Written questions by Hanna.

What the average waiting time for a decision for any asylum seeker is once they have received confirmation that their application is receiving prioritisation due to compassionate circumstances.

The requested information is not currently available from published data and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost. However, the Home Office does publish data on the number of asylum claims awaiting an initial decision by duration in table Asy_D03 of the ‘Asylum detailed datasets’, as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Additionally, data on the percentage of applications processed within 6 months is published in table ASY_01 of the ‘Immigration and Protection’ data of the Migration Transparency Data collection.

What the average waiting time is for any asylum seeker to receive a decision from the date they claimed asylum.

The average time taken to process a substantive decision is not currently available from published data and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost. However, the Home Office does publish data on the number of asylum claims awaiting an initial decision by duration in table Asy_D03 of the ‘Asylum detailed datasets’, as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Additionally, data on the percentage of applications processed within 6 months is published in table ASY_01 of the ‘Immigration and Protection’ data of the Migration Transparency Data collection.

If she will ensure funding is made available to support economically inactive beneficiaries in Northern Ireland into employment after the end of UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was extended at Autumn Budget 2024 at a level of £902m, providing support for local areas, including economic inactivity support in Northern Ireland. In 2025 – 2026, Northern Ireland was allocated £45.48 million under the UKSPF, of which £25.8m is expected to be spent on economic inactivity support. Further decisions on local growth funding are a matter for the Spending Review. Wider employment support is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

What the service standard level time is for businesses to receive a UK Internal Market Scheme number.

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) was launched in June 2023, allowing businesses across the United Kingdom to apply, and HMRC has successfully encouraged over 10,000 traders to get authorised.HMRC is required to take a decision regarding the outcome of a UKIMS application within 120 days days. Applications are typically processed much faster with an average turnaround time of 12 to 15 working days. HMRC must undertake a range of checks to verify eligibility for the scheme and, in certain cases, seek further information from businesses. We do not collect data on the time taken for traders to complete UKIMS applications.

What the average time taken is for businesses to (a) apply for and (b) receive a UK Internal Market Scheme number.

The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) was launched in June 2023, allowing businesses across the United Kingdom to apply, and HMRC has successfully encouraged over 10,000 traders to get authorised.HMRC is required to take a decision regarding the outcome of a UKIMS application within 120 days days. Applications are typically processed much faster with an average turnaround time of 12 to 15 working days. HMRC must undertake a range of checks to verify eligibility for the scheme and, in certain cases, seek further information from businesses. We do not collect data on the time taken for traders to complete UKIMS applications.

What the value inclusive of accrued interest is of assets frozen by the UK that belonged to the Libyan Qaddafi regime.

The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury published in its 2023-2024 Annual Review that £13.4 billion in assets relating to the Libya sanctions regime have been reported as frozen as of September 2023. This is an aggregated total of all entities and individuals listed on the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets.Interest accrued on frozen assets is still subject to an asset freeze to be frozen immediately by the person in possession or control of them, but there is no change in ownership of the frozen funds or economic resources, and they are not transferred to HM Treasury. As there is no obligation for a relevant institution to inform OFSI when it has credited interest to a frozen account, OFSI does not hold this information.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the forthcoming white paper on immigration.

The Home Office actively and regularly engages with the Devolved Governments at Ministerial level, and the Devolved Governments were invited to submit suggestions for inclusion in the Immigration White Paper (IWP), with further engagement taking place ahead of its publication.The IWP, which was published on 12 May 2025, links migration with skills policy for all parts of the UK, and we will continue to work with the Devolved Governments as we move forward. A copy of the IWP has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the forthcoming white paper on immigration (a) reflects the requirements of (i) the mushroom sector and (ii) other agricultural sectors in Northern Ireland and (b) addresses issues of Northern Ireland abutting the EU land border.

The Home Office actively and regularly engages with the Devolved Governments at Ministerial level, and the Devolved Governments were invited to submit suggestions for inclusion in the Immigration White Paper (IWP), with further engagement taking place ahead of its publication.The IWP, which was published on 12 May 2025, links migration with skills policy for all parts of the UK, and we will continue to work with the Devolved Governments as we move forward. A copy of the IWP has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on taking steps to ensure that the forthcoming white paper on immigration reflects Northern Ireland's border with an EU member state.

The Home Office actively and regularly engages with the Devolved Governments at Ministerial level, and the Devolved Governments were invited to submit suggestions for inclusion in the Immigration White Paper (IWP), with further engagement taking place ahead of its publication.The IWP, which was published on 12 May 2025, links migration with skills policy for all parts of the UK, and we will continue to work with the Devolved Governments as we move forward. A copy of the IWP has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) directly invite the views of disabled people and (b) directly engage with stakeholder groups on the Pathway to Work proposals.

This government strongly values the input of disabled people and representative organisations, and that is why we have brought forward this Green Paper and opened a public consultation. The consultation welcomes all views, and we hope that a wide range of voices will respond before it closes on the 30 June 2025.We have published a full suite of accessible versions of the Green Paper to ensure that everyone can engage. Our schedule of virtual and in-person public consultation events across the country will further facilitate input and help us to hear from disabled people and stakeholders directly. The events accommodate any reasonable adjustments for individuals who wish to attend, including re-imbursing travel costs and arranging accessible venues and accessibility requirements such as BSL interpreters or stenographers for attendees.We are continuing to facilitate other ways to involve stakeholders and disabled people in our reforms. In addition to the consultation itself, we will establish ‘collaboration committees’ that bring groups, including disabled people and other experts, together for specific work areas. Our wider review of the PIP assessment, led by myself, will also bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience.

What steps she is taking to ensure the consultation events on the Pathway to Work are accessible to people with disabilities.

This government strongly values the input of disabled people and representative organisations, and that is why we have brought forward this Green Paper and opened a public consultation. The consultation welcomes all views, and we hope that a wide range of voices will respond before it closes on the 30 June 2025.We have published a full suite of accessible versions of the Green Paper to ensure that everyone can engage. Our schedule of virtual and in-person public consultation events across the country will further facilitate input and help us to hear from disabled people and stakeholders directly. The events accommodate any reasonable adjustments for individuals who wish to attend, including re-imbursing travel costs and arranging accessible venues and accessibility requirements such as BSL interpreters or stenographers for attendees.We are continuing to facilitate other ways to involve stakeholders and disabled people in our reforms. In addition to the consultation itself, we will establish ‘collaboration committees’ that bring groups, including disabled people and other experts, together for specific work areas. Our wider review of the PIP assessment, led by myself, will also bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help resolve the blockade of food and aid reaching Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary has raised the urgent need for restarting the flow of humanitarian aid with his Israeli counterpart repeatedly and will continue to make representations to the Government of Israel on this matter. We are constantly pressing Israel publicly and privately to allow the flow of aid into Gaza. On 23 April, we issued a statement, together with France and Germany, calling for Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, ensure aid workers are protected and urge all parties to return to a ceasefire with remaining hostages released. On 29 April, the UK made a statement to the UN Security Council where we shared our concerns about the dwindling supply of food, which leaves a million children at risk of starvation, disease and death.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of transporting aid to Gaza by sea.

We assess that the delivery of aid through Ashdod Port presents the most viable maritime route at this time. The UK has previously worked with partners to operationalise a maritime aid corridor, but we have always been clear that this can never be a substitute for delivery by land, which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale needed.The UK continues to call on the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Migration Advisory Committee's report entitled Graduate route: rapid review, published 14 May 2024.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and other stakeholders.

If her Department will undertake a review of the Graduate route visa scheme.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and other stakeholders.

Innovation and Technology, what governance arrangements are in place for the Cyber Local fund in Northern Ireland; and what steps he plans to take to allow local groups in Northern Ireland to provide input into the initiative.

For the 2024/25 Cyber Local pilot, regional steering groups were established to review expressions of interest from potential applicants. The Northern Ireland steering group comprised individuals from industry, academia, and the NI Executive, and was responsible for ensuring that proposals met a local need and did not duplicate existing interventions. Endorsement from the steering group was a prerequisite for accessing a Cyber Local grant via Innovate UK.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including Northern Ireland as an eligible region for Cyber Local funding in 2025-26.

As of April 2025, the way that Devolved Administrations (DAs) receive funding for cyber security has changed. Previously ringfenced cyber budgets will be absorbed into departmental baselines and provided directly to DAs in their overall HM Treasury settlement.The revised funding arrangements further support DAs, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to make their own choices about how to champion the cyber sector in each part of the UK. DSIT will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on how to assist the cyber sector, including through the Cyber Local programme.DSIT continues to support the successful cyber ecosystem in Northern Ireland with key investments such as the Cyber AI Hub programme at Queen’s University Belfast.

Innovation and Technology, whether Northern Ireland will receive funding from Cyber Local in 2025-26.

As of April 2025, the way that Devolved Administrations (DAs) receive funding for cyber security has changed. Previously ringfenced cyber budgets will be absorbed into departmental baselines and provided directly to DAs in their overall HM Treasury settlement.The revised funding arrangements further support DAs, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to make their own choices about how to champion the cyber sector in each part of the UK. DSIT will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on how to assist the cyber sector, including through the Cyber Local programme.DSIT continues to support the successful cyber ecosystem in Northern Ireland with key investments such as the Cyber AI Hub programme at Queen’s University Belfast.

Whether her Department plans to apply for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal from the Upper Tribunal judgement Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v MJ [2025] UKUT 035 (AAC).

In relation to the recent judgment in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v MJ [2025] UKUT 035 (AAC), the Secretary of State will not be seeking permission to appeal the outcome.

Whether there will be a Barnett consequential for Northern Ireland following the roll out of free breakfast clubs in England.

At Phase 1 of the 2025 Spending Review, over £30 million was allocated to the Department for Education to fund breakfast clubs in 2025-26. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way to changes in the Department for Education’s Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget. The resulting Barnett consequentials were included in the Northern Ireland Executive’s £18.2 billion settlement for 2025-26, which includes an additional £1.5 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula.This is the largest spending review settlement in real terms since devolution and ensures that the Northern Ireland Executive continues to receive over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, including the 2024 restoration financial package. The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Main Estimates 2023-24. The most recent report was published in July 2023. An update to Block Grant Transparency to include Autumn Budget 2024 changes will be published in due course:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023