Written questions by McVey.

Whether the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne receives Government funded transport.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne receives Government funded security.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to police forces on the use of stop and search for weapons at hotels housing asylum seekers.

Code A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) governs the use of stop and search powers. Guidance on the use of stop and search is also issued to forces by the College of Policing in its Authorised Professional Practice.The Home Office has issued no guidance to police forces specifically relating to the use of stop and search at hotels asylum seekers. Decisions on the deployment of stop and search powers are for chief constables and their officers, who have the appropriate operational expertise.

If she will make it her policy to collect DNA samples from of all immigrants who enter the country illegally.

Biometrics, in the form of fingerprints and facial images, underpin the UK Immigration system to support identity assurance and suitability checks on foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control.DNA does not form part of our biometric collection

Whether her Department shares information with local police forces on the criminal records of asylum seekers placed in their area.

The Home Office communicates regularly with local police forces, and with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, to assess the operational implications of housing asylum seekers in different areas and regions around the country, and will always do what is necessary to protect the safety and security of each local community affected.

How many people claiming asylum had a criminal record before entering the UK in the most recent period for which data is available.

All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks. For further information regarding security checks during the asylum screening process, please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-screening-and-routing/asylum-screening-and-routing-accessible.

What steps her Department has taken to ascertain previous offences of people claiming asylum in the UK.

All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks. For further information regarding security checks during the asylum screening process, please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-screening-and-routing/asylum-screening-and-routing-accessible.

How many and what proportion of asylum seekers have had their DNA taken on arrival in the UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 9 July to Question 63301. The current procedures are the same as those that were in place under the previous government.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58584 on Undocumented Migrants: Biometrics, what the limited exceptions are where biometric data may not be collected at the time of encounter from immigrants arriving in the UK illegally.

This would include for example, children under five, who are only required to provide facial photographs, or people who are physically unable to provide biometric information at the time of their arrival because of medical emergencies. In such cases, the requirement to provide biometric information is deferred until the individual is able to comply.

Whether her Department collects the DNA of people who arrive illegally in the UK.

The Home Office currently collects biometric data of small boat arrivals in the form of facial images and fingerprints, but keeps the nature of such checks under regular review.

How many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were.

Staff network events are organised in staff members’ own time, and are only centrally registered when there is any use of taxpayers’ money approved for the facilitation of such an event. No events were centrally registered in May.

Whether her Department has updated guidance on the use of single-sex facilities in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 6 May to Question 47431.

How many illegal immigrants have committed a crime in each of the last three years; and how many have been denied protected status after committing a crime.

Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on foreign national offenders (FNOs) subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 4,436 were of FNOs. This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior (FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

What accommodation housing illegal immigrants in Cheshire has received additional security measures; and for what reason.

The Home Office does not comment on the specific locations or operational details of individual accommodation sites, including decisions on any security measures in place, but in all such decisions, the safety and security of local communities, staff, and those residing in accommodation are of paramount importance.

How many and what proportion of people who arrived illegally into the UK (a) in total and (b) who are housed in Cheshire had their biometrics taken upon entry into the country in the last 12 months.

Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office and, therefore, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

How many crimes have been committed by immigrants who arrived in the UK illegally in Cheshire in each of the last five years.

This Government pledged to deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 and this target has been surpassed, with a surge in returns activity since the election leading to almost 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK being removed before the end of May. Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 4,436 were of foreign national offenders (FNOs). This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior. The specific information requested is not currently available from published statistics, but work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK

How many immigrants who arrived illegally into the UK have committed more than (a) one, (b) three, (c) five and (d) 10 crimes.

This Government pledged to deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 and this target has been surpassed, with a surge in returns activity since the election leading to almost 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK being removed before the end of May. Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 4,436 were of foreign national offenders (FNOs). This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior. The specific information requested is not currently available from published statistics, but work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 52848 on Offenders: Foreign Nationals, what steps her Department is taking to support the police when immigrants who have arrived in the UK illegally are housed in communities, in the context of the absence of data on those people being electronically monitored by nationality.

The Home Office communicates regularly with local police forces, and with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, to assess the operational implications of housing asylum seekers in different areas and regions around the country, and will always do what is necessary to protect the safety and security of each local community affected.

Whether there are circumstances in which biometric data is not collected from immigrants arriving in the UK illegally.

The Home Office requires the collection of biometric data (facial images and fingerprints) from all individuals who enter the UK unlawfully. We use them to confirm a person’s identity and to assess whether the person poses a threat to public safety. Biometric enrolment is primarily carried out by immigration and Border Force officers, but police officers may also capture biometrics of people they suspect to be unlawfully in the UK, in support of immigration control, including during enforcement operations or criminal investigations.There are very limited exceptions where biometric data may not be collected at the time of encounter. for example cases where the individual is a child under five.

What biometric tests her Department expects police to carry out on immigrants arriving in the UK illegally.

The Home Office requires the collection of biometric data (facial images and fingerprints) from all individuals who enter the UK unlawfully. We use them to confirm a person’s identity and to assess whether the person poses a threat to public safety. Biometric enrolment is primarily carried out by immigration and Border Force officers, but police officers may also capture biometrics of people they suspect to be unlawfully in the UK, in support of immigration control, including during enforcement operations or criminal investigations.There are very limited exceptions where biometric data may not be collected at the time of encounter. for example cases where the individual is a child under five.