASB) it can cause misery for housemates, neighbours, and the wider community. While we are clear that it’s better to resolve issues without eviction, regaining possession is sometimes necessary, and landlords should have the tools they need to keep people safe.

That is why the Renters’ Rights Bill will shorten the notice period for the existing mandatory eviction ground, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all cases of anti-social behaviour.

The Bill also amends the matters that judges must consider when deciding whether to award possession under the discretionary ground. This will ensure judges give particular regard to whether tenants have engaged with efforts to resolve their behaviour and the impact on other tenants within HMOs.

The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives social landlords, the police and local authorities have a range of powers and tools to tackle housing related ASB, including a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of that Act, and local agencies are expected to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.

We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 8 September 2025 on Wethersfield. \p Alex Norris: I apologise to my Rt Hon friend for the delay. He will receive a response by 28 October 2025.