Written questions by Hollinrake.

With reference to the Home Office's closed consultation entitled Impact assessment: alcohol in licensed pavement areas, published on 10 May 2024, whether her Department has produced an impact assessment on the decision to allow the Covid-19 easements in relation to alcohol licensing on (a) pavement licences and (b) takeaway pints to expire at the end of March 2025.

The previous government ran two consultations in 2023 and 2024 to consider the future of this temporary easement, each accompanied by an impact assessment. The most recent impact assessment, published alongside the 2024 consultation, can be found at Impact Assessment - licensing the pavement area. A new impact assessment relating to the lapse of the easement was not required as new policy or legislation was not being introduced. To assist businesses that have made use of the easement, the Government has amended statutory licensing guidance to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to apply for and obtain a licensing variation.

What plans she has to use local authorities to help procure accommodation for asylum seekers.

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.

Whether it is her Department's policy to consult (a) council leaders, (b) council chief executives and (c) Members of Parliament before an asylum hotel is stood up in an area.

This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of people stuck in limbo without any prospect of having their claims processed. At their peak use under the previous government, in the autumn of 2023, more than 400 asylum hotels were being leased by the Home Office, at a cost of almost £9 million a day. Inevitably, due to the size of the backlog we inherited, the Government has been forced to continue with the use of hotels for the time being. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. When a hotel has been identified for use as contingency accommodation, Home Office officials will write to the local authority Chief Executive and the constituency MP to inform them of plans to accommodate asylum seekers there.The Home Office continues to work closely with local authorities to manage all the pressures arising from the provision of asylum accommodation including the impact on wider local authority obligations and plans.

How many asylum hotels stood down by the previous government have been reopened since the 5 July 2024.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to the Urgent Question on Asylum Seekers: Hotel Accommodation on 20 November 2024.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2025, to Question 33937, on Fire and Rescue Services, what her policy is on protected characteristic diversity targets for the recruitment of firefighters.

Responsibility for recruitment of firefighters in pursuit rests with individual fire and rescue authorities in England.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme on (a) Russian, (b) Iranian and (c) Chinese interference in democratic processes.

Protecting the integrity and security of UK democratic processes from threats of foreign interference is a priority for the government.The Foreign influence Registration Scheme will increase transparency of foreign power influence over the core aspects of the UK’s democracy, including elections, political party proceedings, parliamentarians and decisions of the Government. Once the scheme is in force those carrying out political influencing activities at the direction of any foreign power, will need to register under the political influence tier. We have published an impact assessment on gov.uk setting out its potential impact.As I committed to in Parliament on the 4th March, the Home Office will lay regulations in Parliament as soon as possible, with a view to having the scheme up and running by the summer.

With reference to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question HL5013 Islam, what is the Government’s working definition of Islamism as it relates to (a) extremism, (b) violence or (c). terrorism.

I refer the Hon. Member to Question UIN 19354 answered on 27 December 2024.

Whether she has had discussions with the London Fire Brigade on (a) the issuance of advice to Transport for London on flammable material in sub-surface stations and (b) book exchanges in London Underground Tube stations.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) places a range of legal duties on Responsible Persons (the person in control of a premises), chief among which is the need to undertake a fire risk assessment to identify any general fire safety precautions that need to be taken to ensure that the premises, and people within it, are safe from fire.In the vast majority of premises, the FSO is enforced by the local fire and rescue authority and within London that is through the London Fire Brigade. Enforcing authorities can provide advice on premises they audit, and they have complete operational independence from Government on these matters.The Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) (England) Regulations 2009, which were designed to update earlier regulations and ensure they align with the FSO state that all parts of station premises must be kept clear of any accumulation of combustible refuse or other combustible matter.The government published guidance explaining the Regulations for both enforcing authorities and those responsible for them in Guidance Note 3: Fire safety on sub-surface railway stations.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of fixed penalty notices for Public Spaces Protection Orders that are issued by private enforcement companies outsourced from local government; and whether guidance has been provided on such contacts which (a) reward companies for increasing numbers of fines and (b) profit share revenue from fines.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB), including the Public Spaces Protection Order.The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.Contracting enforcement to third parties is a common arrangement and it is for the local authority to ensure use of powers remains just and proportionate. Contractors are bound by the same legal obligations, and the same safeguards in legislation, as councils themselves. Local authorities are also obliged to follow the rules set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 in appointment of such companies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 26035 on Housing: Asylum, what information her Department holds on the average annual cost to local authorities for looking after (a) unaccompanied asylum seeking children who arrive in their area and (b) are transferred there under the National Transfer Scheme; and what funding her Department provides to local authorities for these.

The Home Office does not hold the specific data requested in a readily reportable form, but the funding policy can be found online here: Unaccompanied asylum seeking children and leaving care: funding instructions - GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29614 on Fire and Rescue Services: Police, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support (a) joint working between emergency services, (b) tri-service working between the three emergency services and (c) joint working between the police and fire service.

The Government is committed to seeing more and better collaboration between emergency services to increase efficiency and public safety outcomes. The Policing and Crime Act 2017 sets out a statutory duty for ambulance trusts, fire and rescue bodies and police bodies in England to keep collaboration opportunities under review and, where it is in the interests of their efficiency or effectiveness, to put those collaboration opportunities into practice. It is for local fire and rescue services, working with emergency services counterparts, to decide what collaborative activities will be best to take forward.The HMICFRS framework considers collaboration as part of its inspections, and we continue to work with the sector to learn more about good examples that can be shared.

If she will take steps to increase the transparency of the work of the Defending Democracy Taskforce.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce continues to drive forward a programme of work to address the full range of threats to our democracy.I will, as Chair of the Taskforce, update Parliament in due course particularly on the work of the Taskforce to tackle harassment and intimidation.I am also due to give oral evidence to the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy later this month.

With reference to para 2.19 of the National Audit Office report entitled Local Government financial sustainability, published in February 2025, HC691, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of demand for asylum accommodation on prices for local authorities to procure accommodation.

The Home Office continues to work closely with local authorities to manage all the pressures arising from the provision of asylum accommodation including the impact on wider LA obligations and plans.

With reference to the Written Statement of 27 February 2025 on Consultation Results: Alcohol in licensed pavement areas, HCWS477, whether pubs and restaurants with pavement licences will need to vary their Licensing Act 2023 premises licence to continue to serve alcohol in designated pavement areas.

As explained in the written statement of 27 February 2025, those businesses with an on-sales only licence that have taken advantage of the Covid era easement and wish to continue off-sales after 31 March will need to obtain a licensing variation. According to recent statistics published on GOV.UK, as of October 2024, 2490 premises were taking advantage of the easement. To minimise the impact on businesses, the Government has amended statutory licensing guidance to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to apply for this variation. This guidance advises licensing authorities to initially treat applications for such amendments as a minor variation to the licence. This will minimise any transitional cost and bureaucracy for those affected by making the process quicker and much cheaper – costing £89 - than major licence variations.As we made clear in the Written Statement, the Government will monitor the decisions made around the country by local authorities on these requests for licence variations, in liaison with the beer and pub industries, and will assess any evidence that pubs where the current easements have been working successfully are being denied the opportunity to continue making off-sales beyond April 2025 without reasonable cause. In those circumstances, and notwithstanding the results of last year’s consultation exercise, we will consider what further steps may need to be taken through the licensing regime to support our local pubs.

Pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2025, to Question 29612, on Asylum: Health Services, whether independent sector providers have been commissioned by her Department to provide NHS health care services to asylum seekers in the last 12 months.

Private healthcare is not provided to asylum seekers as part of Asylum Support and Accommodation provided by the Home Office.

With reference to the Written Statement of 27 February 2025 on Consultation Results: Alcohol in licensed pavement areas, HCWS477, how many licensed premises will need to obtain licensing variations when easements expire.

As explained in the written statement of 27 February 2025, those businesses with an on-sales only licence that have taken advantage of the Covid era easement and wish to continue off-sales after 31 March will need to obtain a licensing variation. According to recent statistics published on GOV.UK, as of October 2024, 2490 premises were taking advantage of the easement. To minimise the impact on businesses, the Government has amended statutory licensing guidance to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to apply for this variation. This guidance advises licensing authorities to initially treat applications for such amendments as a minor variation to the licence. This will minimise any transitional cost and bureaucracy for those affected by making the process quicker and much cheaper – costing £89 - than major licence variations.As we made clear in the Written Statement, the Government will monitor the decisions made around the country by local authorities on these requests for licence variations, in liaison with the beer and pub industries, and will assess any evidence that pubs where the current easements have been working successfully are being denied the opportunity to continue making off-sales beyond April 2025 without reasonable cause. In those circumstances, and notwithstanding the results of last year’s consultation exercise, we will consider what further steps may need to be taken through the licensing regime to support our local pubs.

With reference to the Written Statement of 27 February 2025 on Consultation Results: Alcohol in licensed pavement areas, HCWS477, what the application fee is of the Licensing Act 2023 variation permit for pubs that wish to continue to sell take-away pints.

As explained in the written statement of 27 February 2025, those businesses with an on-sales only licence that have taken advantage of the Covid era easement and wish to continue off-sales after 31 March will need to obtain a licensing variation. According to recent statistics published on GOV.UK, as of October 2024, 2490 premises were taking advantage of the easement. To minimise the impact on businesses, the Government has amended statutory licensing guidance to make it easier and cheaper for businesses to apply for this variation. This guidance advises licensing authorities to initially treat applications for such amendments as a minor variation to the licence. This will minimise any transitional cost and bureaucracy for those affected by making the process quicker and much cheaper – costing £89 - than major licence variations.As we made clear in the Written Statement, the Government will monitor the decisions made around the country by local authorities on these requests for licence variations, in liaison with the beer and pub industries, and will assess any evidence that pubs where the current easements have been working successfully are being denied the opportunity to continue making off-sales beyond April 2025 without reasonable cause. In those circumstances, and notwithstanding the results of last year’s consultation exercise, we will consider what further steps may need to be taken through the licensing regime to support our local pubs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025, to Question 30641, on Asylum: Finance, what the budget is for payments to councils under the (a) Grant 7 and (b) Grant 6 programmes across (i) England and (ii) the United Kingdom for financial years (A) 2024-25 and (B) 2025-26; and whether there are targets for the number of individuals who will be assisted.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer he received on 14 February 2025 to UIN 30641.The number of individuals assisted is based on demand and not on targets.Details of funding for the forthcoming financial year will be issued in due course.

How many asylum seekers have obtained refugee status since 4 July 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions on asylum claims is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to 2024.

With reference to the letter from the Metropolitan Police of 10 February 2025 submitted to the Planning Inspectorate's inquiry into the Chinese Embassy planning application, what discussions the Home Office has had with the Metropolitan Police on the application since July 2024.

The Metropolitan Police and other relevant stakeholders were consulted on the written representations submitted to the Planning Inspector on 14 January.