Written questions by Begum.

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 she has made of the potential implications for her policies of (a) the policing of protests and (b) trends in the number of (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.

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 adequacy of the implementation of the (a) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2023 and (b) Public Order Act 2023.

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.

Whether the UK has any agreements with countries under which asylum seekers could be sent to them as a safe third country.

The Government has been clear that it will be ending the Migration and Economic Partnership with Rwanda. The UK has no other such agreements.

How many people have been arrested using counter terrorism powers for activity relating to protests against climate change in the last year.

The Home Office publishes information and statistics relating to the number of arrests and outcomes (such as charges and convictions) for terrorist-related activity each quarter.However, this data is provided to the Home Office by Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ) and does not include the type of detail requested relating to each arrest.

How many people have been arrested using counter terrorism powers for activity relating to protests on arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.

The Home Office publishes information and statistics relating to the number of arrests and outcomes (such as charges and convictions) for terrorist-related activity each quarter.However, this data is provided to the Home Office by Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ) and does not include the type of detail requested relating to each arrest.

How many people have been arrested under counter terrorism powers for activity relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK's arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.

The Home Office publishes information and statistics relating to the number of arrests and outcomes (such as charges and convictions) for terrorist-related activity each quarter.However, this data is provided to the Home Office by Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ) and does not include the type of detail requested relating to each arrest.

How many people have been arrested for activity relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK's arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.

According to data provided by the National Police Coordination Centre, the number of people arrested for activity relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK is as follows:From 8 October 2023 to 25 January 2024: 44 arrestsFrom 26 January 2024 to 1 September 2024: 36 arrestsFrom 2 September 2024 to present: 17 arrestsThis totals 97 arrests.

How many people have been arrested using powers in the (a) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2023 and (b) Public Order Act 2023 for activity relating to protests against arms sales to Israel since (i) 8 October 2023, (ii) 26 January 2024 and (iii) 2 September 2024.

The information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. While the Home Office does hold data around protest-related arrests, this information is not categorised in a way that would enable to identification of arrests specifically made under this legislation. To obtain this information would require a review of arrest records across multiple police forces, which would exceed the cost threshold.

How many people have been arrested using powers in the (a) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2023 and (b) Public Order Act 2023 for activity relating to protests against Elbit Systems UK's arms sales to Israel since (i) 8 October 2023, (ii) 26 January 2024 and (iii) 2 September 2024.

The information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. While the Home Office does hold data around protest-related arrests, this information is not categorised in a way that would enable to identification of arrests specifically made under this legislation. To obtain this information would require a review of arrest records across multiple police forces, which would exceed the cost threshold.

What information her Department holds on the number of people who have been arrested in relation to protests against arms sales to Israel since (a) 8 October 2023, (b) 26 January 2024 and (c) 2 September 2024.

According to data provided by the National Police Coordination Centre, the number of people arrested in relation to protests against arms sales to Israel is as follows:From 8 October 2023 to 25 January 2024: 126 arrestsFrom 26 January 2024 to 1 September 2024: 105 arrestsFrom 2 September 2024 to present: 31 arrestsThis totals 262 arrests across multiple police forces.

How many people have been arrested using powers in the (a) the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2023 and (b) Public Order Act 2023 for activity relating to protests against climate change in the last year.

The information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. While the Home Office does hold data around protest-related arrests, this information is not categorised in a way that would enable to identification of arrests specifically made under this legislation. To obtain this information would require a review of arrest records across multiple police forces, which would exceed the cost threshold.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11671 on Lord Walney, whether Lord Walney is participating in the review of the role of the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption through the Counter-Extremism sprint.

The Counter-Extremism Sprint has included a review of the advice the Government receives from a variety of sources on policy in this area, including the Independent Advisor on Political Violence and Disruption.The Government is currently considering the findings from the Sprint, and Lord Walney remains in post while that work is ongoing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11671 on Lord Walney, whether she has discussed with Lord Walney (a) his role as the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption, (b) political violence and disruption, (c) legislation relating to political violence and disruption and (d) policing of political violence and disruption.

The Counter-Extremism Sprint has included a review of the advice the Government receives from a variety of sources on policy in this area, including the Independent Advisor on Political Violence and Disruption.The Government is currently considering the findings from the Sprint, and Lord Walney remains in post while that work is ongoing.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of no recourse to public funds rules on migrant survivors of violence against women and girls.

Migrant survivors of violence against women and girls who qualify under the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) are granted permission to stay with recourse to public funds.Those eligible under Appendix Victims of Domestic Abuse are granted settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) which similarly enables recourse to public funds. These policies mean migrant survivors of violence have status and financial independence from their abuser where such statuses would otherwise depend on their partner in the UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11671 on Lord Walney, whether Lord Walney (a) has been since 5 July 2024 and (b) is the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption while her Department reviews the role.

The Counter-Extremism Sprint has included a review of the advice the Government receives from a variety of sources on policy in this area, including the Independent Advisor on Political Violence and Disruption.The Government is currently considering the findings from the Sprint, and Lord Walney remains in post while that work is ongoing.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on foreign travel advice for Bangladesh published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office between 19 July 2024 and 29 August 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on enforced returns and asylum-related enforced returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.Quarterly data on enforced returns by destination are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘returns detailed datasets’. This data covers the period 2004 to June 2024.Data on asylum-related enforced returns for the top 10 nationalities, ranked by volume, are published in table Ret_04 of the ‘returns summary datasets’. This data is for the year ending June 2024.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.Deportations are a subset of returns (defined in the ‘user guide glossary’). The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding migration issues. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

How many people seeking asylum were deported to Bangladesh from 19 July 2024 to 29 August 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on enforced returns and asylum-related enforced returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.Quarterly data on enforced returns by destination are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘returns detailed datasets’. This data covers the period 2004 to June 2024.Data on asylum-related enforced returns for the top 10 nationalities, ranked by volume, are published in table Ret_04 of the ‘returns summary datasets’. This data is for the year ending June 2024.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.Deportations are a subset of returns (defined in the ‘user guide glossary’). The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding migration issues. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

How many people were deported to Bangladesh between 19 July 2024 and 29 August 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on enforced returns and asylum-related enforced returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.Quarterly data on enforced returns by destination are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘returns detailed datasets’. This data covers the period 2004 to June 2024.Data on asylum-related enforced returns for the top 10 nationalities, ranked by volume, are published in table Ret_04 of the ‘returns summary datasets’. This data is for the year ending June 2024.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.Deportations are a subset of returns (defined in the ‘user guide glossary’). The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding migration issues. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

When the Joint Working Group on Home Affairs with Bangladesh has met in the last 12 months.

The first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on Home Affairs was held on 16 May and will be held on an annual basis. During the dialogue, and in compliance with Home Office disclosure and confidentiality guidance and the Immigration Rules, asylum and migration issues were discussed. To date, the Standard Operating Procedure for returns, signed at the JWG, has yet to be fully implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, though returns to Bangladesh continue in the meantime. The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding human rights issues in Bangladesh. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Whether her Department held discussions with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Bangladesh’s human rights record before a returns agreement was signed with that country in May 2024.

The first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on Home Affairs was held on 16 May and will be held on an annual basis. During the dialogue, and in compliance with Home Office disclosure and confidentiality guidance and the Immigration Rules, asylum and migration issues were discussed. To date, the Standard Operating Procedure for returns, signed at the JWG, has yet to be fully implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, though returns to Bangladesh continue in the meantime. The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding human rights issues in Bangladesh. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.