Written questions by Maguire.

What steps her Department is taking to improve safety for Jews in Surrey.

The Government is committed to the safety and security of Jewish communities across the UK, including in Surrey, and to tackling antisemitism wherever it occurs. Everyone should feel safe to practise their faith and participate in public life free from intimidation or fear.On 30 April, the Government announced £25 million of immediate funding for 2026/27 to strengthen policing, protect Jewish communities, and provide reassurance following the terrorist attack in Golders Green and the recent increase in antisemitic incidents. Of this, £4 million was allocated to the Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant, bringing the total funding for the Grant to £32.4 million. This represents a record level of investment in 2026/27 to support the protection of Jewish communities. The JCPS Grant funds protective security measures at synagogues, Jewish educational institutions, and other community sites. It is administered by the Community Security Trust (CST) on behalf of the Home Office.We continue to work closely with the police and CST to monitor threats and ensure that appropriate and proportionate protective measures are in place where they are needed.Alongside this, the Government is taking a broad, cross-government approach to tackling antisemitism in all its forms. This includes action to address online hate through the Online Safety Act, under which platforms must take steps against illegal content, as well as wider work to support communities and strengthen resilience, including through programmes such as the Common Ground, which has received a £1 million expansion to support communities and places facing the greatest risk of antisemitism.

What support her Department has given to local police officers in light of protests in Surrey.

This Government is committed to protecting the right to peaceful protest, while ensuring public order legislation balances freedom of expression with protecting the public from serious disruption or harm. Under the Public Order Act 1986 the police have powers to manage protests, and it is for individual forces to determine the most appropriate approach based on the specific context.The Home Office engaged with Surrey Police and the National Police Coordination Centre in relation to recent protest activity. The National Police Coordination Centre has recently received additional funding to improve its capabilities, including in relation to intelligence gathering and mobilisation to ensure it can properly support police forces in managing public order risks.The Government is committed to supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of police officers, including during periods of heightened operational demands such as protests. We work closely with policing partners to ensure officers are properly supported. This includes continued funding for the National Police Wellbeing Service, which provides evidence-based guidance, advice, tools and resources to forces, supporting Chief Constables in their duty to safeguard the wellbeing of their workforce.

If she will publish the number of specialist trained police officers in Surrey to support victims of sexual assault.

The College of Policing is responsible for recording the number of specialists trained officers in each police force, such as those with specialist training in responding to sexual offences.The Home Secretary has instructed all police forces in England and Wales, including Surrey, to implement a specialist rape and sexual offences team by 2029. These measures will mean that by the end of this Parliament, victims and their supporters can be confident that, wherever they live police forces have the specialist skills, knowledge and capability to necessary to bring offenders to justice.More broadly, we have committed to strengthen training on violence against women and girls for policing and are working closely with the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection to delivery this.

If her Department will reinstate a route to settlement by allowing time spent under the Ukraine Schemes to count towards the 10‑year settlement pathway.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

If her Department will introduce a transition visa at the end of the Ukraine Permission Extension period.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

What assessment she has made of whether current frameworks provide sufficient clarity on the referral of evidence from public inquiries to prosecuting authorities.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

What assessment her Department has made on the potential merits of ensuring referral to relevant authorities when evidence from a Statutory Inquiry suggests criminality.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Whether guidance exists on the circumstances in which individuals identified in official Statutory Inquiries concerning safeguarding failures should be referred for criminal investigation.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

What assessment her Department has made, in regards to Sudanese student visas, of the potential merits of implementing targeted enforcement based on individual risk assessment rather than a blanket nationality-based suspension.

We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with representatives, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence‑led measure and will be lifted only when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.The brake does not apply to those who already hold a valid Student visa, nor to applications submitted before it came into force on 26 March. In order to allow those prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice of the implementation of the visa brakes. There are no plans for any further exceptions to the brake.The decision to introduce the visa brakes was driven by clear evidence of high levels of visa‑linked asylum claims across all four nationalities. In the case of Sudan, in the year ending September 2025, the proportion of asylum claims to visas issued on the student route was 46%, constituting one of the highest visa-linked asylum conversion rates, consistent with a rise across the past five years. This continued and rising asylum risk from this cohort necessitated swift and decisive action through the introduction of a visa brake.

If she will make explicit protections for current visa-holders, those mid-application, and those with existing university offers for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with representatives, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence‑led measure and will be lifted only when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.The brake does not apply to those who already hold a valid Student visa, nor to applications submitted before it came into force on 26 March. In order to allow those prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice of the implementation of the visa brakes. There are no plans for any further exceptions to the brake.The decision to introduce the visa brakes was driven by clear evidence of high levels of visa‑linked asylum claims across all four nationalities. In the case of Sudan, in the year ending September 2025, the proportion of asylum claims to visas issued on the student route was 46%, constituting one of the highest visa-linked asylum conversion rates, consistent with a rise across the past five years. This continued and rising asylum risk from this cohort necessitated swift and decisive action through the introduction of a visa brake.

What conversations her Department has had with Universities UK and the Russell Group in regard to the suspension of student visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.

We value the contribution of the higher education sector and continue to engage regularly with representatives, including Universities UK and the Russell Group, on the challenges the system faces. The visa brake is a temporary, evidence‑led measure and will be lifted only when the Government judges it appropriate to do so.The brake does not apply to those who already hold a valid Student visa, nor to applications submitted before it came into force on 26 March. In order to allow those prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice of the implementation of the visa brakes. There are no plans for any further exceptions to the brake.The decision to introduce the visa brakes was driven by clear evidence of high levels of visa‑linked asylum claims across all four nationalities. In the case of Sudan, in the year ending September 2025, the proportion of asylum claims to visas issued on the student route was 46%, constituting one of the highest visa-linked asylum conversion rates, consistent with a rise across the past five years. This continued and rising asylum risk from this cohort necessitated swift and decisive action through the introduction of a visa brake.

What steps she is taking to improve travel for dual British Citizens without a British Passport or Certificate of Entitlement looking to enter the UK.

Dual British citizens travelling to the UK may only evidence their right of abode in the UK with a valid British passport or other passport endorsed with a Certificate of Entitlement to the right of abode. This requirement applies equally to all British citizens, whether or not they hold another nationality. Without this, they are likely to experience delays while permission to travel is verified. We recognise the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have provided additional temporary guidance to carriers on possible alternative documentation and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to prepare for these changes. In line with current practice, on arrival at the UK border, Border Force will still assess a person’s eligibility to enter the UK and conduct additional checks if required.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of new ETA rules on British dual nationals without a British Passport or Certificate of Entitlement looking to enter the UK.

Dual British citizens travelling to the UK may only evidence their right of abode in the UK with a valid British passport or other passport endorsed with a Certificate of Entitlement to the right of abode. This requirement applies equally to all British citizens, whether or not they hold another nationality. Without this, they are likely to experience delays while permission to travel is verified. We recognise the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have provided additional temporary guidance to carriers on possible alternative documentation and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to prepare for these changes. In line with current practice, on arrival at the UK border, Border Force will still assess a person’s eligibility to enter the UK and conduct additional checks if required.

How many sponsor licenses for care homes and care agencies have been revoked in a) 2022, b) 2023, c) 2024, and d) 2025 by county.

Data on revocations of sponsor licences for care homes by county is not available from published statistics and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The route to challenge any revocation decision is through the civil courts and determinations relating to sponsor compliance action can be found in published determinations handed down by the Judiciary.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of animal testing on animal welfare.

The Government takes the welfare of animals used in science extremely seriously. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) is the UK’s framework governing the use of animals in research. ASPA enables the limited use of animals in science for societal, environmental or animal benefit. It provides a strict system of controls, rigorously and robustly enforced by the GB Regulator, to ensure animals are only used where necessary and where the expected benefits justify the harms.ASPA requires application of the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs) and mandates licensing for establishments, individuals and research projects. A project can only be authorised following a harm-benefit analysis, and all applications undergo ethical and scientific review, including by local Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies, before submission to the Regulator.Longer term, the Government is fully committed to reducing the use of animals in science. In November 2025, the Government published, Replacing animals in science which sets a programme to accelerate the development, validation, and uptake of alternative methods while maintaining high standards of scientific rigour and public safety.

What steps her Department plans to take with (a) the Department for Health and Social Care and (b) local authorities to help ensure that immigration reforms support (i) recruitment to social care vacancies and (ii) the implementation of statutory duties under the Care Act 2014.

The Government published the Immigration White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System last year which announced the intention to end overseas recruitment for social care visas. The new Immigration Rules which prohibit overseas recruitment took effect in July 2025, however transitional arrangements exist for individuals already in the UK to switch into the route. The transitional arrangements are due expire in 2028 but will be subject to regular review. The Home Office continues to work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funded Regional Partnerships to support care workers, who have been impacted by exploitative employers. DHSC are funding 15 regional hubs in England, made up of Local Authorities and Directors of Adult Social Services, working together to support displaced workers into new roles within the care sector. These regional hubs have received £12.5 million this financial year to support them to prevent and respond to unethical practices in the sector. The Government remains committed to supporting Health & Care visa holders who wish to pursue a career in the adult social care sector.

How many sponsor licenses for care homes and care agencies that have been revoked have been successfully challenged in a) 2022, b) 2023, c) 2024, and d) 2025 by county.

Data on revocations of sponsor licences for care homes by county is not available from published statistics and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The route to challenge any revocation decision is through the civil courts and determinations relating to sponsor compliance action can be found in published determinations handed down by the Judiciary.

What information her Department holds on the number of animals that have been used for animal testing in each year since 2022.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted each year. The number of procedures is not equal the number of animals that have been used in procedures that year because some animals may be used more than once in certain circumstances.The published annual statistics are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-statisticshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/replacing-animals-in-science-strategy/replacing-animals-in-science-a-strategy-to-support-the-development-validation-and-uptake-of-alternative-methods

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain criteria on the number of staff in the social care sector.

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As part of this consultation, we are seeking views on the potential impact of the proposed changes on different groups, including those working in sectors such as social care. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following the consultation.The final proposals will also be subject to full economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain criteria on the social care workforce in Epsom and Ewell constituency.

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It was subject to a public consultation, which ran until 12 February 2026.As part of this consultation, we are seeking views on the potential impact of the proposed changes on different groups, including those working in sectors such as social care. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following the consultation.The final proposals will also be subject to full economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.