Written questions by McMurdock.

What assessment she has made on the potential impact of digital ID on the number of illegal immigrants already residing in the UK.

The Digital ID programme is part of a broader strategy to tackle illegal immigration. By making it harder for people without the right to work to gain employment, the government plans to reduce incentives for unlawful entry. The digital ID will build on the existing digital right to work checks for foreign nationals where eVisa share codes are currently used, further streamlining the process. Digital IDs will:o Make it easier for employers to comply by standardising and simplifying right to work checkso Make it easier for British citizens to demonstrate a right to workRemoving the reliance on physical documents in the UK, making it harder for forged documents to be used as proof of right to work. The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID in the coming weeks, and has already begun engaging key stakeholders.

What plans she has to strengthen the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys to ensure that deported migrants do not return to the UK.

We are continuously monitoring and evaluating the Agreement to ensure its continuing effectiveness, with a full evaluation to be completed at the end of the pilot period.As of Friday 28 November, 153 returns have taken place under the exchange agreement. Anyone who re-enters illegally may face immediate detention and, where appropriate, we will seek to expedite removal. This will not count as a new removal in the reciprocal scheme.We continue close cooperation with France to strengthen border security and disrupt criminal smuggling gangs. Our ongoing partnership with French law enforcement has prevented over 21,000 crossing attempts to the UK this year.

What plans she has to further raise fines levied against businesses found to be employing illegal workers.

Clamping down on illegal working is a critical part of this government’s Plan for Change, and as part of the strategy to tackle Organised Immigration Crime. Ensuring fairness, order and control within the immigration and asylum system.Where an employer is found to have employed someone without the right to work, fines will be levied against the business. The Home Office has no current plan to further raise these fines at present.Under this government has been a significant increase in immigration enforcement activity in the UK, including more than 8,000 arrests during illegal working visits in the year up to October 2025 – a 63% increase on the same period 12 months prior.The Government is extending the Right to Work Scheme to ensure companies conduct right to work checks to prevent illegal working when they contract workers to provide services under their company name, this will include agency workers or self-employed individuals working in the gig economy. These new measures are included in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.These new legislative measures will restrict the ability of employers to take advantage of illegal workers and encourage businesses to provide work opportunities to only those permitted to work in the UK. It will provide parity across industries and will set a level playing field for businesses to uphold their responsibilities to prevent illegal working in the UK.

With reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 21 November 2025, if she will make it her policy to implement safeguards as part of the proposed refugee sponsorship reforms.

The government is committed to transforming our approach to safe and legal routes, including how the UK offers opportunities to refugees and relevant local authorities. Work is underway to operationalise these new routes, and further details will be provided in due course.Safeguarding requirements are already in place under the government’s existing schemes. This includes the current Community Sponsorship scheme, where all sponsors must have robust safeguarding procedures in place.

With reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 21 November 2025, what estimate she has made of the average contribution per asylum claimant under the proposed contributions mechanism in each of the five years following its implementation.

The Government’s Asylum Policy Statement outlines the current challenges, the Government’s objectives, and a comprehensive package of measures to restore order, control, fairness and public confidence in the UK’s system.As part of this, we will require individuals to contribute towards the cost of their asylum support where they have some assets or income, but not enough to support themselves independently. Further details on asylum reform, including support and contributions, will be announced in due course.

What steps she is taking to encourage countries with the highest numbers of asylum seekers to accept the return of failed applicants.

Strengthening international cooperation is key to improving returns and redocumentation processes to enable quick, safe, and dignified returns. The Home Office, working in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, has prioritised engagement with countries where we want to see improved returns co-operation including those countries with high rates of those with no legal basis to remain in the UK. There are some countries, including those with high small-boat arrivals, that have challenging country situations that either prevent the practicalities of return (routing and escorting) or have credible asylum and protection considerations. However, the Home Office, continues to progress returns of all those with no legal right to be in the UK. The Home Office keeps the returns cooperation of all its international partners under close and regular review and will not hesitate to take action to secure cooperation. This includes the use of visa penalties, where necessary, when a country fails to cooperate.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the use of return hubs will not be subject to external judicial scrutiny.

The Government has been clear we will continue to work with international partners to tackle the global migration crisis. Our guiding principle will always be that any partnership must be workable and meet our international obligations.

What plans she has to increase targeted road-safety enforcement in areas of South Basildon and East Thurrock where collisions are most frequent.

Any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious issue. We expect all drivers to follow the rules of the road.The Government is committed to improving road safety and reducing collisions across the country.The Department for Transport are developing a Road Safety Strategy, the first in a decade, which will include a broad range of proposals, including for motoring offences which we intend to publish by the end of the year.How the police enforce road traffic legislation and investigate road traffic collisions locally are operational matters for Chief Constables, in consultation with Police and Crime Commissioners.

What information her Department holds on the proportion of legal migrants to the UK who are net contributors to the UK's public finances.

The net impact on fiscal balances will vary across different migrant cohorts, influenced by factors such as employment rate, income level, age, and their propensity to use different types of public services.The Government publishes estimates of the fiscal impact of groups of migrants in impact assessments accompanying changes to Immigration Rules. Home Office Impact Assessments and wider analysis can be found here: Migration analysis at the Home Office - GOV.UKImmigration rules changes published in October 2025, included an Impact Assessment which set out the estimated per head net fiscal impacts of migrants by visa route.

If her will can provide (a) an update on the progress of the grooming gangs inquiry and (b) a timeline for the commencement of the different stages of the inquiry.

We are working urgently to establish the inquiry and Baroness Casey of Blackstock is supporting this process.Our immediate priority is appointing a Chair with the credibility and experience to lead the inquiry, ensuring a trauma-informed approach to engaging victims and survivors throughout - from its design to reporting. We aim to announce a Chair as soon as possible.Once a Chair is appointed, in line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair will play a central role in shaping the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and will consult on a draft of these before they are finalised. It is the Terms of Reference that will determine the scope of the inquiry. Once inpost the Chair will set out an inquiry timeline based on the requirements of the Terms of Reference.

What recent discussions she has had with police forces on trends in reported incidents involving trespassers attempting to enter residential properties.

It is important that the police have the power to tackle trespassing where there is intent to commit an offence.On 10th June, the Government announced its intention to repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824.We have introduced targeted replacement measures in the Crime and Policing Bill to ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe, including a criminal offence of trespassing with intent to commit a criminal offence, an offence which was previously provided for under the 1824 Act, and for which the police have told us is useful to retain.As is currently the case in the 1824 Act, it will be an offence for a person to trespass on any premises, meaning any building, part of a building or enclosed area, with the intention to commit an offence.

What assessment she has made of the potential security risks associated with rapid increases in temporary recruitment in the delivery sector during peak shopping periods.

The Home Office has not made such an assessment. It is for companies in the delivery sector to act to ensure their employees are of good standing, and that appropriate and proportionate background checks are undertaken where this is deemed to be necessary.In relation to Royal Mail, Ofcom’s regulatory framework places obligations on them, as the universal service provider, in relation to recruitment, training of employees (including temporary workers) and on security of the mail processes for employees. This does not apply to other delivery operators.

What information her Department holds on the number of non-crime hate incidents in (a) Essex and (b) the UK which led to (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful prosecutions.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What guidance her Department plans to issue to police forces on the data of non-crime hate incidents suspects.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What plans her Department has to instruct police forces to stop collecting non-crime hate incident data.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What guidance her Department has issued police forces on (a) processing and (b) storing data relating to people who were accused of but not charged with non-crime hate incidents.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What data her Department holds on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded in (a) Essex and (b) the UK in each of the last five years.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

What information her Department holds on the cost of recording non-crime hate incidents in (a) Essex and (b) the UK since 2020.

The Home Secretary has been clear about the priorities that she wants police forces across the country to focus on, and that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken in relation to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).That is why the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs, which we have asked to be expedited. We must allow that process to conclude to give both police and citizens the clarity they need. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.We will update Parliament on the findings, and any changes that may be required to the statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs introduced by the previous Government in 2023.The Home Office does not centrally hold or collate information on the number of non-crime hate incidents recorded by police forces, nor on the costs of recording these incidents. The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on forces.NCHIs are not criminal offences and therefore cannot result in arrest, charge or prosecution.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66600 on Slingshots: Regulation, what information her Department holds on the number of criminal offences committed of using a (a) catapult and (b) slingshot to attack animals since 2020.

The Home Office does not hold information on the number of police recorded offences that involved hand-held catapults or slingshots.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66600 on Slingshots: Regulation, what information her Department holds on the number of offences committed with hand-held catapults and slingshots against people in (a) Essex and (b) the UK.

The Home Office does not hold information on the number of police recorded offences that involved hand-held catapults or slingshots.