Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to page 26 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps her Department has taken to remove (a) platforms and (b) privileges to people who do not follow those rules.

The information requested on visa data is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The Home Office is committed to countering extremism in all its forms where it divides communities and inflames tensions. Regardless of the worldview it draws from, if an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism we will take action to prevent this and to safeguard susceptible individuals.It is a privilege to participate in and be a part of UK society. The Government is improving our range of powers to ensure those who abuse this privilege will be penalised. We have introduced a pilot to improve our ability to stop those intent on promoting extreme ideologies from traveling to the UK from overseas, and we are currently drafting proposed secondary legislation to further strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers around disqualification and discretionary powers.

On what date the Immigration Platform Technologies programme became fully operational.

The Immigration Platform Technologies Programme delivered three integrated technology services that improved efficiency through driving automation and reducing manual processes, facilitating improved data transparency, and supporting more consistent decision making. It has also enabled rapid responses to Government priorities, such as launching new routes for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and the Afghan Resettlement scheme. The Accounting Officer Assessment for IPT was published on 6 September 2022 (6 September 2022: Immigration Platform Technologies (IPT) Programme Accounting Officer Assessment - GOV.UK)The Immigration Platform Technologies programme completed delivery and closed on 15 May 2025.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Immigration Platform Technologies programme on the efficiency of her Department.

The Immigration Platform Technologies Programme delivered three integrated technology services that improved efficiency through driving automation and reducing manual processes, facilitating improved data transparency, and supporting more consistent decision making. It has also enabled rapid responses to Government priorities, such as launching new routes for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and the Afghan Resettlement scheme. The Accounting Officer Assessment for IPT was published on 6 September 2022 (6 September 2022: Immigration Platform Technologies (IPT) Programme Accounting Officer Assessment - GOV.UK)The Immigration Platform Technologies programme completed delivery and closed on 15 May 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 71962 on Cambridgeshire Constabulary: Stun Guns, what is her planned timetable for taking a decision on whether to approve the Taser 10 for police use.

We are considering the results of independent testing and assessments of the Taser 10, as you would expect, before taking a decision on whether to approve it for police use.The government is committed to giving police the necessary tools to protect the public, prevent harm and save lives.

With reference to her oral contribution of 1 September 2025 on Borders and Asylum, Volume 772, column 51, what are the locations of the three accommodation pilots.

We are actively working with local authorities to develop several potential accommodation models that could ‘pilot’ a more sustainable, flexible and collaborative outcome. These ‘pilot’ models will examine potential alternative accommodation sources – in collaboration with local authorities – promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives. Decisions on specific locations will be made on a case-by-case basis, and we will continue to work closely with local authorities and in compliance with published policy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 74064 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, what is the end date of the pilot.

As set out in Article 22 (1) of the UK-France treaty, the end date of the pilot is 11 June 2026. Both the UK and France have committed to continually review and improve the process and effectiveness of the pilot, pending decisions on the long-term future of the arrangements after June 2026. Further information on the UK-France treaty can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukfrance-agreement-on-the-prevention-of-dangerous-journeys-cs-france-no22025.

Whether the Afghan Response Route was included within data published on the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

Data on arrivals through the Afghan Resettlement Programme is published in the quarterly Immigration System Statistics. The first arrivals under the Afghan Response Route (ARR) came to the UK in July 2024. Data on the ARR was previously included as a subset of the ARAP data in the publication. As of the August 2025 release, the publication has included a separate breakdown for ARR arrivals, in table Hum_01 of the ‘Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes summary tables’. The latest data relate to June 2025. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

What progress she has made on apprehending Kevin Thomas Parle.

Kevin Thomas Parle features on the NCA’s Most Wanted List. As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Which military sites her Department has assessed for housing asylum seekers.

We are actively exploring all viable options so we can reduce reliance on hotels, including using modular buildings on industrial sites and ex-military sites, that deliver value for money and meet operational needs.We continue to work closely cross-government, with local authorities, and property partners to assess feasibility of options and accelerate delivery where possible, ensuring any development is safe, appropriate and compliant.Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with local authorities and in compliance with published policy.

With reference to her Department's announcement entitled Investment for Border Security Command to tackle people smuggling gangs of 3 August 2025, what the responsibilities of the 300 additional National Crime Agency officers will be.

The additional National Crime Agency officers will play a vital role in strengthening the NCA’s response to organised immigration crime (OIC).This uplift in resource reflects the Agency’s commitment to tackling the OIC threat with greater intensity than ever before.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the use of military sites to house asylum seekers.

We are actively exploring all viable options so we can reduce reliance on hotels, including using modular buildings on industrial sites and ex-military sites, that deliver value for money and meet operational needs.We continue to work closely cross-government, with local authorities, and property partners to assess feasibility of options and accelerate delivery where possible, ensuring any development is safe, appropriate and compliant.Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with local authorities and in compliance with published policy.

With reference to the UK-France one-in, one-out pilot scheme signed on 4 August 2025, what (a) security checks and (b) acceptance criteria are applied to asylum seekers accepted to the UK under the terms of the deal.

Applicants are required to meet eligibility criteria set out in published Immigration Rules and guidance and are subject to identity and security checks consistent with existing UK immigration processes.

What the size was of the initial asylum application decision backlog on 1 August 2025.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims awaiting an initial decision, is published in table Asy_D03 of the asylum detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.Data on the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) open caseload by case type is published in table FIA_4 of the ‘Tribunal Statistics’ by the Ministry of Justice. The latest data relates to 2024/25 Q4.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns is published annually, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The next update will be for the year ending 31st March 2025

What the size was of the asylum application decision appeals backlog on 1 August 2025.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims awaiting an initial decision, is published in table Asy_D03 of the asylum detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.Data on the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) open caseload by case type is published in table FIA_4 of the ‘Tribunal Statistics’ by the Ministry of Justice. The latest data relates to 2024/25 Q4.

What assessment she has made of what the pull-factors are that are encouraging illegal immigration to the UK.

There is no single, universal ‘pull’ factor independently driving irregular migration to the UK. In many cases, asylum seekers are directed or even coerced by organised criminal networks.The Government’s Plan for Change sets out our ambition to secure borders and control immigration. We are committed to tackling illegal migration and the criminal networks behind it. We have launched campaigns directed at misinformation on pull factors and are taking tougher action on illegal working, with major increases in enforcement visits and arrests. We are continuing work to streamline and improve the asylum system so that it deals with cases more quickly and better enables us to remove failed asylum seekers - we intend to announce further reforms to the asylum system later this year.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled UK-France treaty targeting illegal crossings comes into force, published on 7 August 2025, whether there is a minimum number of returns that would determine the pilot to have been successful.

The UK-France Treaty sets out the lawful basis for the reciprocal exchange of individuals on a one-to-one basis. We will continuously monitor and evaluate the pilot as it progresses, with a full evaluation to be completed at the end of the pilot period.

How many of the demonstrators arrested in central London on 9 August 2025 were (a) arrested for supporting Palestine Action and (b) subsequently charged for the same offence.

The Metropolitan Police has provided several public updates on the progression of the cases arising from the protest of 9 August on its website, with the most recent update on 1 September: https://news.met.police.uk/news/more-people-charged-with-terrorism-act-offences-linked-to-palestine-action-support-500541.The Metropolitan Police have also released statistics on the arrests made at the central London protests on 9 August 2025. A total of 532 individuals were arrested. 522 of those were arrested for an offence contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT). Section 13 of TACT makes it an offence to wear clothing or display an article in a public place in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation. Further information on the arrests on 9 August can be found here: https://news.met.police.uk/news/update-532-arrested-during-protest-policing-operation-499897.The investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, including determining whether an offence has been committed or not, is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who are operationally independent.

How many (a) asylum hotels, (b) houses in multiple occupation used to house asylum seekers, (c) other properties used to house asylum seekers and (d) asylum seekers there were in Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley constituency as of 1 September 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 4 September to Question 71421.

With reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress she has made in rolling out a series of new measures to strengthen our borders.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on the 1st September.