Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Philp this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 97 · Home Office
For the number of (a) enforced and (b) voluntary asylum-related removals in 2025 for all nationalities.
The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ’Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’. Data on enforced and voluntary asylum-related returns in 2025 can be found in Ret_05 with a further breakdown by top 10 nationalities in Ret_04 of the ‘Returns summary tables’.
What was the number of international students by university and by nationality who dropped out of university in the academic year 2024/2025.
The Home Office does not currently publish data on the number of student visas issued for individuals attending specific universities, nor does it provide information regarding students who fail to complete their course.Information on Home Office Entry Clearance Student visas can be found in the Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
Whether she plans to open new legal routes for Iranian nationals affected by the regional conflict.
The Government has not introduced a bespoke visa route in response to the conflict. Existing visa routes remain available and Iranian nationals who wish to come to the UK can apply to do so via these routes.Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules. We advise people to consider the most appropriate visa route for their own circumstances.
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on student society statements praising Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
As the Education Secretary made clear in her statement to Parliament on 2 March, universities should be places of open discussion and dialogue, where views should be challenged and questioned. But there is no place for hate speech or intimidation on campus.That is why on 8 March, the Government announced stronger protections for university students and staff against extremism, harassment and intimidation on campus.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the conflict with Iran on the number of asylum applications from Iranian nationals; and what steps she is taking to manage the anticipated change.
There is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety. If someone is in the UK and circumstances in their home country change, such that it is no longer safe for them to return home, they can claim asylum. The Home Office constantly monitors global events and prepares for a range of scenarios to ensure the asylum system can respond effectively. We are closely monitoring the fast-moving situation in Iran and we continue to register, interview and decide protection claims from Iranian nationals in the UK as normal. All asylum and human rights claims will be carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. We have already taken steps to streamline the asylum process and increase our efficiency. As per normal operational practice we can deploy decision makers flexibly to support wider casework demands across Asylum & Human Rights Operations and the wider Asylum Group within the Home Office. Any additional asylum claims will be processed in the usual way and each individual assessment will be made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Note. We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues such as challenges in the Middle East. The CPIN for Iran is available on GOV.UK at: Iran: country policy and information notes - GOV.UK. We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear or persecution or are at risk of serious harm.
What the status is of the rollout of the Right Care, Right Person policy in each police force.
It is a matter for each chief constable to determine how much of the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) approach they wish to adopt and timing is ultimately an operational matter for each chief constable.It is recognised best practice for the police to work in close consultation with local partners to understand local issues and gaps, to clarify roles and responsibilities in responding to given incidents and to agree a timeline for implementing the different phases of RCRP in their force area.In the recent white paper on police reform, From Local to National this government has committed to continue to support the roll out of RCRP to all parts of the country.
What estimate her Department has made of the officer hours saved each year as a result of the rollout of the Right Care Right Person policy.
The Home Office and the Department for Health and Social Care published a joint evaluation on the implementation of the Right Care, Right Person in December 2024, which showed that RCRP has led to a reduction in calls and deployments to RCRP-related incidents following implementation, estimating a saving of c.370,000 police hours per year across the five forces covered by this aspect of the evaluation.
Whether asylum seekers at the Cameron barracks will have access to publicly-funded therapists.
Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, NHS, Police, and other local partners – via an Operational Working Group in addition to bi-lateral conversations.Safety and security of residents, staff and the neighbouring community will remain central to any decisions. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate, and compliant with planning regulations.
What steps she is taking to engage with local communities in Inverness, in light of the decision to use the Cameron barracks as asylum accommodation.
Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, NHS, Police, and other local partners – via an Operational Working Group in addition to bi-lateral conversations.Safety and security of residents, staff and the neighbouring community will remain central to any decisions. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate, and compliant with planning regulations.
What formal process has been followed regarding the change of use of the Cameron Barracks.
Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, NHS, Police, and other local partners – via an Operational Working Group in addition to bi-lateral conversations.Safety and security of residents, staff and the neighbouring community will remain central to any decisions. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate, and compliant with planning regulations.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact on the welfare of military families living in accommodation next to the Cameron Barracks, in light of the site now being used as asylum accommodation.
Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, NHS, Police, and other local partners – via an Operational Working Group in addition to bi-lateral conversations.Safety and security of residents, staff and the neighbouring community will remain central to any decisions. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate, and compliant with planning regulations.
What estimate she has made of the cost of providing recreational activities and health services to asylum seekers at the Cameron barracks.
Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, NHS, Police, and other local partners – via an Operational Working Group in addition to bi-lateral conversations.Safety and security of residents, staff and the neighbouring community will remain central to any decisions. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate, and compliant with planning regulations.
If she will publish the minutes of meetings between her Department and Wealden District Council on the proposed use of the Crowborough Training Camp to accommodate asylum seekers.
The Home Office engages regularly with Wealden District Council regarding Crowborough Training Camp. The department does not routinely publish minutes of such meetings.
When asylum seekers are expected to be accommodated at the Crowborough Training Camp.
We are continuing to assess the feasibility of the Crowborough site. No final decision has been made, and as such no arrival date for service users has been confirmed.
Whether her Department has received any legal notices, pre-action correspondence and letters before action from Wealden District Council on the proposed use of the Crowborough Training Camp.
The Home Office has received a Planning Contravention Notice from Wealden District Council regarding Crowborough. We have not received any pre-action protocol letters or letters before action from Wealden District Council.
What factors her Department has had regard to in making its assessment as to the suitability of the Crowborough Training Camp site to accommodate asylum seekers.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits. Regarding Crowborough, the Home Office has been engaging with statutory partners, including Health, Police and Fire Rescue, on this proposal and we will ensure that the site operates safely, with mitigations for local impacts such as on local services. All alternative accommodation sites, including Crowborough, will provide basic, functional, and humane accommodation while asylum claims are processed.
What assurances she has received from statutory service providers that they could meet the needs arising from the use of the Crowborough Training Camp site to accommodate asylum seekers.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits. Regarding Crowborough, the Home Office has been engaging with statutory partners, including Health, Police and Fire Rescue, on this proposal and we will ensure that the site operates safely, with mitigations for local impacts such as on local services. All alternative accommodation sites, including Crowborough, will provide basic, functional, and humane accommodation while asylum claims are processed.
What assessment her Department has made of whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required for the use of the Crowborough Training Camp site to accommodate asylum seekers.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits. Regarding Crowborough, the Home Office has been engaging with statutory partners, including Health, Police and Fire Rescue, on this proposal and we will ensure that the site operates safely, with mitigations for local impacts such as on local services. All alternative accommodation sites, including Crowborough, will provide basic, functional, and humane accommodation while asylum claims are processed.
If she will publish all assessments made by her Department on the adequacy of the Crowborough Training Camp site for accommodating asylum seekers.
As potential sites are identified and progressed for alternative asylum accommodation, a Stage Gate process, which builds on the lessons learned from the delivery of previous sites, is followed to ensure that any decisions made are informed by a comprehensive range of information. This includes, but isn’t limited to, site surveys and environmental audits. Regarding Crowborough, the Home Office has been engaging with statutory partners, including Health, Police and Fire Rescue, on this proposal and we will ensure that the site operates safely, with mitigations for local impacts such as on local services. All alternative accommodation sites, including Crowborough, will provide basic, functional, and humane accommodation while asylum claims are processed.
If she will consult (a) Wealden District Council, (b) other affected local councils and (c) statutory service providers prior to a decision being taken on whether to use Crowborough Training Camp to accommodate asylum seekers.
It remains our intention to use Crowborough Training Camp to accommodateasylum seekers, subject to the outcome of feasibility assessments. We areconfident that the level of due diligence carried out on alternativeaccommodation sites has improved, and we ensure that the relevantapprovals and assessments take place at the appropriate stage.The Home Office has been engaging with statutory partners for Crowborough,including Health, Police and Fire Rescue, on this proposal and will work withlocal authority and cross-government media teams to ensure ongoingcoordination and alignment to deliver consistent messaging and rapidresponse to emerging issues. Multi- Agency Forums chaired by Home Officewith key delivery partners will take place at least fortnightly pre-delivery, aswell as post go-live and we are working closely with key stakeholdersincluding local health partners to minimise the impact on the local community.Regarding Community and Equality Impact Assessments, assessments willbe carried out as part of the standard process for alternative sites and will bepublished as appropriate