Written questions by Thomas.

What assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of reported threats against Trading Standards officers made by criminal gangs.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to end modern slavery.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle the operations of trafficking gangs in the UK.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of new technologies on the grooming and exploitation of children.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of potential links between vape shops and organised crime.

The Government is taking significant action to tackle high street money laundering and the organised crime that drives it, which has become an increasingly visible threat in our communities. Organised crime groups are exploiting cash intensive businesses to launder criminal proceeds, evade tax, and enable wider criminality across our high streets up and down the UK. The National Crime Agency assesses that it is likely that at least £1bn is laundered through a range of UK high street businesses such as, barbers, vape shops, take aways, and other cash – intensive sectors. Addressing this threat is a priority for this Government. On 19 May 2026, the Government announced a £30 million crackdown targeting cash intensive business such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops operating on our high streets, over three years. This includes the following activities:£20million of funding will go towards and enhanced law enforcement response, including establishing a new multi-agency coordination cell based in the National Crime Agency.Through this funding, police officers will also be uplifted across forces in hotspot regions. Altogether, 75 new police officers will be recruited across the NCA, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police and a joint Kent Police and Essex Police UnitTrading Standards will also be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities. New officer training will be rolled out to identify suspicious businesses, strengthen business compliance and boost enforcement.A new cross government High Street Organised Crime Unit has also been established to bring together government departments, policing partners and Trading Standards. The unit will be responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first placeThe remainder of the funding is split between HMRC and immigration enforcement This builds on the results achieved last year under Operation Machinize, led by the National Crime Agency in cooperation with the National Police Chief’s Council, targeting business premises such as barber shops, vape and tobacco shops, and other cash intensive businesses across the UK. Activity in March 2025 saw 380 premises visited across a three‑week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants, and arresting 35 individuals This was followed by a second phase of activity throughout October which involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. During this operation, the partnership saw: 2,734 premises visited and raided; 924 individuals arrested; over £13m of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained; and more than £2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle organised crime on high streets.

The Government is taking significant action to tackle high street money laundering and the organised crime that drives it, which has become an increasingly visible threat in our communities. Organised crime groups are exploiting cash intensive businesses to launder criminal proceeds, evade tax, and enable wider criminality across our high streets up and down the UK. The National Crime Agency assesses that it is likely that at least £1bn is laundered through a range of UK high street businesses such as, barbers, vape shops, take aways, and other cash – intensive sectors. Addressing this threat is a priority for this Government. On 19 May 2026, the Government announced a £30 million crackdown targeting cash intensive business such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops operating on our high streets, over three years. This includes the following activities:£20million of funding will go towards and enhanced law enforcement response, including establishing a new multi-agency coordination cell based in the National Crime Agency.Through this funding, police officers will also be uplifted across forces in hotspot regions. Altogether, 75 new police officers will be recruited across the NCA, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police and a joint Kent Police and Essex Police UnitTrading Standards will also be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities. New officer training will be rolled out to identify suspicious businesses, strengthen business compliance and boost enforcement.A new cross government High Street Organised Crime Unit has also been established to bring together government departments, policing partners and Trading Standards. The unit will be responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first placeThe remainder of the funding is split between HMRC and immigration enforcement This builds on the results achieved last year under Operation Machinize, led by the National Crime Agency in cooperation with the National Police Chief’s Council, targeting business premises such as barber shops, vape and tobacco shops, and other cash intensive businesses across the UK. Activity in March 2025 saw 380 premises visited across a three‑week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants, and arresting 35 individuals This was followed by a second phase of activity throughout October which involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. During this operation, the partnership saw: 2,734 premises visited and raided; 924 individuals arrested; over £13m of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained; and more than £2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed.

What assessment her Department has made of the levels of criminal gangs operating illegal businesses on high streets.

The Government is taking significant action to tackle high street money laundering and the organised crime that drives it, which has become an increasingly visible threat in our communities. Organised crime groups are exploiting cash intensive businesses to launder criminal proceeds, evade tax, and enable wider criminality across our high streets up and down the UK. The National Crime Agency assesses that it is likely that at least £1bn is laundered through a range of UK high street businesses such as, barbers, vape shops, take aways, and other cash – intensive sectors. Addressing this threat is a priority for this Government. On 19 May 2026, the Government announced a £30 million crackdown targeting cash intensive business such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops operating on our high streets, over three years. This includes the following activities:£20million of funding will go towards and enhanced law enforcement response, including establishing a new multi-agency coordination cell based in the National Crime Agency.Through this funding, police officers will also be uplifted across forces in hotspot regions. Altogether, 75 new police officers will be recruited across the NCA, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police and a joint Kent Police and Essex Police UnitTrading Standards will also be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities. New officer training will be rolled out to identify suspicious businesses, strengthen business compliance and boost enforcement.A new cross government High Street Organised Crime Unit has also been established to bring together government departments, policing partners and Trading Standards. The unit will be responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first placeThe remainder of the funding is split between HMRC and immigration enforcement This builds on the results achieved last year under Operation Machinize, led by the National Crime Agency in cooperation with the National Police Chief’s Council, targeting business premises such as barber shops, vape and tobacco shops, and other cash intensive businesses across the UK. Activity in March 2025 saw 380 premises visited across a three‑week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants, and arresting 35 individuals This was followed by a second phase of activity throughout October which involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. During this operation, the partnership saw: 2,734 premises visited and raided; 924 individuals arrested; over £13m of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained; and more than £2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of potential links between high street barber shops and organised crime.

The Government is taking significant action to tackle high street money laundering and the organised crime that drives it, which has become an increasingly visible threat in our communities. Organised crime groups are exploiting cash intensive businesses to launder criminal proceeds, evade tax, and enable wider criminality across our high streets up and down the UK. The National Crime Agency assesses that it is likely that at least £1bn is laundered through a range of UK high street businesses such as, barbers, vape shops, take aways, and other cash – intensive sectors. Addressing this threat is a priority for this Government. On 19 May 2026, the Government announced a £30 million crackdown targeting cash intensive business such as barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops operating on our high streets, over three years. This includes the following activities:£20million of funding will go towards and enhanced law enforcement response, including establishing a new multi-agency coordination cell based in the National Crime Agency.Through this funding, police officers will also be uplifted across forces in hotspot regions. Altogether, 75 new police officers will be recruited across the NCA, Greater Manchester Police, West Midlands Police and a joint Kent Police and Essex Police UnitTrading Standards will also be backed with £6 million in new funding to bolster the response to sham businesses in at-risk local authorities. New officer training will be rolled out to identify suspicious businesses, strengthen business compliance and boost enforcement.A new cross government High Street Organised Crime Unit has also been established to bring together government departments, policing partners and Trading Standards. The unit will be responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better co-ordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first placeThe remainder of the funding is split between HMRC and immigration enforcement This builds on the results achieved last year under Operation Machinize, led by the National Crime Agency in cooperation with the National Police Chief’s Council, targeting business premises such as barber shops, vape and tobacco shops, and other cash intensive businesses across the UK. Activity in March 2025 saw 380 premises visited across a three‑week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants, and arresting 35 individuals This was followed by a second phase of activity throughout October which involved every UK police force and Regional Organised Crime Unit, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. During this operation, the partnership saw: 2,734 premises visited and raided; 924 individuals arrested; over £13m of suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained; and more than £2.7m worth of illicit commodities destroyed.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of stalking in the UK.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What steps she is taking to tackle stalking.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What steps her Department is taking to support victims of stalking.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the incidence of stalking cases being mishandled due to incidents occurring across the borders of two or more police forces.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What steps her Department is taking to improve co-ordination between police forces in cases of stalking.

Stalking is an insidious crime that can leave victims living in fear just going about their daily lives. The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2025 estimated that 3.5% of people aged 16 to 59 years had experienced stalking in the last year. The trend has been relatively flat over the last 10 years. This Government is fully committed to tackling stalking and doing all that it can to protect victims.The Home Office part-funds the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This helpline ensures that victims have 24/7 access to support, advice and practical information. In FY2025-2026, the Home Office has provided £193,430.More broadly, the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December set out clear action to tackle stalking, including the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead the Stalking Legislation Review, ensuring the criminal law on stalking is fit for purpose. A commitment was also made to strengthen the use of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). This includes setting up SPO intensification sites in select forces which aim to drive up use of SPOs and provide opportunities to test innovative approaches to enforce conditions and monitor breaches, which could be adopted nationwide.In addition, we are improving police understanding, identification and response to stalking, by ensuring all police forces implement changes following the stalking super-complaint. To provide a framework to support police and other agencies to coordinate their response to stalking cases, we are also introducing a power for the Secretary of State to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking through the Crime and Policing Bill.

What number of settlement visas have been issued in total for Gurkha veterans who retired prior to 1 July 1997.

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.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing the price of a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to that of an Electronic Travel Authorisation.

The Home Office has not assessed in isolation the specific impact of the potential merits of reducing the price of a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to that of an Electronic Travel Authorisation.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are set taking account of the charging powers provided by Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, which include the ability to set fees based on: the cost of processing the application, the benefits and entitlements provided by a successful application and the wider cost of the Migration and Borders system.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review and any reduction in fees would need to be considered in terms of its impact on the funding of the Migration & Borders system.The fee for the Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode is below the estimated cost to the Home Office of processing the application.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of the use of birth certificates and marriage certificates as proof of right to abode for British citizens living abroad.

The Immigration Act 1971 specifies that a British citizen must use a British citizen passport or a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode to enter the UK. There are no plans to change the law in this respect. Birth and marriage certificates on their own may not be sufficient to show that a person has the right of abode.

What steps she is taking to improve passport renewal and acquisition times.

His Majesty’s Passport Office consistently exceeds the performance indicator for its standard service within the UK, with over 98.5% of customers receiving their passport within three weeks where no further information is required.Information about the performance of HM Passport Office can be found within the latest transparency data release: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/699c360be1c6bad1576fbb88/passports-and-citizenship-data-oct-dec-2025.ods

What steps her Department is taking to facilitate British dual nationals living abroad to visit the UK.

We recognise the potential impact of changing travel requirements on dual British nationals who are seeking to travel to the UK without a valid British passport. We have therefore issued temporary operational guidance to carriers, who may at their own discretion accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. Individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of consistency in the (a) classification and (b) processing of safeguarding allegations in national institutions on the adequacy of levels of safeguarding.

This Government is committed to strengthening safeguarding practices across all institutions and ensuring children are kept safe from a range of harms. This requires a cross-government and cross-sector effort, and we are taking forward an ambitious range of measures to improve safeguarding and child protection. Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are strengthening multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and improving information sharing between statutory partners. We are also taking forward work to safeguard and protect children from harm in out-of-school settings. The Department for Education last year launched a Call for Evidence to gather views on potential approaches to strengthen safeguarding in these settings, including on potential regulation. The new Child Protection Authority will also improve national oversight and leadership of child protection across the country. A consultation on proposals is currently underway. Delivering on other recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, we have also put in place stronger disclosure and barring checks for adults working with children and introducing a mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of merging (i) shotgun and (ii) rifle licensing systems on clay target shooting businesses.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. The Government response set out the reasons why the Government considers this consultation to be important, and we intend to publish this shortly.We will carefully consider all of the views put forward in response to the consultation once it is published, before taking any decisions on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. The Government will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we intend to bring forward, including to policing and to the business community in rural areas, at the relevant time.