Written questions by Rosindell.

What representations she has made to the European Commission regarding the decision by some EU member states not to fully implement the EU Entry-Exit System, and the decision of France to proceed with full implementation, including at juxtaposed ports.

Awaiting answer.

What representations she has made to the European Commission and the Government of France on the implementation of the EU Entry-Exit System checks at ports during the May half-term holiday period.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of a review of access policies in relation to the Home Office Atlas immigration database in the context of the recent guilty verdict in the Peter Wai case.

The Home Office has a robust Identity and access management policy that sets out how all staff should access Home Office systems, assets and data, specifically outlining how only appropriately authorised and ‘identified’ individuals should have the ability to gain entry via mechanisms such as password management, access control and account management.We keep our security arrangements under constant review, which is why we have undertaken a programme of work to strengthen them further, with a number of additional measures being adopted to tighten controls.It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific details of our security arrangements as to do so could undermine their effectiveness.

What (a) data protection and (b) privacy safeguards are in place to ensure the security of (i) home addresses and (ii) other personal information belonging to individuals considered vulnerable to targeting by (A) hostile foreign state actors and (B) transnational repression activities.

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters. However, we continually assess potential threats to individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK and are front footed in identifying and investigating such threats. Wherever threat is identified, we use all appropriate measures, including through our world class police and intelligence services, to mitigate risk to individuals.Any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, undermining democracy and the rule of law, will never be tolerated and will be thoroughly investigated.

What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports that nine suspects arrested under the National Security Act 2023 in relation to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office trial were released because law enforcement agencies lacked sufficient translation capabilities to translate evidential material.

While it would not be appropriate to comment on decisions on whether or not to charge individuals in specific cases. Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools and translation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidential requirements.CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development and deployment of enhanced technical solutions and by increasing the number of suitably cleared translators.

What additional resources have been allocated to (a) Cantonese and (b) Mandarin translation and linguistic capabilities for investigations conducted under the National Security Act 2023.

Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools and translation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidential requirements.CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development and deployment of enhanced technical solutions and by increasing the number of suitably cleared translators.

How many investigations are currently underway into potential foreign interference activities linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational, intelligence or security matters.The verdicts in the recent trial represent the first convictions under the National Security Act related to China and send a strong message that the full force of the law will be applied to anyone who carries out hostile acts in the UK on behalf of any foreign state.

Pursuant to the written answer to Question 108177 of 3 February 2026 whether any exempt vignettes were granted to family members of consular officers who do not fall into the aforementioned categories.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many and what proportion of Chevening Scholars have claimed asylum in the United Kingdom since 2019.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of people claiming asylum where the latest leave held prior to claim was a study visa is published in table Asy_D01a of the ‘Asylum claims and initial decisions datasets’. The number of student entry clearance visas issued is published in table Vis_D02 of the 'Entry clearance visas datasets'.The requested information on asylum claims from Chevening scholars is not available from published statistics.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.

What discussions she has had with his Haitian counterpart on maritime border issues between that country and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Immigration and border issues are the responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. UK Government officials continue to support our Overseas Territories with their border security, including through funding, training and technical expertise.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of (a) beagles, (b) non-human primates, (c) rabbits and (d) other animals that are estimated to be used in scientific procedures in the next three years.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted, including break down by species of animals.Animals may be used more than once in certain circumstances. These instances are counted as separate, additional procedures. As a result, the number of procedures is usually slightly higher than the number of animals used.The annual statistics are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-statistics

With reference to project 1 entitled Defining the role of G protein coupled receptors in the brain and the therapeutic potential of targeting these receptors in neurological disease and addiction, in her Department's document entitled Non-technical summaries for project licences granted October – December 2025 that require a retrospective assessment, published in February 2026, what assessment she has made of the scientific relevance to humans of injecting opioids into the veins of mice and then dipping the tail of some mice into hot water .

This project, among other research, sits within the Government’s broader strategy to support research that advances the understanding of major public health challenges – including addiction and neurodegenerative disease.The non-technical summary for this research project is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-technical-summaries-granted-in-2025.The use of mice and the procedures in question were assessed as appropriate and scientifically justified because they allow researchers to study learning, memory, reward-related behaviour and withdrawal symptoms in a way that cannot be replicated using non-animal methods alone.All project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) are assessed by medically or veterinary qualified inspectors within the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU). Under ASPA, no project can be granted without a harm-benefit analysis, where an ASRU inspector makes a rigorous assessment of the scientific rationale, and must assess that the harms of the proposed project are justified by the likely benefits.The project must also demonstrate full application of the legal requirements of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs). This means that animal use cannot be approved if a practicable non-animal alternative method exists, the number of any animals used must be minimised, and the most refined methods must be used for animal testing to minimise harms.

What steps her Department is taking to help provide legal clarity to British nationals who volunteer to serve in Ukraine.

Travel advice for Ukraine, issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, makes clear that if a British national travels to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, their activities may amount to offences under UK legislation.Anyone, regardless of their citizenship, who travels from the UK to take part in conflicts overseas may be investigated by the police on return to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.The UK remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. That commitment has never wavered. Together with our partners and allies, we continue to stand firmly with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 in relation to British nationals serving with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Travel advice for Ukraine, issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, makes clear that if a British national travels to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, their activities may amount to offences under UK legislation.Anyone, regardless of their citizenship, who travels from the UK to take part in conflicts overseas may be investigated by the police on return to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.The UK remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. That commitment has never wavered. Together with our partners and allies, we continue to stand firmly with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.

Whether the National Police Service's remit will include dealing with illegal tobacco and organized crime.

The National Police Service will lead the operational response to serious and organised crime.We would expect that to include operational activity against illegal tobacco currently carried out by the National Crime Agency and the Regional Organised Crime Units.

Whether her Department has received legal advice on the compliance of new facial recognition technology deployed by police forces with human rights obligations.

The Home Office published its consultation on proposals for a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies on 4 December 2025. This considers how the police could use new facial recognition technology in a way that continues to be compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998.The Department was an interested party in an important court case on this issue, R (Bridges) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2020] EWCA Civ 1058. In preparing the consultation, the Department took into account the court’s judgement and received advice on all aspects of the current legal framework for the use of such technology.

How many illegally possessed firearms have been seized in (a) Romford constituency and (b) greater London in each year since 1997.

The Home Office does not routinely collect data on the number of firearms seized by police forces as part of their operations to tackle illegally held weapons.

What recent steps she has taken with relevant authorities to help tackle crime in town centres across greater London.

The central aim of our police reforms is to protect and revitalise neighbourhood policing. We are lifting national responsibilities off local forces, so they focus on tackling local issues, like fighting town centre crime.Our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is already making a difference. For too long, people have not seen police patrolling their streets. We will have 3,000 more neighbourhood officers by March this year. The Metropolitan Police Service’s projected growth over 2025 to 2026 will be 420 police officers (FTE) and 50 Police Community Support Officers (FTE). We are giving them the powers they need, including making it a specific offence to assault retail workers and ending the treatment of theft under the value of £200 as a summary-only offence.We are equipping the police to fight the organised crime gangs that are often responsible for driving shop theft across the country. Our £5m investment into OPAL (a specialist policing unit) will supercharge intelligence-led policing to identify offenders, disrupt the tactics used to target shops, and bring more criminals to justice.We have also delivered on our manifesto pledge: every police force in England and Wales now has a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour, who will work with communities to develop an action plan to tackle ASB. We are also strengthening the powers to tackle ASB. Our new Respect Orders will give local agencies stronger enforcement capability to tackle the most relentless ASB offenders.Through our Summer Initiative police forces and local authorities increased patrols in town centres, tackling retail crime and anti-social behaviour as part of the Government’s Plan for Change to make our streets safer. Our Winter of Action, which ran from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026, built on this, with an additional focus on repeat offenders and protecting women and girls at night. The full list of locations the Metropolitan Police Service focused on as part of the Winter of Action can be found here: Winter of Action: location list - GOV.UKBuilding from the Winter of Action, we are working with forces and local partners to identify and tackle the most prolific retail offenders - where a few individuals can drive a large proportion of the local crime problem.Together with the police, we are sending a message: crime and anti-social behaviour will be punished.

How many exempt vignettes have been granted in the past five years to family members of consular officers who do not fall within the categories of spouses or civil partners or dependent children under the age of 18, as set out in paragraph 2.14 of the Exemption from Immigration Control (non armed forces) Guidance, but who were nonetheless treated as exempt from immigration control.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many exempt vignettes issued to diplomats posted in the UK were granted between 2020 and 2025; and for what reasons those vignettes were issued.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.