Every parliamentary written question tabled by Anneliese Dodds this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 71 · Home Office
When the gov.uk website entitled visa processing times: applications inside the UK, will be updated to reflect the average processing time for an application for leave to remain as a partner or spouse - private life (minimum income and English language not required).
Awaiting answer.
What the average processing time is for an application for leave to remain as a partner or spouse - private life (minimum income and English language not required).
Awaiting answer.
What recent assessment she has made of the efficacy of Border Force protections for children subject to sexual abuse travelling with their abusers.
Border Force Officers have an obligation under Section 55 of the Borders Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to carry out their core function with due regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK.Border Force Officers are trained to identify safeguarding issues through behavioural indicators and questioning, and this includes being satisfied that a child crossing the border is not accompanied by someone who poses a threat. Where there are concerns about the safety of a child they are referred to the appropriate agencies. Border Force works closely with other law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency and Police, in delivering this protection.Frontline operational processes, agency partnerships, training, and wider safeguarding arrangements and structures are kept under ongoing review.
If she will set out the mechanisms her Department are using to monitor the early stages of use of the Asylum Case Summarisation and Asylum Policy Search tools.
Asylum Case Summarisation (ACS) was designed with the ‘Human in the Loop’ principle in mind. This means it is not possible for decision makers to use the tool to decide an asylum claim; it is an aid to case working. The tool uses a Large Language Model to extract and summarise information from existing asylum interview transcript documents to provide decision-makers with a concise summary document. Asylum Decision Makers are required to read all evidence and case notes specific to the claimant, before deciding a claim.Part of the quality assurance framework asks if all documents submitted in support of a claim have been considered, with quality assurance checks regularly carried out on both asylum interviews and decisions.As part of ongoing evaluation of the Asylum Policy Search (APS) tool, Subject Matter Expert (SME) testing continues in conjunction with the Country Policy and Information Team. A dedicated inbox was created for feedback and/or errors to be flagged and rectified. This is in addition to the existing quality assurance checks conducted in Asylum Operations. ACS has (as of today 27/04) become operational, and the same approach to ongoing evaluation and feedback mechanisms is being set out.
What steps her Department is taking to monitor outcomes from the Asylum Case Summarisation system to ensure that summaries are not provided to caseworkers if they (a) include missing information and (b) are inaccurate.
Asylum Case Summarisation (ACS) was designed with the ‘Human in the Loop’ principle in mind. This means it is not possible for decision makers to use the tool to decide an asylum claim; it is an aid to case working. The tool uses a Large Language Model to extract and summarise information from existing asylum interview transcript documents to provide decision-makers with a concise summary document. Asylum Decision Makers are required to read all evidence and case notes specific to the claimant, before deciding a claim.Part of the quality assurance framework asks if all documents submitted in support of a claim have been considered, with quality assurance checks regularly carried out on both asylum interviews and decisions.As part of ongoing evaluation of the Asylum Policy Search (APS) tool, Subject Matter Expert (SME) testing continues in conjunction with the Country Policy and Information Team. A dedicated inbox was created for feedback and/or errors to be flagged and rectified. This is in addition to the existing quality assurance checks conducted in Asylum Operations. ACS has (as of today 27/04) become operational, and the same approach to ongoing evaluation and feedback mechanisms is being set out.
What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of existing victim-protection measures for individuals targeted by transnational repression.
The Government takes the safety of individuals who may be at risk of transnational repression (TNR) extremely seriously, and support is always threat‑led and tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual security arrangements, but the UK acts swiftly when risks are identified.The Government has published practical guidance on GOV.UK for those who believe they may be at risk, offering advice on physical and online safety, signposting reporting routes, and linking to wider protective security resources, including NCSC and NPSA materials.The Government continues to work with partners, including law enforcement and civil society, to refine its understanding of how TNR presents in practice and to ensure that victim protection measures remain effective, proportionate and responsive to the threat.Anyone who believes they are a victim of state-directed activity should report incidents or suspicious activity to the police via 101, at a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.
To what extent have police officers been trained on the subject of transnational repression.
Police and intelligence services have mature mechanisms in place to assess, detect and disrupt state linked threats, including transnational repression, using a wide range of tactics to protect those at risk.Training has been rolled out across all UK police forces, including upskilling of 999 call handlers, to improve frontline identification of state-directed crimes.The police have implemented new processes which ensure they flag and record crime reports that may involve foreign interference; these are triaged locally and escalated to Counter Terrorism Policing specialists where appropriate, strengthening national visibility of reporting trends and methodologies.
What contact her Department has had with targets of transnational repression in the UK.
Owing to the sensitive nature of this activity and the need to protect individuals, it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.Engagement with affected individuals informed the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s review of transnational repression and its recommendations. This included contact with victims and those directly affected, alongside engagement with civil society organisations, academics and community representatives, to build understanding of how transnational repression presents in the UK and its impact on individuals.The Home Office continues to engage with civil society and affected individuals to refine its understanding of the threat and to ensure the Government’s response remains proportionate, evidence led and responsive as the threat evolves.
Whether she has held discussions with victims of transnational repression and with civil society on the implementation of the Department's TNR Guidance.
Engagement with affected individuals, civil society organisations, community representatives and academics informed the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s review of transnational repression and its recommendations. Insights from this engagement helped shape the Government’s response, including the publication of practical guidance on GOV.UK for individuals who believe they may be at risk.The Government continues to engage with civil society and affected individuals at both official and Ministerial levels to refine its understanding of how transnational repression presents in the UK and to ensure that its response, including guidance, remains proportionate, evidence led and responsive to the evolving threat.
What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the experience of victims of transnational repression in the UK justice system.
Engagement with victims of transnational repression (TNR) informed the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s review and recommendations. This included engagement with affected individuals, civil society organisations, academics and community representatives.The Government continues to engage with victims and civil society at both official and ministerial levels to ensure its understanding of TNR in the UK remains evidence led and responsive to evolving threats.The Government’s approach is underpinned by a coordinated, whole‑of‑government response, with departments and law enforcement working together to align legal, operational and protective measures. Recognising the significant impact TNR can have on victims, action is being taken to improve awareness and handling across the system, including specialist training for policing and the publication of practical protective security guidance.
What mechanisms her Department has developed for the reporting and monitoring of transnational repression.
The Government is committed to ensuring that individuals who believe they may be victims of transnational repression have access to clear, trusted and effective mechanisms for reporting concerns and receiving support. The Defending Democracy Taskforce’s Review considered, in consultation with Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), how best to encourage reporting and ensure reports are treated seriously and dealt with appropriately.CTP’s assessment, developed in conjunction with the Government, is that the existing 999 and 101 services are the most widely known and accessible routes for contacting the police. These allow call handlers to assess reports and provide the most appropriate response, including immediate action where required, and to refer cases to specialist teams depending on the nature of the activity, including potential state threats.The Government will continue to work closely with policing to strengthen awareness, confidence and capability in responding to transnational repression, while ensuring the approach remains proportionate, effective and focused on protecting those most at risk.
What support is available to targets of transnational repression in the UK.
The Government takes the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously.A range of support and security assistance mechanisms have been developed to protect individuals that are at risk of transnational repression. This assistance is based on threat and varied in its scope and approach, but can include tailored protective security advice, cybersecurity measures, and access to broader public resources. Practical guidance is available on GOV.UK for individuals who believe they may be at risk of TNR, providing clear advice on both physical and online safety and how to report concerns.Anyone who thinks they might be a victim of transnational repression should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, at a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.
Whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of responses from 999 and 111 services to victims in the UK of transnational repression.
If individuals think they are a victim of any form of state directed activity, they should report this to police via the established mechanisms - 101, 999, or at a local police station.We have carefully considered, in consultation with Counter Terrorism Policing, how best to encourage reporting and ensure that reports received are treated seriously and dealt with appropriately.The existing functions have been found to be efficient, effective, and widely recognised, with trained officers and staff dealing with crime reporting on a 24/7 basis. This ensures policing can respond to the situation as it presents, including immediate deployment of police in an emergency if necessary.These existing mechanisms also ensure victims receive the support and protection they need.Translators and language support are embedded within existing reporting mechanisms, and work is underway to ensure those providing interpretation for policing understand the nature of TNR, supporting accurate referral and victim confidence.
What if any, review process is available to Sudanese students currently holding UK university offers following the recent policy changes which impact their ability to obtain visas.
The decision to introduce a visa brake on the Student visa route for Sudan and three other nationalities was based on data-driven migration and border security considerations. There are no plans to provide exceptions for prospective students in scope of the brake.By providing 21 days’ notice ahead of the implementation of the visa brake, any prospective Sudanese student who held an offer of study from a licenced student sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Study (CAS), was able to apply for a Student visa as normal ahead of implementation on 26 March.
When the new refugee study and work pathway schemes will open.
In the Restoring Order and Control statement, the Government committed to the creation of safe and legal routes. This included capped routes for refugees and displaced students to come to the UK to study or for work.On 5 March the Home Secretary set out in a speech that starting this Autumn we will be opening a new student refugee route, with the first arrivals in Autumn 2027.Policy development and delivery planning are ongoing. Further details, including on timelines for the work route, will be set out in due course.
How the 18 month review of visa brakes will be conducted.
The visa brake is not intended to be permanent and will be kept under regular review by the Home Office in close consultation with other government departments. The brake will only be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so. The decision on whether or not to release the brake will be taken by the Secretary of State for the Home Department after consideration of a range of inputs from across government.
Whether the 18 month review of visa brakes includes considerations other than asylum-rates.
The visa brake is not intended to be permanent and will be kept under regular review by the Home Office in close consultation with other government departments. The brake will only be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so. The decision on whether or not to release the brake will be taken by the Secretary of State for the Home Department after consideration of a range of inputs from across government.
Whether the 18 month review of visa brakes includes engagement with Departments other than her own.
The visa brake is not intended to be permanent and will be kept under regular review by the Home Office in close consultation with other government departments. The brake will only be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so. The decision on whether or not to release the brake will be taken by the Secretary of State for the Home Department after consideration of a range of inputs from across government.
If the new refugee study and work pathway schemes will be open to nationals from Sudan and Afghanistan.
In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced students to come to the UK to study or for work.Eligibility requirements for the route, including who will be eligible, have yet to be set. Further details, including eligibility requirements, will be set out in due course.
What assessment was made of the potential impact on atrocity prevention in the decision to introduce student visa breaks for nationals of Sudan.
Equality Impact Assessments have been completed in line with the Equality Act 2010 for the emergency brakes on Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. These were completed alongside extensive cross-government assessments and consultations as each nationality was under consideration.The UK takes its humanitarian, development, and conflict prevention work seriously and remains committed to supporting countries affected by conflict, instability, and poverty. In Afghanistan, the UK’s £151 million aid programme (equivalent to 13.3 billion Afghanis) provides lifesaving support to vulnerable communities, with a commitment that at least half of those reached are women and girls.The UK is equally committed to supporting people in Sudan, Myanmar, and neighbouring regions. The UK provides £146 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan this financial year, assisting over 2.5 million people since the conflict began in 2023. In Myanmar, the UK continues to support a more stable future for the population, providing humanitarian assistance to more than 1.4 million people in the past year and essential health services to 1.3 million. Since the 2021 military coup, the UK has supplied over £190 million in assistance to help address the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.As set out in the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, the Government remains committed to the introduction of capped safe and legal routes for refugees and displaced people to come to the United Kingdom. These new safe and legal routes will start this autumn with a student refugee route, with the first arrivals in Autumn 2027. Dedicated humanitarian routes are the appropriate way to combine compassion and control with securing our border.Continuing to operate a Study route where, for example, in the past 3 years more Afghan students claimed asylum than we issued new student visas in each year, does not achieve the appropriate balance between compassion, control and a secure border.The Impact Assessment published alongside the Statement of Changes on 5 March sets out the anticipated costs and potential savings of the visa brakes.