Written questions by Osamor.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that buy now pay later schemes protect consumers from fraud.

This Government is continuing to work closely with industry, including payment service providers, to prevent fraud and we welcome the actions of the financial services industry to date.We committed in our manifesto to introduce an expanded Fraud Strategy. The new strategy will cover a range of harms including those committed through payment services. Development of this Strategy has begun, and we are engaging with stakeholders across law enforcement, industry, and civil society to identify new measures to better protect the public and businesses.However, work continues to ensure that the public are better equipped to spot and avoid frauds, through our Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Similarly, as of March 2025, the Online Safety Act’s illegal content duties are now enforceable by Ofcom. This has the potential to cut off key online channels by which criminals are able to identify and communicate with potential victims.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle fraud through buy now, pay later schemes.

This Government is continuing to work closely with industry, including payment service providers, to prevent fraud and we welcome the actions of the financial services industry to date.We committed in our manifesto to introduce an expanded Fraud Strategy. The new strategy will cover a range of harms including those committed through payment services. Development of this Strategy has begun, and we are engaging with stakeholders across law enforcement, industry, and civil society to identify new measures to better protect the public and businesses.However, work continues to ensure that the public are better equipped to spot and avoid frauds, through our Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Similarly, as of March 2025, the Online Safety Act’s illegal content duties are now enforceable by Ofcom. This has the potential to cut off key online channels by which criminals are able to identify and communicate with potential victims.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the ten year route to settlement to five years.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders, and we will set out our overall approach to reforming the immigration system in our upcoming white paper.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the Public and Commercial Services Union and Care4Calais report entitled, Safe and Secure Routes: Refugee Visa-to-Travel Proposal, published on 25 March 2025.

This country will always play our part, alongside others, to help those fleeing war and persecution, but we need a proper system where rules are enforced.The UK welcomes refugees through our global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. We continue to keep all policies under review.The numbers resettled through the UKRS depend on a range of factors including the flow of referrals from UNHCR in the field and the availability of suitable accommodation and integration support in the UK.

Whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of Border Force on the potential impact of channel crossings on staff wellbeing.

We recognise the work of Border Force staff in relation to channel crossings and continue to ensure support is in place for them. All Border Force colleagues have access to peer support on a 24/7 basis, allowing them to speak to a volunteer who is trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Trauma Risk Management (TRiM), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) or Sustaining Resilience at Work (StRaW). All operational colleagues have access to the Police Treatment Centres, which support recovery from a variety of physical and mental ailments on a residential basis.The Border Force Wellbeing team also manage the Border Force Wellbeing Hub and run a variety of events throughout the year on key wellbeing themes, including stress, anxiety, shift working and health. Border Force line managers are also trained with the information and tools to discuss wellbeing and mental health with their teams, how to spot the warning signs and how to refer a team member for further help.All Home Office staff also have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which provides support for a wide variety of issues.

Whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of third sector organisations on support for refugees outside the UK.

This country will always play our part, alongside others, to help those fleeing war and persecution, but we need a proper system where rules are enforced.The UK welcomes refugees through our global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. We continue to keep all policies under review.The numbers resettled through the UKRS depend on a range of factors including the flow of referrals from UNHCR in the field and the availability of suitable accommodation and integration support in the UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32013 on Asylum, whether she has commissioned any reports on expanding (a) safe and (b) legal routes for people seeking asylum within the last twelve months.

This country will always play our part, alongside others, to help those fleeing war and persecution, but we need a proper system where rules are enforced.The UK welcomes refugees through our global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. We continue to keep all policies under review.The numbers resettled through the UKRS depend on a range of factors including the flow of referrals from UNHCR in the field and the availability of suitable accommodation and integration support in the UK.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of expanding safe and legal routes available to asylum seekers on the numbers of small boats crossing the Channel.

The UK continues to welcome refugees and people in need through our existing global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. Safe and legal routes will continue to play a vital role in our overall migration system. However, given the scale of today’s global displacement challenges, it is not possible to offer a pathway into the UK to every person who needs or wants one. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the number of families that have no recourse to public funds.

The availability of data in respect of the number of families that have No Recourse to Public Funds condition is currently limited, while the Home Office transitions its casework operations to a new management information system until the transition process is complete.Once fully migrated to the new system, it will be possible to explore what further information on NRPF can be produced.