Every parliamentary written question tabled by Charlie Dewhirst this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 51 · Home Office
With reference to the Areas of Research interest gov.uk page published by the Government Office for Science, whether she plans to update her Department’s area of research interests.
The Home Office will be publishing updated Areas of Research interest later this year.
Whether Inter Mediate is on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme register.
It would not be appropriate to comment on whether specific entities have registered under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.Certain information registered under the scheme is published on the public Foreign Influence Registration Scheme register, where the registration relates to political influence activities and where no exception to publication applies. Registrations under the enhanced tier are not published unless they relate to political influence activities, and there are circumstances in which registration details will not be made public, for example where publication could create a risk to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.The Government does not intend to provide details of registrations beyond those that appear on the public register, as doing so could identify information not intended to be published and undermine the scheme’s objectives.However, the Government will be publishing an annual report on the operation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will include, among other things, the number of registrations under both tiers, the number of information notices issued, and the number of persons charged with or convicted of offences under the scheme. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70519 on Public Inquiries, what the total cost to the public purse of the Southport inquiry is at the most recent date for which data are available.
The total costs for the Southport Inquiry have not yet been published. However, the inquiry will be expected to publish its costs periodically and intends to make these available in due course on its website, which is available here: https://www.southport.public-inquiry.uk/
Pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113596 on Mission Boards, if she will publish the current terms of reference of the Safer Streets Mission Board; and whether any changes have been made to those terms of reference since the Mission Board was established.
The Safer Streets Mission Board was established as a Cabinet Committee. As with other Cabinet Committees, its detailed terms of reference are not routinely published.
Pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2025, to Question 23032, on Home Office: Flags, which unit of her Department decided which flags would be flown from the Department’s buildings in 2025.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) manages the protocol around flying the Union Flag from Government buildings, publishing the designated days list to that effect each year.Home Office's other flag-flying is managed by Home Office Facilities Management (FM) providers at 5 sites, and by the Government Property Agency at 2 sites, and is signed off by the Deputy Director for Workplace Services and Projects (and shared with the Director for Property and Security, the DG for Chief Operating Officer Group and the Permanent Secretary’s office.Any additional flags besides the flags of England, Scotland and Wales (flown on national days) would only be flown with sign off from the Permanent Secretary.
Pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2025, to Question 71459, on Counter-terrorism: Finance, if she will list the individual quantitative and qualitative elements and metrics used by the Homeland Security Analysis and Insight team to determine the funding to individual councils.
Each year the Home Office conducts an annual prioritisation exercise to understand which Local Authorities (LAs) are facing the highest threat from radicalisation to terrorism. The process incorporates both quantitative and qualitative elements.The quantitative element of the model draws on counter-terrorism investigations data and arrests data for terrorism and terrorism-related offences; the number of cases that have been discussed at a Channel multi-agency panel or are being managed separately under the police-led process; community tension reports; hate crime data; Indices of Multiple Deprivation; and annual employment statistics. It is regularly reviewed and adapted to ensure that it provides a sound basis to make effective evidence-based decisions.As part of the qualitative element, we hold a series of regional roundtables with key Prevent delivery partners, which allows us to sense check the preliminary rankings and make adjustments by drawing on the knowledge and experience of front-line Prevent practitioners from across a range of sectors, including CT Policing; Department for Education; Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government; Health; and HM Prisons and Probation.Funding for posts and dedicated projects is allocated as part of an annual bidding process, with funding allocations informed by factors including the amount of funding available, the level of threat, the level of funding provided for Prevent posts in the previous financial year, and inflation-related increases.
With reference to the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme public register, how many registrations have been made since the introduction of the scheme which have not be publicly published; and for what reason there are no political influence registrations relating to countries on the enhanced tier.
As of the 5th of March, there are 11 registrations on the FIRS public register. We will not provide details of registrations beyond that which is on the public register as to do so could identify information not intended to be published and undermine the scheme’s objectives.Registrations under the enhanced tier will not be published, unless they relate to political influence activities. There are additionally circumstances where exceptions to publication may apply, for example where publication could create a risk to the safety or interests of the UK or to an individual or entity’s safety.The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations across both tiers, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.FIRS is a new scheme, and a published impact assessment sets out expected numbers of registrations in the first year (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-bill-overarching-documents/impact-assessment-foreign-influence-registration-scheme-accessible)Where there is evidence of a criminal offence having been committed, including failure to register with FIRS, the Government will refer the matter to the police.
Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2025, to Question 71458, on Counter-terrorism: finance, if he will list how much was paid to each individual local authority for (a) local authority posts and (b) project delivery in 2024-25.
In 2024/25, the Home Office paid dedicated Prevent grant funds to the 30 highest threat priority area local authorities. A breakdown of the funding that was paid to local authorities via the Home Office Prevent grant for posts and projects is outlined in Table A.In addition, in 2024/25 all local authorities in England and Wales were able to apply for targeted Prevent projects, which were delivered through the Preventing Radicalisation Fund (PRF). The PRF is now available to local authorities in Scotland. These projects are delivered by trusted third sector organisations, including local civil society organisations. The funding for approved PRF projects was not paid to local authorities directly and was administered separately by a Grant Administrator. The funding that was allocated for PRF projects delivered in local authorities in 2024/25 is outlined in Table B.Please note that some priority areas in receipt of Home Office Prevent grant funding also applied for additional project funding via the PRF to support project delivery in other adjacent local authorities as part of regional activities. In addition, some local authorities teamed up to place joint PRF bids to support project delivery across multiple local authorities, and have been grouped together in Table B.Table A Local Authorities (Alphabetical order)Funds paid (£) for Posts (Home Office Grant) Funds paid (£) for Projects (Home Office Grant)1Birmingham351,324.81229,176.002Blackburn with Darwen267,925.0403Bradford223,230.8856,214.254Brent268,876.6011,000.005Bristol102,512.3106Calderdale170,554.6218,122.007Cardiff258,713.5187,020.458Croydon143,976.0709Derby211,942.0395,350.0010Ealing139,348.01011Enfield202,208.9233,105.0012Hackney137,053.60013Haringey142,757.1533,000.0014Kent246,595.05015Kirklees160,652.4746,905.0016Lambeth155,856.32017Leeds251,136.77186,453.4018Leicester186,792.29133,431.7519Liverpool295,107.657,047.0020Luton214,554.33134,624.5021Manchester392,184.44107,292.0022Newcastle upon Tyne102,390.73023Newham162,565.9359,233.8624Nottingham129,317.13025Redbridge193,073.69115,041.4526Sandwell149,199.99027Sheffield160,784.35028Tower Hamlets192,498.63100,074.2829Waltham Forest142,697.04030Westminster281,887.2530,000 Table B Local Authorities (Alphabetical order)Allocated Funds (£) for Projects (PRF)1Barnsley13,5002Cambridgeshire20,4303Coventry19,638.504Dorset24,4835East Midlands: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire60,6506Essex14,672.387Greater Manchester: Oldham, Trafford, Bolton, Wigan, Salford, Stockport, Rochdale40,7928Havering8,9739Humberside: Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire20,922.5010Isle of Wight13,70111Lancashire: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Lancashire31,820.4012Merseyside: Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral122,060.513Rotherham25,604.4014Solihull10,05015Southampton10,67516South London: Lambeth, Croydon & Wandsworth17,559.2017South West London: Kingston, Richmond & Wandsworth6,19518Thurrock19,988.2719Wakefield20,25020Wales: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys34,646.4021Wales: Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend23,949.0022West London: Hammersmith & Fulham, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Ealing, Hillingdon, Richmond & Wandsworth, Hounslow, Merton43,42023West Midlands: Wolverhampton and Dudley8,275.0024Wiltshire26,303.60
Whether the Government will make additional financial contributions to the EU as a consequence of the agreement to ooperate in relation to drugs risks and threats.
No decisions have yet been taken as to whether the UK will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions set out in the Common Understanding of 19 May 2025 2025 to cooperate in relation to drugs risks and threats.Our position remains that we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union's work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. We will need to work through the details of this in further discussions with the EU.Any decisions on such matters will be assessed in accordance with Government Accounting Officer rules, including value for money.
Pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025, to Question 73334, on Internet: Security, what guidance has the National Protective Security Authority provided on using Virtual Private Networks to other organisations than DSIT.
A summary of the wide variety of guidance provided by the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is available on their website at www.npsa.gov.uk.The national technical authority for cyber security is the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).Their website ww.ncsc.gov.uk provides a range of guidance on cyber security, including on the use of virtual private networks www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/device-security-guidance/infrastructure/virtual-private-networks
Pursuant to the written statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS855, on Events at Orgreave, whether the Chair of the inquiry has provided a declaration of interests, including any declaration of political activity; and what is his remuneration.
Section 17 of the Inquiries Act 2005 requires the Chair of an Inquiry established under the Act to act with fairness and with regard to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost. Once the Orgreave Inquiry is established, it will be expected to publish its costs periodically. Ministers will meet with the Chair to discuss budgets and timetables in more detail once the terms of reference have been published, at which point it will be possible to make more reliable estimates on the inquiry’s time and cost.Under the 2005 Act, there are legal requirements concerning the expertise, balance and impartiality of the Chair. The previous Home Secretary made the decision to appoint the Chair of the Inquiry on the basis of those requirements being met.
With reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, how customer satisfaction with cultural sensitivity is monitored for the Security Guarding Services contract with MITIE SECURITY LIMITED.
The Security Guarding Services contract KPI relating to cultural sensitivity is a qualitative KPI and is measured through a Customer Satisfaction evaluation survey completed on a quarterly basis. The KPI is monitored and reported through the contract management meetings held with Mitie Security Limited.
With reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, what the Key Performance Indicators are for the (a) Digitise Delivery Support contract with DELOITTE MCS LTD and (b) QAT74 End to End Testing contract with LA International Computer Consultants Limited.
For Digitise Delivery Support contract with DELOITTE MCS LTD performance is managed through Balanced score card performance process by the Migration Border Tech Portfolio business. Performance assessed the supplier against themes :- Performance to pay process- Service requests and onboarding- Delivery of the outcome of the various roles; project management, partnering behaviours and value add services and social value.For QAT74 End to End Testing contract with LA International Computer Consultants Limited, the KPIs are :- Partnering Behaviours- Delivery- Value Add
Pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, who the internal and external members are of the Safer Streets Mission Board.
The Safer Streets Mission Board is chaired by the Home Secretary. Ministers from relevant government departments are invited to attend meetings based on specific discussion topics, as are external experts where necessary.The Mission Board is supported by a monthly Safer Streets Delivery Board, which brings officials from government departments together to drive delivery and outcomes under the Safer Streets Mission. The Delivery Board is chaired by the Director General for the Public Safety Group in the Home Office and is attended by senior officials from relevant government departments.
What the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in her Department.
Tim Goodson was appointed as a Member of the Offensive Weapons Homicide Reviews Oversight Board for a period of 15 months, from 19 November 2024 which will end on 18 April 2026. The Member receives a remuneration of £300 per day, based on an expected time commitment of 5 days per month attendance.
How many houses in multiple occupation are currently being funded by the Home Office to house migrants, broken down by local authority area.
The Home Office does not publish detailed information on the location of asylum accommodation sites for safety and security reasons. Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can broken down by local authority rather than by constituency.Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UKThe Home Office, and its accommodation providers, take into account a range of issues when considering the suitability for dispersed accommodation. Local authorities are consulted on bedspaces before they are procured.
Further to page 142 of the Home Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published in July 2025, for what reason £30,000 of the exit payment to the Permanent Secretary was deemed non-taxable.
Decisions about Permanent Secretary exit payments are made by the Cabinet Office. In line with other exit payments, the first £30,000 of this payment was not taxable, and the remaining balance was taxable.Tax on termination payments: What you pay tax and National Insurance on - GOV.UK
Whether her Department has made payments to digital influencers since July 2024.
There has been no spend on influencer marketing within the time frame specified.
With reference the UK Visas and Immigration guidance entitled (a) Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes and (b) Skilled Worker visa: temporary shortage list, updated on 22 July 2025, what the evidential basis is for (i) a shortage of Equality, diversity and inclusion managers and (ii) the impact on the UK economy of granting visas for such roles; and whether the Migration Advisory Committee has advised on the matter.
On 12 May, we published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes and the 22 July changes to the Immigration Rules delivered key steps, including raising the skills threshold governing Skilled Worker route to RQF 6, which removed access to over 100 occupations.The Skilled Worker system relies on Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, which are managed by the Office for National Statistics. Occupations which are recognised as meeting the skills threshold for the Skilled Worker immigration route can continue to be sponsored through the route.
How many suicides by police officers have been recorded in each of the last ten years, by local police force.
The Home Office does not currently collect or hold this information centrally. The Office for National Statistics publishes data on the number of suicides registered in England and Wales by occupation. The latest available data can be found here: Suicide by occupation in England and Wales: 2023 and 2024, provisional - Office for National StatisticsThis Government has been clear that the health and wellbeing of our police workforce is a priority.The National Police Wellbeing Service has created a national suicide action plan which aims to educate and support the workforce, reduce stress and improve data recording. In addition, the Service has put in place a 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support Line to provide urgent support for our police when they need it the most.