Written questions by Begum.

How many people have been arrested for activity relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK's arms sales to Israel since December 2024?.

Data provided by police shows that, between 30 July 2020 and 27 June 2025, there have been over 400 “direct actions” claimed by or identified with Palestine Action. Police have made 750 arrests during this period, with 555 separate individuals arrested. Offences have included criminal damage, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, assault on emergency workers, actual bodily harm and gross bodily harm. For many relevant cases, police investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 19789, how many of these were (a) charged, (b) convicted, (c) held on remand and (e) imprisoned.

Data provided by police shows that, between 30 July 2020 and 27 June 2025, there have been over 400 “direct actions” claimed by or identified with Palestine Action. Police have made 750 arrests during this period, with 555 separate individuals arrested. Offences have included criminal damage, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, assault on emergency workers, actual bodily harm and gross bodily harm. For many relevant cases, police investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

How many Palestine Action members have been (a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) convicted, (d) held on remand and (e) imprisoned for (i) assault, (ii) assaulting an emergency worker, (iii) inflicting grievous bodily harm, (iv) man slaughter and (v) murder related to activity regarding protests against arms sales to Israel.

Data provided by police shows that, between 30 July 2020 and 27 June 2025, there have been over 400 “direct actions” claimed by or identified with Palestine Action.Police have made 750 arrests during this period, with 555 separate individuals arrested. Offences have included criminal damage, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, assault on emergency workers, actual bodily harm and gross bodily harm.For many relevant cases, police investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

How many Palestine Action members have been (a) arrested (b) charged, (c) convicted, (d) held on remand and (e) imprisoned for activities relating to protests against arms sales to Israel.

Data provided by police shows that, between 30 July 2020 and 27 June 2025, there have been over 400 “direct actions” claimed by or identified with Palestine Action. Police have made 750 arrests during this period, with 555 separate individuals arrested. Offences have included criminal damage, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, assault on emergency workers, actual bodily harm and gross bodily harm. For many relevant cases, police investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

With reference to the Written Statement of 23 June 2025 on Security, HCWS729, how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) convicted, (d) held on remand and (e) are serving a prison sentence for the activity listed in the Written Statement.

Data provided by police shows that, between 30 July 2020 and 27 June 2025, there have been over 400 “direct actions” claimed by or identified with Palestine Action. Police have made 750 arrests during this period, with 555 separate individuals arrested. Offences have included criminal damage, aggravated burglary, violent disorder, assault on emergency workers, actual bodily harm and gross bodily harm. For many relevant cases, police investigations and court proceedings are ongoing.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the offence of assault against an emergency worker on trends in the level of (a) arrests and (b) convictions of women.

The offence of assault against an emergency worker is the responsibility of Ministry of Justice.

If she will conduct an equality impact assessment for the offence of assault against an emergency worker.

The offence of assault against an emergency worker is the responsibility of Ministry of Justice.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the offence of assault against an emergency worker on women.

The offence of assault against an emergency worker is the responsibility of Ministry of Justice.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the offence of assault against an emergency worker on trends in the level of (a) arrests and (b) convictions of women.

The offence of assault against an emergency worker is the responsibility of Ministry of Justice.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the implementation of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.

The offence of assault against an emergency worker is the responsibility of Ministry of Justice.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that people with dual citizenship can obtain e-visas that recognise both nationalities.

British citizens who are also nationals of another country (excluding Ireland), who hold and use a valid British passport for travel and status checks do not need and are not eligible for an eVisa, since they are exempt from UK immigration control.If someone has dual nationality and neither of those nationalities is British or Irish, they must ensure that they add the passport they will use to travel to their UKVI account. If they have a passport for both nationalities, they can add both to their UKVI account.Although a person can link more than one ID document to their UKVI account, their eVisa will display a single nationality only. This will be the nationality for the most recent ID document uploaded to their UKVI account and used to log-in to their UKVI account.If they have already added a second ID document and want their other nationality to appear on their eVisa, they can update this through their UKVI account on GOV.UK. After logging in, they should select ‘Add an identity document’, then choose ‘Yes, my name, nationality or date of birth has changed’, and follow the remaining steps, which include posting their passport to the Home Office. Once the change is approved, the nationality from that ID document will appear on their eVisa and will be used to log in to their UKVI account.The information requested about the number of people who are dual nationals and have reported issues with their eVisas is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many people with dual nationality have reported problems using the UK Visas and Immigration systems.

British citizens who are also nationals of another country (excluding Ireland), who hold and use a valid British passport for travel and status checks do not need and are not eligible for an eVisa, since they are exempt from UK immigration control.If someone has dual nationality and neither of those nationalities is British or Irish, they must ensure that they add the passport they will use to travel to their UKVI account. If they have a passport for both nationalities, they can add both to their UKVI account.Although a person can link more than one ID document to their UKVI account, their eVisa will display a single nationality only. This will be the nationality for the most recent ID document uploaded to their UKVI account and used to log-in to their UKVI account.If they have already added a second ID document and want their other nationality to appear on their eVisa, they can update this through their UKVI account on GOV.UK. After logging in, they should select ‘Add an identity document’, then choose ‘Yes, my name, nationality or date of birth has changed’, and follow the remaining steps, which include posting their passport to the Home Office. Once the change is approved, the nationality from that ID document will appear on their eVisa and will be used to log in to their UKVI account.The information requested about the number of people who are dual nationals and have reported issues with their eVisas is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

What pre-legislative consultation she undertook on amendments 61 to 63 at Report Stage of the Crime and Policing Bill.

The Home Office engaged with law enforcement and third sector partners prior to introduction of the Bill. The Home Office continues to engage with these stakeholders to ensure that the measures meet the needs of operational colleagues as well as victims and survivors.An equality impact statement for the new offence has been published alongside the Bill and is available at: EIA. The Government also published on introduction a memorandum addressing issues arising under the ECHR in respect of measures in the Bill.The programme motion agreed by the House on 17 June extended from one to two days the normal time available for the remaining stages of the Bill.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) the police, (b) women's groups, (c) representatives of the legal profession, (d) human rights organisations and (e) civil liberties organisations on amendments 61 to 63 of the Crime and Policing Bill.

The Home Office engaged with law enforcement and third sector partners prior to introduction of the Bill. The Home Office continues to engage with these stakeholders to ensure that the measures meet the needs of operational colleagues as well as victims and survivors.An equality impact statement for the new offence has been published alongside the Bill and is available at: EIA. The Government also published on introduction a memorandum addressing issues arising under the ECHR in respect of measures in the Bill.The programme motion agreed by the House on 17 June extended from one to two days the normal time available for the remaining stages of the Bill.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the time allowed for consideration of amendments 61 to 63 of the Crime and Policing Bill.

The Home Office engaged with law enforcement and third sector partners prior to introduction of the Bill. The Home Office continues to engage with these stakeholders to ensure that the measures meet the needs of operational colleagues as well as victims and survivors.An equality impact statement for the new offence has been published alongside the Bill and is available at: EIA. The Government also published on introduction a memorandum addressing issues arising under the ECHR in respect of measures in the Bill.The programme motion agreed by the House on 17 June extended from one to two days the normal time available for the remaining stages of the Bill.

If she will conduct an equality impact assessment for new offences created by amendments 61 to 63 at Report Stage of the Crime and Policing Bill.

The Home Office engaged with law enforcement and third sector partners prior to introduction of the Bill. The Home Office continues to engage with these stakeholders to ensure that the measures meet the needs of operational colleagues as well as victims and survivors.An equality impact statement for the new offence has been published alongside the Bill and is available at: EIAThe Government also published on introduction a memorandum addressing issues arising under the ECHR in respect of measures in the Bill.The programme motion agreed by the House on 17 June extended from one to two days the normal time available for the remaining stages of the Bill.

What plans her Department has to increase the number of available appointments at the Visa Application Centre in Minsk, Belarus.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) monitor the number of appointments released in Minsk on a regular basis and work with our supplier, VFS, to provide additional slots where this is possible. UKVI review appointment requests for those customers with compelling or compassionate circumstances, where there is an urgent need to travel, as well as applications from family members of British nationals or those applying for a EUSS Family permit to prioritise these customer groups.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of appointments at the Visa Application Centre in Minsk, Belarus.

Appointment capacity is agreed by UK Visas and Immigration. Where demand for appointments in Belarus is high customers may need to keep checking to find the next available appointments, which are opened 4 weeks in advance.

If she will take steps to help ensure that UK Border Force eGates are configured to permit entry to holders of Irish passport cards travelling from outside the Common Travel Area.

Irish nationals can travel to the UK on either an Irish passport or associated passport card. In line with other identity cards, Irish passport cards cannot be used at eGates and there are no plans to change this.If an Irish national wishes to use their passport card to enter the UK from outside the Common Travel Area, they are required to present it to a Border Force officer.

Pursuant to the Answers of 20 December 2024 to Questions 19855 and 19857 on Climate Change: Demonstrations and to Questions 19852 and 19853 on Arms Trade: Israel, Question, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2023 and (b) Public Order Act 2023 on (i) the policing of protests and (ii) (A) arrests and (B) convictions for protest related activities.

The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental part of our democratic society.We have committed to holding expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 beginning in May 2025. This process will review how the legislation has operated since it came into force. We will carefully consider the outputs of this review.The full Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 will also be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. This will include a review of sections 73, 74 and 79, as well as the other public order measures in the Act.