Written questions by Eastwood.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating an expedited process for healthcare organisations seeking Certificates of Sponsorship to support visa renewals for existing employees.

The same service standard applies to all sponsors using the immigration system and the onus is on the sponsors to be aware of the legal status of their workers and request the relevant Certificates of Sponsorship in accordance with those timescales. Priority services are available albeit capped for an expedited consideration. We keep our service standards under review.Healthcare workers who qualify for the Health and Care Visa benefit from faster in-country visa processing times and are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the length of time taken for UK Visas and Immigration to process requests for an increase in undefined Certificates of Sponsorship allocations for healthcare providers.

The same service standard applies to all sponsors using the immigration system and the onus is on the sponsors to be aware of the legal status of their workers and request the relevant Certificates of Sponsorship in accordance with those timescales. Priority services are available albeit capped for an expedited consideration. We keep our service standards under review.Healthcare workers who qualify for the Health and Care Visa benefit from faster in-country visa processing times and are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2025 to Question 76347 on Palestine Action, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the decision to proscribe Palestine Action on Northern Ireland.

Decisions on proscription are not taken lightly. They are informed by a robust evidence-based process, with contributions from a wide range of experts from across government, the police and the intelligence community. The intelligence and advice from the UK’s world leading counter-terrorism system was clear – Palestine Action satisfied the relevant tests in the Terrorism Act 2000, and should be proscribed.The Home Secretary takes into account various factors when exercising her decision to proscribe including; the nature and scale of an organisation’s activities, the specific threat that it poses to the UK and the impacts of proscription.The enforcement of proscription offences is an operational matter for police forces, which includes the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Whether her Department had discussions with the (a) Department of Justice in Northern Ireland and (b) Police Service of Northern Ireland prior to the decision to proscribe Palestine Action.

Decisions on proscription are not taken lightly. They are informed by a robust evidence-based process, with contributions from a wide range of experts from across government, the police and the intelligence community.Counter terrorism is a reserved matter. I can confirm that Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) were consulted prior to the decision to proscribe Palestine Action.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a resettlement scheme for Palestinian refugees seeking to join family members resident in the UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 13 March to Question 35970.

What steps she is taking to develop new country information for Syria; and when she plans to resume processing asylum claims.

As we explained at the time of announcing a pause on decision making, we have kept that pause under constant review. Without stable, objective information on which to base an accurate assessment of a claimant’s risk on return to Syria, we are unable to make robust, reliable decisions on claims for international protection. The Home Office has been gathering and assessing objective country information from a range of sources about the situation in Syria since the fall of the al-Assad regime. As soon as there is a sufficiently clear basis upon which to make determinations, asylum decision-making will recommence.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill on (a) small voluntary groups and (b) small venues.

The Government is extremely mindful of the many community and voluntary-run premises across the UK. It has been conscious of the need to ensure the Terrorism (Protection of Premises Bill) strikes the right balance between public protection and avoiding un...

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing funding schemes to support small voluntary groups with the costs of compliance with the measures in the Terrorism (Protection of P

The Government has made important changes to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill since it was published in draft, particularly to the standard tier, to ensure that the requirements strike a better balance between protecting the public and avoiding...

Whether she plans to (a) review and (b) raise the classification of pregabalin under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Pregabalin is currently controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Dugs Act 1971. The Government takes expert advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which is the independent advisory body on drugs, on the classification of substanc...

Whether it is her policy to create a standalone criminal offence for drink spiking; and what steps she is taking to help tackle drink spiking.

Spiking is an abhorrent crime and illegal in any form, whether through vape, food, drink or needle. The Government’s manifesto and the King’s Speech committed to strengthening spiking legislation to help the police better respond to this crime. We are cur...

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing (a) elected representatives from Ireland and (b) other Irish passport holders to verify UK passport applications using the HM Passpor

As part of the criteria for a person to act as a referee to a passport application, His Majesty’s Passport Office requires that the referee must hold a passport that it can validate to confirm that person’s identity. In addition to British passport holder...

Whether her Department (a) received and (b) granted requests to provide communications data on (i) lawyers, (ii) journalists and (iii) Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in each of the last five years.

The Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office is the independent oversight body responsible for communications data authorisations.The most recent Information on the authorisation of investigatory powers, including the use of powers and number of authorisations obtained in relation to sensitive professions, is available in the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office Annual Report 2022 Annual Report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner 2022 (ipco-wpmedia-prod-s3.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com)The use of covert investigatory powers is subject to strong safeguards and robust independent oversight by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, and authorisations must be consistent with the law. The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 outlines specific additional protections in respect of journalistic material and sources, as well as items subject to legal privilege.The government is unable to confirm nor deny the existence of any specific authorisations granted under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) or the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).Prior to March 2024 the Office for Communications Data Authorisations, headed by the Investigatory Power’s Commissioner, considered requests for communications data from law enforcement and public authorities. However, since March 2024, the Office for Communications Data Authorisations has become part of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office.