Written questions by Lake.

What discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers.

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements the sector was informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.In addition, those in the UK on visas which allow general work rights, such as dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.

What discussions her Department has had with a) British Wool, b) the Farmers' Union of Wales and c) NFU Cymru on the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers.

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements the sector was informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.In addition, those in the UK on visas which allow general work rights, such as dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.

What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of withdrawing the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers on (a) animal welfare in Wales and (b) the Welsh sheep sector.

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements the sector was informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.In addition, those in the UK on visas which allow general work rights, such as dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.

What assessment she made of the potential merits of including provisions for a statutory Independent Child Exploitation Advocate, modelled on section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act, in the Crime and Policing Bill.

The government is not currently exploring separate exploitation advocates as the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service exists as an independent source of advice, advocacy and support for potential child victims of modern slavery, exploitation and human trafficking in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).In line with Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Government is committed to providing a national ICTG service in England and Wales.The ICTG service was initially introduced in 2017 and a staggered approach to rollout was taken to allow time to trial an effective model of delivery. This has enabled the Home Office to test and evaluate different models of service delivery, expanding and adapting as necessary to develop a model that is suitable for national provision. In September 2025, the invitation-to-tender for the national contract was launched, which will expand the current service coverage from two-thirds of local authorities to all child victims referred into the NRM in England and Wales. The tender process is now underway and updates to legislation are currently being considered.Statutory first responders must refer all potential victims of modern slavery, trafficking and exploitation into the NRM to ensure they are appropriately identified and provided with support. Whilst local authorities are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in their area, referring a child potential victim into the NRM ensures that child potential victims of exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking in the NRM will also get support from the ICTG service.Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) also play a critical role in supporting victims and survivors and their families. We have commissioned a rapid assessment of the current ISVA support service and resource landscape, specifically for children and young people who are victims of grooming gangs, including technology-facilitated abuse.

What discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the situation in Kashmir on (a) policing and (b) community relations in Wales.

The Home Office has been sharing up to date information with Welsh partners on emerging risks and issues in relation to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in India-administered Kashmir and will continue to work with those partners to monitor any local reactions and tensions.Whilst community cohesion is a devolved area, officials from the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government also continue to support the Devolved Governments in best practice for monitoring and alleviating any community tensions.

If she will amend the Police pension scheme 1987 to allow surviving (a) partners, (b) widows and (c) widowers to retain their full entitlement upon (i) remarriage and (ii) cohabitation.

The 1987 Police Pension Scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner. With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 police pension schemes, all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.There are no plans at this time to make any further changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme. It was not originally costed to provide these extended benefits, and retrospectively changing the scheme would create additional costs for current officers and taxpayers.

Whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential (a) impact and (b) merits of reforming the 1987 Police Pension Scheme rules on police (i) widows, (ii) widowers and (iii) surviving partners in Wales.

The 1987 Police Pension Scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner. With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 police pension schemes, all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.There are no plans at this time to make any further changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme. It was not originally costed to provide these extended benefits, and retrospectively changing the scheme would create additional costs for current officers and taxpayers.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of amending the Police pension scheme 1987 to allow surviving (a) partners, (b) widows and (c) widowers to retain their full entitlement upon (i) remarriage and (ii) cohabitation.

The 1987 Police Pension Scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner. With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 police pension schemes, all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.There are no plans at this time to make any further changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme. It was not originally costed to provide these extended benefits, and retrospectively changing the scheme would create additional costs for current officers and taxpayers.

When she plans that access to each of the Extended Area Services masts located in Ceredigion Preseli constituency will be shared with mobile network operators.

We can confirm that four EAS masts have already been activated for the Shared Rural Network (SRN) and are delivering new 4G mobile coverage from all four mobile network operators across Ceredigion Preseli.We continue to work with Building Digital UK (BDUK) and the operators to activate the remaining five masts for the SRN. BDUK officials have informed me that the Hon. Member has signed up for the next BDUK MP drop-in session and they would be happy to update him further on SRN EAS progress in Ceredigion Preseli then.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) alternative proof of Visa status to digital-only eVisas, such as (i) secure QR codes and (ii) equivalent physical documentation and (b) a compensation scheme for individuals impacted by eVisa errors.

The Home Office is moving to a digital immigration system, and there are no plans to issue physical documents in future.Successful visa applicants receive written confirmation by email or letter that they have been granted permission and have a digital immigration status, which they can keep for their personal records. However, these documents cannot be used as evidence of their status.We evaluated the QR code proposal put forward by the3million and our response is published on their website: https://the3million.org.uk/publication/2023121501.We already operate a process of ex gratia payments if the Home Office is found to be at fault, and this will not change with the introduction of eVisas.We consistently monitor the transition to eVisas, and encourage people to report any issues so they can be addressed. We listen to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs and address concerns, such as introducing greater flexibility for carriers to accept BRPs that expired on 31 December 2024 until 1 June 2025, to smooth the transition for those travelling internationally without compromising on border security.We keep all visa routes and digital visa systems, including the introduction and implementation of the eVisa system, under review and will update Parliament in the normal manner.

Whether she has plans to undertake a review of the (a) implementation and (b) roll-out of the migration to a fully digital eVisa system.

The Home Office is moving to a digital immigration system, and there are no plans to issue physical documents in future.Successful visa applicants receive written confirmation by email or letter that they have been granted permission and have a digital immigration status, which they can keep for their personal records. However, these documents cannot be used as evidence of their status.We evaluated the QR code proposal put forward by the3million and our response is published on their website: https://the3million.org.uk/publication/2023121501.We already operate a process of ex gratia payments if the Home Office is found to be at fault, and this will not change with the introduction of eVisas.We consistently monitor the transition to eVisas, and encourage people to report any issues so they can be addressed. We listen to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs and address concerns, such as introducing greater flexibility for carriers to accept BRPs that expired on 31 December 2024 until 1 June 2025, to smooth the transition for those travelling internationally without compromising on border security.We keep all visa routes and digital visa systems, including the introduction and implementation of the eVisa system, under review and will update Parliament in the normal manner.

Upon what evidential basis she will deem it sufficient to lift the temporary pause on the processing of Syrian asylum seeker claims.

Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office has withdrawn the Country Policy Information Notes and Guidance relating to Syria and has temporarily paused all asylum interviews and decisions for Syrian nationals. However, we continue to register new claims from Syrians in the UK who wish to claim asylum and when there is a clear basis upon which to make decisions on Syrian claims, we will resume the processing of them.