Written questions by Kirkham.

Whether the new community sponsorship safe routes will be open to nationals from Myanmar.

In the Restoring Order and Control statement, published in November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced students to come to the UK to study or for work.Work is underway to deliver the new routes. Further details, including who will be eligible for the new routes, will be set out in due course.

Whether the new work and study immigration routes will be open to nationals from Myanmar.

In the Restoring Order and Control statement, published in November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme and capped routes for refugee and displaced students to come to the UK to study or for work.Work is underway to deliver the new routes. Further details, including who will be eligible for the new routes, will be set out in due course.

Whether she has assessed the merits of lowering the earnings requirement for a family visa.

The Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) was raised in April 2024 from £18,600 to £29,000. This was the first time it had been increased since its introduction.To help ensure we reach the right balance and have a solid evidence base for any change, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) was commissioned to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules.Conducting a full review of the financial requirements across the family routes will ensure we have a clear and consistent system. The MAC has published their independent review of the financial requirements across the family routes.There is no set date for when we will respond to the MAC report. However, the MAC’s recommendations are being considered in detail alongside the work being carried out as a result of the Immigration White Paper (Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK) which made clear that family migration would be reformed to tackle the over complex family immigration arrangements, including the financial requirements. An announcement will be made in due course.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of foreign passports no longer being held by the Passport Office for the duration of the family visa application process.

With the introduction of the eVisa digital permission, eligible customers can now complete their biometric appointment at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and retain their passport. Customers applying under family routes have retained their passports whilst their visa application is being processed since October 2025. This allows them to apply for visas for other countries, travel overseas and use their passport to confirm their identity for other purposes or demonstrate their status if living in a third country during this period.

What steps she is taking to improve family visa waiting times.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, including service standards for processing visa applications, where applicable. The department is also in the process of implementing technology changes to improve efficiency and support faster processing of family visa applications.Processing times for family visa applications are published on GOV.UK for both applications made inside the UK and applications made outside the UKApplicants on certain family routes may choose to use optional priority or super priority services, where available, for an additional fee to receive a faster decision on their application.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that contracts for Border Force patrol vessels are awarded to UK shipyards.

We are continuing to engage suppliers on the basis of a UK-led build, using the Defence and Security provisions within the Procurement Act 2023 where appropriate. This approach is consistent with the cross-government commitment to back British businesses. My officials are working closely with the National Shipbuilding Office while ensuring value for money and deliverability.

Whether the dependents of doctors eligible for the earned settlement scheme will be able to qualify for faster settlement routes.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. A Fairer Pathway to Settlement proposes a reduction in qualifying period for settlement for those in public service occupations. However, full details of the earned settlement scheme, including treatment of dependants, will be finalised following that consultation.

If she will consider the introduction of mandatory autism awareness training for staff working in the police.

Training on mental ill health and autism is already integrated throughout the initial police learning programme which all new recruits must complete.Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide what additional training their officers should undertake. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has produced an e-learning course and a glossary of terms on neurodiversity, which are available to all police officers.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to the police on identifying whether someone they are interviewing has (a) autism spectrum disorder and (b) a learning difficulty and needs an appropriate adult.

The Police And Criminal Evidence (PACE) Codes of Practice provide a definition of a vulnerable person. In summary, it includes adults who may have difficulty understanding the full implications of their arrest, detention, voluntary attendance for interview or the exercise of their rights. A detainee who is classified as vulnerable must be supported by an appropriate adult when they are detained in police custody or have attended a location voluntarily for an interview. The appropriate adult is expected to support, advise and assist the detainee when they are asked to provide information or participate in custody procedures. The College of Policing has included guidance on responding to incidents involving people experiencing mental illness and learning disabilities. Introduction and strategic considerations | College of Policing . This includes a National Autistic Society guide from criminal justice professionals who may come into contact with people on the autism spectrum – as victims, witnesses, suspects or offenders. The National Police Chiefs’ Council have established a National Neurodiversity Working Group whose work includes supporting police forces to design and deliver a service to be proud of relating to neurodivergent victims, witnesses, suspects, and residents. They have also produced an e-learning course and a glossary of terms on neurodiversity, which are available to all police officers.

What steps she is taking to facilitate the visa process for (a) non-British workers working for British companies within UK territorial waters and (b) British workers working in other countries’ territorial waters for short periods of time.

The government’s longstanding position has been that foreign nationals need permission to work in UK waters. Workers should apply for the appropriate visa before coming to work in the UK.

What steps she is taking to improve the process for moving geographical samples between Britain and the EU.

It is not the responsibility of the Home Office to monitor geographical samples such as soil and water.

If he will consider establishing a National Forensics Service.

The provision of high quality, timely forensic evidence is vital for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects, and gives victims the justice they deserve.Hardworking police and forensic scientists do an excellent job delivering these vital services every day. However, we are confident we can achieve more for the public.The Government have announced the creation of a new National Centre of Policing that will bring together crucial support services, including forensics, that local police forces can draw upon, to raise standards, and improve efficiency.We have appointed a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create creating a new model of delivery with the police and forensic leaders to raise standards and improve efficiency, and ultimately build greater public confidence in our criminal justice system.

If she will consider creating a national forensics strategy.

The provision of high quality, timely forensic evidence is vital for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects, and gives victims the justice they deserve.Hardworking police and forensic scientists do an excellent job delivering these vital services every day. However, we are confident we can achieve more for the public.The Government have announced the creation of a new National Centre of Policing that will bring together crucial support services, including forensics, that local police forces can draw upon, to raise standards, and improve efficiency.We have appointed a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create creating a new model of delivery with the police and forensic leaders to raise standards and improve efficiency, and ultimately build greater public confidence in our criminal justice system.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of police in-house forensic provision.

The provision of high quality, timely forensic evidence is vital for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects, and gives victims the justice they deserve.Hardworking police and forensic scientists do an excellent job delivering these vital services every day. However, we are confident we can achieve more for the public.The Government have announced the creation of a new National Centre of Policing that will bring together crucial support services, including forensics, that local police forces can draw upon, to raise standards, and improve efficiency.We have appointed a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create creating a new model of delivery with the police and forensic leaders to raise standards and improve efficiency, and ultimately build greater public confidence in our criminal justice system.

What progress she has made on supporting Palestinians with UK job offers to leave Gaza.

The Government is keeping all existing visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza. Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available. More information on all routes available for a person to apply to work, study or settle/join family in the UK can be found on the GOV.UK website: Visas and immigration - GOV.UK.People requiring a visa will need to make an online visa application and submit their biometrics (digital photograph and fingerprint) at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), prior to travel to the UK.

Whether he has considered the potential merits of allowing Palestinians to (a) apply for visas online and (b) provide biometrics after arrival in the UK.

The Government is keeping all existing visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza. Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available. More information on all routes available for a person to apply to work, study or settle/join family in the UK can be found on the GOV.UK website: Visas and immigration - GOV.UK.People requiring a visa will need to make an online visa application and submit their biometrics (digital photograph and fingerprint) at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), prior to travel to the UK.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of outsourced forensics contracts.

There has always been a mixed model of forensic provision in England and Wales, with some work done in-house by police forces and some contracted to the commercial sector.Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables are responsible for procuring forensic services from the commercial sector should they choose to do so.However, the Home Secretary acknowledged in November last year that forensic science had been held back by uncoordinated funding and fragmented governance. This is why we will be consulting on plans to create a National Centre of Policing, including forensics as a national capability, to bring together crucial support services that local police forces can draw upon, to raise standards, and improve efficiency.

When the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years will come into force.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

Whether the proposed increase to the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years will apply retrospectively.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

When she will publish the consultation on the earned settlement scheme.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.