Written questions by Chope.

How many of the initial asylum decisions resulting in refusal have been the subject of an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal between October 2024 and March 2025; and how many of those (a) were successful, (b) were unsuccessful and (c) are outstanding.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum appeals lodged, and determined by outcome, are published in tables Asy_D06 and Asy_D07, respectively, of the asylum detailed datasets. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2023. Appeals data for April 2023 onwards is not available due to ongoing work on a new case working system. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration system statistics release.The Ministry of Justice publishes data on asylum appeals in the ‘Tribunal Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the open caseload for appeals relating to asylum, protection and revocation of protection is published in table FIA_4. The latest data relates to as at March 2025.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, for how many days lift number 77 in the Palace of Westminster has been out of order this year; for what reason it remains out of order; and when it is expected to be operating again.

Lift number 77 (HOP77) has been out of order for a total of 51 days in 2025 over four occasions, the most recent of which was 47 days.HOP 77 was returned to service on 7 November 2025 following the replacement of a printed circuit board which controlled the door opening mechanism.

What has been the cost to the public purse of the indemnity to pharmaceutical companies in the context of Covid-19 vaccines.

The Government cannot comment on the terms on which COVID-19 vaccinations were procured, which are confidential.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 86603, whether the £500 facilitation payment given to Hadush Kebatu was paid under the (a) Voluntary Returns Service or (b) Facilitated Return Scheme; and what was the qualifying criterion which was applied.

Mr Kebatu was issued a £500 discretionary payment to avoid the potential disruption of this return. Cancelling the return at the last stage would have triggered substantial costs. If the operation had been halted before departure, the minimum unavoidable escort and ticketing costs would have exceeded several thousands of pounds.The Home Office applies small discretionary payments, where appropriate, to prevent the failure of returns. These payments facilitate returns by making them quicker and cheaper, helping to avoid delays and additional costs. Decisions on their use are operational in nature.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the escalator from the House of Commons Members' car park does not cut off automatically when not in use.

The escalator is fitted with controls that allow the speed to vary dependent on demand and, in periods of low demand, runs at a slow speed to be energy efficient.The design of the escalator is such that it does not stop completely – this is a safety feature to ensure that anyone travelling on the escalator is not subjected to any sudden movements which could cause them to lose balance. This is usual in many high traffic areas in buildings of this type.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 86604, how many full time equivalent staff are employed in his office to (a) answer invitations and (b) answer Parliamentary Questions.

The answering of Ministerial invitations and Parliamentary Questions is shared across Private Offices and the Parliamentary Unit. Full time equivalency on these work streams fluctuates with business needs.

How many recipients of Personal Independence Payment are aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18; how many of those are in full time education; and how many of those are in each constituency in England.

The information requested on the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients aged 16, 17 and 18 in full-time education is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients by age and parliamentary constituency in England is available via Stats-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml). Guidance on how to use PIP data on Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK. An account is not required to use Stat-Xplore, the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions. The relevant information can be found in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ dataset. To filter for parliamentary constituencies in England, under the ‘Westminster Parliamentary Constituency 2024’ category, select ‘DWP policy ownership’. Click on the arrow beside ‘England’ and select ‘Westminster Parliamentary Constituency 2024’ to include all English constituencies. Next, to filter by specific ages, under ‘Age (bands and single year)’, expand the ‘16-19’ category and select the ages 16, 17 and 18 as required.

How many data subject access requests were received by the NHS in England in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of those requests were responded to with the requested data within (a) one and (b) three months.

Information on the number of data subject access requests received by National Health Service organisations, and the time taken to respond, is not collected centrally.

What the status is of the recruitment exercise which closed in November 2024 for Judges of the First-Tier Tribunal; how many applications were received; and how many appointments have been made (a) in total, (b) to the Social Entitlement Tribunal, (c) to the Health Education and Social Care Tribunal, (d) to the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and (e) to the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Tribunal.

The recruitment for salaried judges of the First-tier Tribunal (FtT) closed for applications in November 2024. The recruitment for fee-paid judges of the First-tier Tribunal closed for applications in June 2024. Both exercises included recruitment for judges to be assigned to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC), Social Entitlement Chamber (SEC), Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (HESC) and War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (WPAFCC).Following appointment, assignment to specific First-tier Tribunal Chambers is the responsibility of the Senior President of Tribunals. This process is still underway for both the salaried and fee-paid appointments and so we cannot confirm the final numbers. It is also not yet known how many judges will be assigned to the IAC from both the fee-paid and salaried exercises.The independent Judicial Appointments Commission publishes updated data quarterly on applications and the number of selections made for appointment once recruitment is completed: Completed exercises 2022-2025 - Judicial Appointments Commission. Information on the number of judges in post, leavers, new appointments and promotions is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/judicial-diversity-statistics.To increase IAC capacity, further specific recruitment for up to 70 IAC fee paid judges of the First-tier Tribunal recruitment is underway and recruitment for up to 30 IAC salaried judges of the First-tier Tribunal will commence shortly this calendar year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 68347 on Immigration: Appeals, when the recruitment exercise commenced in 2024 for the First Tier Tribunal will be completed; and how many vacant posts at the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal will (a) be filled and (b) remain unfilled.

The recruitment for salaried judges of the First-tier Tribunal (FtT) closed for applications in November 2024. The recruitment for fee-paid judges of the First-tier Tribunal closed for applications in June 2024. Both exercises included recruitment for judges to be assigned to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC), Social Entitlement Chamber (SEC), Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (HESC) and War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber (WPAFCC).Following appointment, assignment to specific First-tier Tribunal Chambers is the responsibility of the Senior President of Tribunals. This process is still underway for both the salaried and fee-paid appointments and so we cannot confirm the final numbers. It is also not yet known how many judges will be assigned to the IAC from both the fee-paid and salaried exercises.The independent Judicial Appointments Commission publishes updated data quarterly on applications and the number of selections made for appointment once recruitment is completed: Completed exercises 2022-2025 - Judicial Appointments Commission. Information on the number of judges in post, leavers, new appointments and promotions is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/judicial-diversity-statistics.To increase IAC capacity, further specific recruitment for up to 70 IAC fee paid judges of the First-tier Tribunal recruitment is underway and recruitment for up to 30 IAC salaried judges of the First-tier Tribunal will commence shortly this calendar year.

When she plans to dispose of the redundant site of the former Parkfield School at Hurn; and what estimate she has made of the (a) security and (b) opportunity costs of the premises remaining unused.

The school building was officially handed back to the department on 29 August 2025. Since that time LocatED have been managing the site on behalf of the department.The department has sought expressions of interest from academy trusts to use the site for alternative educational uses. It has also been working closely with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council over a possible reuse of the property for special educational needs provision.Whilst discussions as to an alternative educational use are ongoing, the department is finalising arrangements for an interim use of the site by neighbouring Bournemouth airport, which will create an income for the department and avoid ongoing site management costs. This should be in place by the end of the year.

Pursuant to the Answer on 27 October 2025 to Question 84141 on All-party Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies, how many invitations he received for speaking events in (a) August, (b) September and (c) October 2025; and how many of those invitations were (i) answered within (A) one month and (B) two months and (ii) not answered.

As I notified the hon. Member in my Answer on 27 October 2025 to Question 84141, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero receives a high volume of invitations to events and is not able to accommodate all requests.

How many courts hear First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) appeals; and how many are fully funded to operate throughout the year.

The First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FtTIAC) has 83 tribunal hearing rooms across the United Kingdom and has access to shared court rooms in other jurisdictions. Utilisation of this space is dependent on a number of factors including the volume of ‘in person’ versus ‘remote’ hearings scheduled, budgetary allocations, the requirement for judges to sit at satellite venues and available staffing and judicial resource.The FtTIAC is currently funded to sit to maximum levels based on available judicial capacity.

What steps she is taking to improve decision-making by her Department in the context of the number of successful appeals under the Human Rights Act 1998 upheld by the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber).

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.Data on initial decisions and outcomes on asylum claims, is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum claim and initial decisions detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.Data for as at 30 September 2025 will be published on 27 November 2025.Data on asylum appeals is published in table Asy_D06 and Asy_D07 of the ‘Asylum appeals lodged and determined detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2023. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.Appeals data from April 2023 onwards is currently unavailable for publication due to ongoing work as immigration data transitions to a new caseworking system. Work is ongoing to make this information available, and it will be included in a future edition of the Immigration System Statistics release. Please note that figures for immigration and asylum appeals at First-Tier Tribunal and subsequent stages are published by the Ministry of Justice as part of their Tribunal Statistics release. The latest data relates to January to March 2025.

(a) how many and (b) what value of facilitation payments were made to people subject to (i) deportation and (ii) removal in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The information requested regarding the specific value of payments made under the Voluntary Returns Service (VRS) and Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) are not separately available from published statistics. The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab). The number of foreign national offenders returned under FRS is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement quarterly release, with the latest publication being in 2022. The latest published data on FRS returns can be viewed at: Immigration Enforcement data: Q2 2024 - GOV.UK. Whereas the number of foreign nationals returned under the VRS is published as part of the Immigration system statistics return summary tables, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK. FRS and VRS are not an alternative to removal or deportation but facilitate the early removal of FNOs and those without leave to remain in the UK, helping them to re-settle in their country of origin. Voluntary removals benefit the UK taxpayer as costs of detention, appeals, and other legal challenges are significantly reduced.

If she will conduct an inquiry into the reasons why Dorset Police discontinued their investigation into the fraudulent activities identified in Operation Ringwood.

The Home Office is aware of the Operation Ringwood investigation and strongly sympathises with the distressing experience that victims have faced.The Home Secretary is unable to intervene in any operational decisions made by law enforcement regarding reports and the investigation of potential crimes. This is to maintain the independence of the organisations involved, including the police and courts, which remains a fundamental part of the British justice system.We are committed to strengthening law enforcement capabilities to tackle fraud and protect the public. Further detail will be set out in the upcoming Fraud Strategy.

How many beds at University Hospitals Dorset were occupied on (a) 1 April and (b) 1 October 2025 by patients with no criteria to reside.

Information about how many beds are occupied by patients with no criteria to reside by trust is published by NHS England, and this information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/discharge-delays/acute-discharge-situation-report/The following table shows how many beds at University Hospitals Dorset were occupied by patients with no criteria to reside for 1 April 2025 and 1 October 2025:DateNumber of patients remaining in hospital who no longer meet the criteria to reside1 April 20251861 October 2025194Source: NHS EnglandTo support trusts to reduce the number of beds occupied by patients with no criteria to reside, the Government published a new policy framework in January 2025 for the £9 billion Better Care Fund. This holds the National Health Service and local authorities accountable for setting and achieving joint goals for reducing discharge delays and preventing avoidable emergency admissions. Some challenged systems are also receiving a programme of improvement support.

How many decisions of the Home Office with a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) have been made in each of the last 12 months; and how many of these have been or are now the subject of such an appeal.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.Data on initial decisions and outcomes on asylum claims, is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum claim and initial decisions detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.Data for as at 30 September 2025 will be published on 27 November 2025.Data on asylum appeals is published in table Asy_D06 and Asy_D07 of the ‘Asylum appeals lodged and determined detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2023. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.Appeals data from April 2023 onwards is currently unavailable for publication due to ongoing work as immigration data transitions to a new caseworking system. Work is ongoing to make this information available, and it will be included in a future edition of the Immigration System Statistics release. Please note that figures for immigration and asylum appeals at First-Tier Tribunal and subsequent stages are published by the Ministry of Justice as part of their Tribunal Statistics release. The latest data relates to January to March 2025.

For what reason is the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) at Taylor House Tribunal Hearing Centre on Rosebery Avenue, London, is restricted from using more than 20 of its 27 courts on average during the year; and what would be the additional cost of allowing all of its 27 courts to be used.

The First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FtTIAC) is currently sitting to maximum levels possible based on available judicial capacity.The FtTIAC has 27 hearing rooms available to list into at the Taylor House Tribunal Hearing Centre. Utilisation of this space is dependent on a number of factors including the volume of ‘in person’ versus ‘remote’ hearings scheduled, budgetary allocations, the requirement for judges to sit at satellite venues and available staffing and judicial resource.Work is ongoing to increase capacity through recruitment of Judges and support staff. Judicial recruitment exercises which commenced in 2024 for the First-tier Tribunal, including the IAC, are ongoing with appointments due later this year and we are working to grow capacity further across future years. As additional Judges begin to sit we expect to see higher levels of listing across the FtTIAC estate.

If he will make his policy that witnesses giving evidence at hearings of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) should do so under oath.

As an issue of tribunal procedure, giving evidence under oath would be a matter for judicial consideration. Rule 14(3) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) already provides that the tribunal may require evidence to be given under oath.Additionally, a witness statement, the equivalent of the oral evidence which the witness would, if called, give in evidence must always include a statement by the intended witness in their own language that they believe the facts in it are true.