Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What powers Crime Registrars have.

The Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) for recorded crime requires that every force in England and Wales must have a Force Crime Registrar (FCR) who has attended a College of Policing training course and been accredited as professionally competent.The FCR is responsible for overseeing the correct application of the National Crime Recording Standards within their force which stipulate that:An incident will be recorded as a crime for ‘victim related offences’ if, on the balance of probability:(a) the circumstances of the victims’ report amount to a crime defined by law (the police will determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and the HOCR); and(b) there is no credible evidence to the contrary immediately available.Regarding hate crimes, these are defined as "any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender."The FCR is the final arbiter within each force in relation to any crime recording decisions and in many forces their role extends to the recording of non-crime hate incidents.The College of Policing publishes operational guidance known as ‘Authorised Professional Practice’ (APP) for the police, including FCRs, on how to deal with many different types of crimes or incidents. In June 2023, the College updated its APP relating specifically to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) to align with the previous Government’s statutory code of practice.

What guidance is available to Crime Registrars on the recording of (a) hate and (b) non-crime hate incidents.

The Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) for recorded crime requires that every force in England and Wales must have a Force Crime Registrar (FCR) who has attended a College of Policing training course and been accredited as professionally competent.The FCR is responsible for overseeing the correct application of the National Crime Recording Standards within their force which stipulate that:An incident will be recorded as a crime for ‘victim related offences’ if, on the balance of probability:(a) the circumstances of the victims’ report amount to a crime defined by law (the police will determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and the HOCR); and(b) there is no credible evidence to the contrary immediately available.Regarding hate crimes, these are defined as "any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender."The FCR is the final arbiter within each force in relation to any crime recording decisions and in many forces their role extends to the recording of non-crime hate incidents.The College of Policing publishes operational guidance known as ‘Authorised Professional Practice’ (APP) for the police, including FCRs, on how to deal with many different types of crimes or incidents. In June 2023, the College updated its APP relating specifically to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) to align with the previous Government’s statutory code of practice.

What the average administrative cost was of granting a person British citizenship in the latest period for which data is available.

The Home Office publishes the fees charged and the estimated unit cost of processing immigration and nationality applications on Gov.UK. This can be reviewed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 28425 on Afghanistan: Resettlement, how many and what proportion of Afghans who have applied to the Afghan Resettlement Programme have failed vetting.

The information requested 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.The Afghan Resettlement Programme, announced by the Defence Secretary on 18 December 2024, is not in itself an immigration scheme, but a single delivery pipeline to improve efficiency in the end to end relocation and in-UK resettlement of those arriving on our Afghan schemes.The latest published statistics for arrivals under the Afghan schemes can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bc514298ea2db44faddd4f/asylum-summary-dec-2024-tables.ods.

What the total administration cost is of granting an individual Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The Home Office publishes the fees charged and the estimated unit cost of processing immigration and nationality applications on Gov.UK. This can be reviewed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 28425 on Afghanistan: Resettlement, how many and what proportion of Afghan family members who have applied to come to the UK as a dependent under the Afghan Resettlement Programme have failed vetting.

The information requested 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.The Afghan Resettlement Programme, announced by the Defence Secretary on 18 December 2024, is not in itself an immigration scheme, but a single delivery pipeline to improve efficiency in the end to end relocation and in-UK resettlement of those arriving on our Afghan schemes.The latest published statistics for arrivals under the Afghan schemes can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bc514298ea2db44faddd4f/asylum-summary-dec-2024-tables.ods.

When her Department last checked conditions at Marshall BioResources in Huntingdon.

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit conducts both announced and unannounced audits to ensure establishments compliance with the terms of their licences, the Code of Practice and with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). Each establishment that holds specially protected species, such as dogs, will be audited at least once every year. All other establishments will receive an audit at least every three years.ASPA provides protections for animals bred in the UK for use in scientific procedures. All establishments licenced to breed protected animals under ASPA are required to comply with the published Code of Practice, which sets out standards for the appropriate care and accommodation of animals.

How funding for the fire and rescue service is calculated.

Government funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement in the form of revenue support grant (RSG) and retained business rates.The amount of funding that fire and rescue services receive is determined and distributed using a formula owned by MHCLG.

Whether Cambridgeshire Constabulary will be awarded the South East Allowance, in the context of that arrangement for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire constabularies.

The independent Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (PRRB) make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers.This Government will give very careful consideration to any recommendations regarding the South East Allowance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30203 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many individual voluntary returns were awarded (a) up to £1,000, (b) between £1,000 and £2,000 and (c) between £2,000 and £3,000 by the Voluntary Returns Service between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 29603 on Animal Experiments: Licensing, when her Department plans to begin its internal review into the duration of project licences for animal research under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Work is ongoing to conduct an internal review in relation to the duration of project licences for animal research under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The Home Office intends to report on the review by the end of 2025.The regulatory framework has a rigorous approach to the application of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) in all applications for programmes of work involving animals. Establishments conducting research must have robust internal governance systems and processes that ensure the regulated activities carried out at the establishment are undertaken in accordance with the principles of the 3Rs. Our application of the 3Rs principles continuously evolves with scientific developments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30349 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many voluntary returns were given financial support by the Voluntary Returns Service under the criteria of being under 18 and travelling alone between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 30375 on Undocumented Migrants: Organised Crime, what progress the Border Security Command has made through participation in the UK-Italy Illicit Finance Taskforce.

The UK and Italy are global leaders in disrupting economic crime and under the taskforce both nations will be sharing law enforcement strategies, policy, and expertise to maximise our disruptive effect on financial flows into the UK, Italy and across Europe.The inaugural UK/Italy Illicit Finance Taskforce meeting was held in Rome, Italy on the 4th of February 2025. It was attended by UK law enforcement officials from the Border Security Command, NCA, HMRC and Immigration Enforcement. Attendees, including representatives from the Guardia Di Finanza, discussed organised immigration crime commonalities, joint initiatives and irregular migration flows impacting illicit finance activity in both Italy and the UK.The Taskforce is now focussed on agreeing deliverables, including consideration of the new Irregular Migration and OIC Sanctions regime and joint operational activity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30204 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many voluntary returns were given financial support by the Voluntary Returns Service under the criteria of returning to a developing country between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 30696 on Border Security Command, what the minimum grade is that a civil servant would need to be in order to be eligible to act as the Interim Border Security Commander.

If the Secretary of State were obliged at some future point to designate a civil servant as the Interim Border Security Commander, they would make the decision based on the skills and experience of the individual to perform the functions as set out in the legislation on behalf of the crown for the interim period.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 30379 on Europol, whether the Border Security Command is one of the UK agencies that continues to undertake operations with European law enforcement partners.

The Border Security Command (BSC) is focused on strategic oversight and system leadership to secure the UK border. As part of that leadership the BSC works closely with a range of UK agency partners who do undertake operations with European law enforcement partners such as Europol.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30351 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many voluntary returns were given financial support by the Voluntary Returns Service under the criteria of having been sleeping rough between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30350 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many voluntary returns were given financial support by the Voluntary Returns Service under the criteria of being under 21 and a care leaver between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30206 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many voluntary returns were given financial support by the Voluntary Returns Service under the criteria of having received a letter from the Home Office confirming they are a victim of modern slavery between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 30207 on Undocumented Migrants: Repatriation, how many voluntary returns were given financial support by the Voluntary Returns Service under the criteria of being part of a family group that will travel together, including someone under 18 years old between 4 July 2024 and 31 January 2025.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave him on 6 February to Question 28420.