Written questions by Smart.

What (a) advice and (b) support her Department provides to UK citizens who wish to assist relatives in Gaza in seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 13 March to Question 35970.

When she plans to respond to the correspondence of 23 May 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on evacuation from Gaza.

The Minister for Migration and Citizenship replied on 1 July.

What (a) safe and (b) legal routes are available for people in Gaza to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 13 March to Question 35970.

What progress has been made on appointing a permanent Independent Prevent Commissioner.

An open competition to recruit the permanent Independent Prevent Commissioner is underway, and an update will be provided once an appointment has been made.

When the temporary policy of extending the move on period for newly recognized refugees to 56 days will end.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June to Question 57756.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57756 on Asylum: Housing, whether she has a target date for making a decision on the extension of the move on period beyond June 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June to Question 57756.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57756 on Asylum: Housing, what her planned timetable is for evaluating the impact of interim measures.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June to Question 57756.

Whether her Department plans to extend the move on period for newly recognised refugees to 56 days beyond June 2025.

In December, the Home Office operationalised a pilot to extend the grace period to 56 days to support local authorities during a period of increased asylum decision making and with the transition to eVisas. It is important that we take the necessary time to evaluate the impact of the interim measures, including overall net costs to taxpayers, before making a decision on whether to make the measures permanent.

When she plans to set out a timeline for the consultation to inform the delivery of the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025.

The Immigration White Paper, published 12 May, set out a wide range of reforms, including to student visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What steps her Department is taking to consult charities on the implementation of the policies in the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025.

The Immigration White Paper, published 12 May, set out a wide range of reforms, including to student visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.

Whether the forthcoming consultation on the implementation of the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, will include consultation on the potential impact of changes to English language proficiency requirements on people applying for refugee family reunion.

The Home Office regularly engages with a wide range of experts and stakeholders when developing policy or consulting on proposals.

What steps her Department has taken to consult people with prior experience of applying for refugee family reunion in the forthcoming consultation on the implementation of the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025.

The Home Office regularly engages with a wide range of experts and stakeholders when developing policy or consulting on proposals.

If she will publish a response to Early Day Motion 1000, published on 24 March 2025, on ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK.

We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes.This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine Visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025, will provide up to an additional 18 months’ permission to stay in the UK for those with existing Ukraine Scheme permission.The Scheme is free to apply to. Most applicants who hold a Biometric Residence Permit may be able to reuse previously submitted biometrics (fingerprint and photograph) and may not need to attend a UK Visas and Citizenship Application (UKVCAS) service point.The vast majority of applications are concluded well in advance of the Customer Service Standard, and the Home Office are confident in their ability to continue delivering this scheme at pace.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of (a) support and (b) guidance provided to local authorities on the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders to prevent the use of disposable barbecues in areas at high risk of wildfire.

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 (PSPO).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.PSPOs may be put in place by a local authority to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone. This may include for example a prohibition on use of barbecues in a specific location.Failing to comply with a requirement of a PSPO is a criminal offence. Depending on the behaviour in question, the enforcing officer could decide a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) would be the most appropriate sanction. As set out in legislation, FPNs have a fixed upper limit of £100. Provisions in the Crime and Policing Bill will increase the upper limit for breach of a PSPO to £500.The Home Office publishes statutory guidance for frontline professionals on the use of the powers in the 2014 Act. The guidance is published here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6422a19b60a35e00120cae63/2023_Update_ASB_Statutory_Guidance_-_FINAL__1_.pdf

With reference to the guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 11 February 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the good character requirement for British citizenship on long-term UK residents who were granted protection after arriving by irregular routes.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on 3 April to Question 40163, and on 25 February to Question 31371.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's revised guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 11 February 2025, on levels of community cohesion in Greater Manchester.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on 3 April to Question 40163, and on 25 February to Question 31371.

With reference to the guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 11 February 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who arrived in the UK as children are not affected by changes to the guidance on the good character requirement when applying for UK citizenship as adults.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on 3 April to Question 40163, and on 25 February to Question 31371.

What proportion of UK citizenship applications refused since 10 February 2025 have had entry to the UK by irregular means cited as the reason for refusal.

The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, what level of English language proficiency people applying for refugee family reunion will be expected to have.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including family reunion, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to family reunion rules on the number of refugees taking dangerous journeys.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including family reunion, further details of which will be set out in due course.