Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alex Sobel this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 41 · Home Office
How many migrants from the People’s Republic of China have been removed to that country since May 2015.
The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’. Data on returns of Chinese nationals to their home country can be found in table Ret_D01 of the ‘Returns detailed datasets’.
How many asylum claims have been submitted by asylum seekers from the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, since May 2015; and how many of those were successful.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of people claiming asylum and initial decisions on asylum claims, by nationality, is published in tables Asy_D01 and Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum claims and decisions detailed datasets’.Data on latest asylum outcomes, by nationality, is published in table Asy_D04 of the ‘Outcome analysis of asylum claims detailed datasets’ as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.Table Asy_D04 shows for main applicants only, the number of asylum claims made each year, the initial and latest outcomes of those claims, the number still awaiting an outcome, and the number returned. The latest published data relates to claims made up to the end of 2024.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
Whether there are any cases where (a) an Interpol WPD and (b) a Red Notice has been issued against an individual granted political asylum in the UK.
The Government has long-standing policies to neither confirm nor deny (NCND) the existence of an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion against named individuals, and to not comment on an individual’s immigration or asylum status. This is to support the functioning of both our judicial processes, and to ensure the protection of those with asylum status in the UK. These policies are also applied by the National Crime Agency, which hosts the UK’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau.The Government takes seriously any attempt to misuse INTERPOL systems. We continue to work closely with INTERPOL to ensure that it’s Constitution is upheld and those with refugee status are rightfully given the protections afforded by their asylum status.
Whether her Department has provided information on the outcome of UK asylum cases to (a) Interpol’s General Secretariat and (b) the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files under Interpol’s Resolution No. 9 2017 (GA-2017-86-RES-09).
The Government has long-standing policies to neither confirm nor deny (NCND) the existence of an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion against named individuals, and to not comment on an individual’s immigration or asylum status. This is to support the functioning of both our judicial processes, and to ensure the protection of those with asylum status in the UK. These policies are also applied by the National Crime Agency, which hosts the UK’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau.The Government takes seriously any attempt to misuse INTERPOL systems. We continue to work closely with INTERPOL to ensure that it’s Constitution is upheld and those with refugee status are rightfully given the protections afforded by their asylum status.
How many asylum claims originating from the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, have been based on fear of persecution for reasons of political opinion since May 2015.
Information regarding basis of claim is not published and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
What protocols are in place regarding the sharing of biometrics and criminal records data with non-EU, non-M5 partners.
The Home Office has bilateral arrangements for sharing criminal records data, including biometrics, with a small number of countries outside of the EU and Migration 5 (M5) / 5Eyes. Such data can also be shared with other countries on a case-by-case basis via INTERPOL. All sharing of biometrics and criminal records data with third countries is subject to an assessment of data protection and human rights risks.
How many visas were issued to Russian citizens in each of the last three years.
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by nationality in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of December 2025.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
If she will bring forward legislative proposals to classify misogyny as a hate crime.
The Government is committed to ensuring that all victims of hate crime receive equal protection under the law.That is why we tabled an amendment at Lords Report Stage to the Crime and Policing Bill, extending the aggravated offences in sections 28 to 32 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This will level up protections by adding transgender identity, sexual orientation, disability and sex to the existing framework, ensuring that hostility based on any of these characteristics is treated with the same seriousness as racially or religiously aggravated offending.
If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the immigration health surcharge refund policy to allow for partial refunds to be made for periods of overlapping payments in cases where the applicant has applied to (a) extend and (b) switch their visa from outside the UK.
The new guidance being produced by the Home Office is designed to assist local authorities in supporting families with NRPF, as set out in the Child Poverty Strategy. The guidance will provide clarity around statutory duties and key safeguards for local authorities, ensuring a clear and consistent approach. The guidance does not alter the eligibility criteria for any current schemes or benefits.Children whose families are subject to the ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition (NRPF) can currently access schemes and benefits such as free school meals, 15 hours of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds and15 hours free childcare for three- to four-year-old.The Home Office will continue to work across government where relevant to ensure that migrant children with NRPF are specifically considered when reviewing or deciding on eligibility for schemes and benefits.
If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing partial refunds for overlapping immigration health surcharges in cases where the applicant has applied to (a) extend and (b) switch their visa from outside the UK and are able to demonstrate evidence of financial harm as a result.
The new guidance being produced by the Home Office is designed to assist local authorities in supporting families with NRPF, as set out in the Child Poverty Strategy. The guidance will provide clarity around statutory duties and key safeguards for local authorities, ensuring a clear and consistent approach. The guidance does not alter the eligibility criteria for any current schemes or benefits.Children whose families are subject to the ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition (NRPF) can currently access schemes and benefits such as free school meals, 15 hours of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds and15 hours free childcare for three- to four-year-old.The Home Office will continue to work across government where relevant to ensure that migrant children with NRPF are specifically considered when reviewing or deciding on eligibility for schemes and benefits.
If her Department will consider the potential merits of implementing service standards for visa applications expedited in cases of compassionate circumstances.
Visa, Status and Information Services have a range of premium services including; the Priority Services and Super Priority Services for visa applications where needed: Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application: Applying for a faster decision - GOV.UK. Visa applications are assessed on their individual merits and caseworkers will consider any compassionate grounds raised as part of the application assessment. Published policy guidance for each visa route will factor this where relevant. Caseworker guidance for each visa type can be found here: Visas and immigration operational guidance: Immigration staff guidance - detailed information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab) Those seeking to raise compassionate grounds to expedite their application should still apply and pay for their visa application online in the normal way. They should alert their request to their chosen Visa Application Centre or by contacting UKVI here: Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help - GOV.UK. Where a case may contain individual factors which make it compelling or compassionate then the case will be expedited by UKVI staff and considered under its own merits. The Department does not have a separate customer service standards for these cases, and if expedited they will be concluded as quickly as possible. Further information relating to Visa waiting times can be found on GOV.UK: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)
What the average timeframe is for decisions on fee waiver applications for partner visas.
Fee Waiver data is published in tables FW_01 – FW_03 of the ‘Immigration and Protection dataset’ found here: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK, However, the specific information requested is not currently available from the published statistics because fee waiver applications are not categorised by a specific route such as "partner", instead, fee waiver applications include everyone applying on Family and Private Life grounds. The requested data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
What steps her Department plans to take to help speed up decision-making for asylum cases; and what targets her Department has set for improving decision-making times.
The Home Office is investing in innovative techniques, including AI, to explore how we can improve productivity, speed up the processing of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision, and restore order in the asylum system.The proportion of asylum claims receiving an initial decision within six months is at the highest level since Q3 2017 (60.6%).Asylum decisions are subject to stringent quality checks to ensure that claims are properly considered, decisions are sound, and protection is granted to those who genuinely need it.We are working to improve the speed of decisions and reduce the number of outstanding claims; but there will always be complex cases, and it is right we take time to work through them carefully.
What steps she is taking to improve the quality of initial decision-making in asylum cases.
We have adopted a plan to improve the quality of asylum casework, this includes improved training for decision makers and feedback loops to ensure we are learning from appeals to get decisions right first time.Asylum decisions are subject to stringent quality checks to ensure that claims are properly considered, decisions are sound, and protection is granted to those who genuinely need it.Each quality assessment will rate the impact of any casework or process errors against the agreed marking standards. Asylum decision quality data is published in the ADQ_01A table found in Migration transparency data - GOV.UK of the Immigration and Protection data.Quality assessments must adhere to Home Office interview and decision standards. These standards are shared with Decision Makers to improve understanding of quality scores when receiving feedback.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed £50,270 threshold for eligibility for five year Indefinite Leave to Remain on Skilled Worker visa holders employed in lower wage regions.
The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.The final model will also be subject to equality and economic impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
With reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed Indefinite Leave to Remain reforms on existing labour and skills shortages in key sectors of the UK economy.
The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.The final model will also be subject to equality and economic impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
How much UK public funding has been provided to the French Government under agreements relating to Channel operations since 2020; and for what specific purposes this funding has been used.
France is a key partner in tackling OIC and joint work is seeing French personnel being deployed, supported by cutting-edge surveillance technologies and equipment; and more work is being done to disrupt organised criminal gangs through improved intelligence sharing.Details of UK funding to France and its purpose are publicly available here: 28 November 2020, the UK pledged €31.4 million 20 July 2021, the UK pledged €62.7 million. 14 November 2022, the UK pledged €72.2 million. 10 March 2023, UK pledged €141m for 2023/24 and €191m for 2024/25. The Government ensures that UK funded activities to prevent small boat crossings comply with human rights obligations through regular engagement with French counterparts, robust governance arrangements within the agreements, and ongoing monitoring and review processes to identify and address any potential risks promptly. These measures collectively safeguard against any breach of human rights while supporting the objectives of the agreements.
What monitoring mechanisms exist to ensure that UK-funded activities in France, whether involving public authorities or private contractors, do not contribute to human rights violations against people on the move.
France is a key partner in tackling OIC and joint work is seeing French personnel being deployed, supported by cutting-edge surveillance technologies and equipment; and more work is being done to disrupt organised criminal gangs through improved intelligence sharing.Details of UK funding to France and its purpose are publicly available here: 28 November 2020, the UK pledged €31.4 million 20 July 2021, the UK pledged €62.7 million. 14 November 2022, the UK pledged €72.2 million. 10 March 2023, UK pledged €141m for 2023/24 and €191m for 2024/25. The Government ensures that UK funded activities to prevent small boat crossings comply with human rights obligations through regular engagement with French counterparts, robust governance arrangements within the agreements, and ongoing monitoring and review processes to identify and address any potential risks promptly. These measures collectively safeguard against any breach of human rights while supporting the objectives of the agreements.
Whether her department has assessed the potential impact of beach-based police interventions in northern France on recent trends in levels of deaths in the Channel; and what measures she is implementing to help minimise potential risks from such interventions.
Our ongoing partnership with French law enforcement prevented over 22,000 crossing attempts during 2025. We are working closely with the French to reduce the risk to life from these crossings and with partners across Europe to bring the smuggling gangs to justice. We will continue our work with the French Government to explore every avenue to understand what further can be done in the Channel to disrupt and deter small boat crossings.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of UK-funded French police operations on the safety and wellbeing of people attempting to seek asylum; and what steps she is taking to ensure accountability for violence committed by officers funded by the UK.
It would be inappropriate for the Home Office to comment upon the composition or duties of French law enforcement units. It is important to emphasise that French law enforcement units necessarily operate independently of UK law enforcement, though there is regular liaison, information exchange, and alignment of operational approaches between the two countries.