Written questions by Roberts.

Whether the Welsh Government was (a) consulted and (b) engaged with as part of the Independent Review of Police Force Structures prior to 7 May 2026.

Awaiting answer.

What plans her Department has to review the 1987 Police Pension Scheme, in light of the mechanism under which widowers, widows and surviving civil partners can lose their pension entitlement if they remarry or enter into a new cohabiting relationship.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to UIN 813 on the 18th May 2026.

What progress she has made on the commitment to introduce new legal safeguards around strip-searching children and young people; and what the timeline is for the implementation of these safeguards.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police. The Government has been clear that, where these powers are used, they must be exercised lawfully, proportionately and with proper regard for the welfare and dignity of children and young people.We are taking forward work on a package of reforms to strengthen the safeguards that apply to strip searching children and young people, including measures intended to improve accountability and oversight, and to support greater clarity and consistency in the use of these powers.This work is being considered carefully alongside wider reforms relating to strip search, informed by evidence and engagement with key stakeholders, to ensure a more child-centred approach in practice. The Government remains committed to strengthening the framework in this area and we will set out further details in due course.

Noting the context of devolved legislation, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes put forward as part of her Department’s consultation entitled Family Returns: Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns on local authorities in Wales.

While asylum and immigration policy are reserved matters, the Home Office recognises that the proposals in the consultation titled Family Returns: Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns interact with important devolved responsibilities, including those of local authorities.The consultation is seeking views from the devolved administrations on potential impacts of the proposals and responses from Welsh local authorities and the Welsh Government will inform relevant impact assessments, policy, regulations and guidance.The Home Office will continue to engage with devolved administrations and local authority partners to ensure any reforms are implemented responsibly and in line with statutory duties.

What discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the desired governance end state for policing in Wales following the policing white paper; when those discussions took place; and what the outcomes were.

We are working closely with the Welsh Government, as well as other Welsh Stakeholders including Welsh local government, police forces and other partners, to ensure new governance arrangements provide strong and effective police governance in Wales. Officials have established a specific Welsh transition working group as part of the Police Governance Reform project, which last met on 22 January. Welsh Government officials are members of this Board and Home Office and Welsh Government officials speak regularly to develop proposals. The Minister for Policing and Crime regularly speaks to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt MS, and she attended the Policing Partnership Board for Wales on 18 December. The Minister plans to attend the next Board on 5 March. We will continue to work collaboratively with Welsh stakeholders on the design and implementation of governance arrangements in Wales.

Which specific measures set out in the Tackling violence against women and girls strategy, published on 18 December, apply to (a) England only and (b) England and Wales.

This Strategy applies to areas under UK Government responsibility. Commitments on crime, policing, and justice apply to England and Wales, while those on health, social care, housing, transport, and education apply to England only, as these are devolved matters. Reserved areas, such as online safety and immigration, apply across the UK.

What discussions he has had with Welsh Government officials on the application of relevant measures set out in the violence against women and girls strategy, published on 18 December 2025, in Wales.

Throughout the development of the VAWG Strategy we have engaged with the Welsh Government, Scottish Government, and Northern Ireland Executive, including through roundtables with Welsh stakeholders and representation of the Wales National Advisor on VAWG as part of our Strategy Advisory Board. Each Devolved Government has its own strategy, and ours has been informed by best practices drawn from the approaches of all three, including Wales. We are committed to sharing learning and best practice to make our work complementary. VAWG is a national and international emergency, and we will continue working with the Welsh Government, Scottish Government, and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure a coordinated UK-wide response.Tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) has been a long-standing priority for the Welsh Government, as demonstrated through the ground-breaking Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act. Its second Strategy (May 2022) further set out its vision to end VAWG, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wales. The VAWDASV Blueprint approach brings together devolved and reserved public authorities, non-governmental organisations, specialist services and survivors whose voices are integral to securing a future without VAWG to deliver this vision. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our Welsh Government colleagues as we deliver on our commitments within the Strategy to ensure a cohesive, joined-up approach.

What discussions her Department have had with Welsh Government counterparts on the implementation of local investigations in Wales as part of the grooming gangs inquiry.

On 9 December 2025 the Home Secretary announced to Parliament the appointment of Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair of the new Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as Panel.The Home Office has had regular discussions with the Welsh Government while the Inquiry was being established. The Inquiry is independent of Government. The draft Terms of Reference for the Inquiry make clear that it will establish its own process for how local investigations are determined, with no location able to resist if one is declared. All areas of Wales are within scope of the inquiry.

What discussions she has had with police forces on improving the recruitment process for police officers.

This Government is committed to ensuring there are consistent, high standards for entry into the police.Individual police forces manage recruitment locally within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with guidance maintained by the College of Policing. We continue to work closely with the College to support ongoing improvements to all entry routes into policing, ensuring they are as effective as they can be for forces and participants, and that recruits across all forces consistently meet the same rigorous standards.

What information her Department holds on the number of police officers who died by suicide in each of the last ten years.

The Home Office does not collect data on suicides or attempted suicides by police workers. Data on suicides by occupation have previously been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarri ages/deaths/adhocs/2726suicidebyoccupationinenglandandwales2023and202 4provisional. A National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention and Postvention in policing has been launched, which aims to reduce rates among the police workforce as well as enhancing data recording.The plan, which includes ensuring adequate training for the police workforce, emphasises a supportive environment that promotes mental health and combats stigma to ensure that those affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts can access appropriate and timely support.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of granting Cardiff capital city status to enable the city to receive additional funding for policing.

Cardiff has been the capital city of Wales since 1955 and is one of the four capital cities in the UK.A National and International Capital City (NICC) grant is paid to the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police to reflect the unique demands of policing in London. The NICC grant is partially funded from a reallocation of the core funding for all police forces in England and Wales and as such, decisions on the level of the funding must consider its impact on wider policing.South Wales Police will receive up to £441.7 million in 2025-26, an increase of up to £32.6 million when compared to 2024-25. Decisions on the allocation of NICC funding are taken at the time of the Police Settlement and as with previous years, more details on force funding allocations for 2026-27 will be made via the provisional police funding settlement later in the year.

What policy changes her Department is considering to improve the use of the apprenticeship levy within police forces in Wales.

This Government is committed to collaborating with the Devolved Governments on skills policy, to share best practice and support growth and opportunity throughout the UK.We have allocated £2.4m as part of the police settlement for 2025/26 to reimburse the amount paid by Welsh forces in their levy contribution for police constable degree apprenticeships.In addition, funding for Welsh forces is up to £1.0 billion in 2025-26, an increase of up to £57.4 million compared to 2024-25 (6.0% in cash terms).

What consideration she has given to reviewing the funding formula for policing.

This Government is committed to ensuring that policing has the resources it needs and the allocation of funding to police forces remains an important consideration.The Chancellor has announced a real terms increase in police spending power over the next three years. As with previous years, decisions on police force funding allocations for 2026-27 will be set out at the forthcoming police funding settlement.

When he will publish the Police Reform White Paper.

The Home Secretary is committed to publishing a Police Reform White Paper this year. More information on the White Paper and the future of Policing in England and Wales will be shared with Parliament in due course.

What estimate she has made with Cabinet colleagues of how many (a) prison service, (b) DWP and (c) general civil service staff members with Skilled Worker visas will lose their visa eligibility due to changes to immigration rules from 22 July 2025.

Under the current transitional arrangements, existing Skilled Worker visa holders are exempt from the changes to the skills threshold introduced on 22 July and can continue to extend in their current occupations.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a separate resettlement route for people in Gaza to join families in the UK.

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

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ban on employment for women seeking asylum on levels of gender-based violence and exploitation.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 3 June to Question 53862.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the work ban for people seeking asylum on future employment opportunities.

Our primary responsibility remains to crack down on illegal working, and ensure that those employers and employees who play by the rules are not undercut by those who are not. Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can currently apply for permission to work in jobs on the Immigration Salary List (ISL). The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration and asylum system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reform in relation to the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers, and a wide range of other areas. The Home Office also continues to invest in a programme of transformation to speed up asylum decision making and therefore reduce the time people spend in the asylum system. This approach will ensure that genuine asylum seekers can be accepted quickly and gain access to the labour market, and those who are not can be removed to their home country.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of routes available to people in Gaza to join families in the UK.

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

What plans her Department has for future visas for Ukrainian refugees once the 18-month Ukraine Permission Extension scheme expires.

We keep the Ukraine schemes under continuous review in line with the ongoing conflict and the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. This is why the Ukraine Schemes are temporary and do not lead to settlement in the UK. It is important our approach respects these wishes.The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme provides the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare and education as the current Ukraine schemes.The Home Office continues to engage with our stakeholders and partners to ensure employers are fully informed and can continue to support Ukrainians. We have also updated the online guidance for employers with details of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, which is available on GOV.UK.