Written questions by Cordova.

If the Equality Impact Assessment prepared in connection with A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Statement and Accompanying Consultation on Earned Settlement will be published prior to final policy decisions.

The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including settlement and asylum.Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.The consultation included questions on equalities issues and sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups, including the case for exemptions for vulnerable groups. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we will make available when the full response to the consultation is published.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that her earned settlement proposals support migrant women.

The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including settlement and asylum.Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.The consultation included questions on equalities issues and sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups, including the case for exemptions for vulnerable groups. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we will make available when the full response to the consultation is published.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Earned Settlement proposals on women.

The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including settlement and asylum.Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.The consultation included questions on equalities issues and sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups, including the case for exemptions for vulnerable groups. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we will make available when the full response to the consultation is published.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Earned Settlement proposals on migrant women experiencing (a) domestic abuse and (b) coercive control.

The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including settlement and asylum.Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.The consultation included questions on equalities issues and sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups, including the case for exemptions for vulnerable groups. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we will make available when the full response to the consultation is published.

How many individuals holding pre settled status work in the health and social care sector.

The Home Office does not hold data on the occupations of people granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of retrospective changes to settlement requirements on health care workers and the wider health care system.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. Contributions will now be analysed, and the findings will support the development of the final model.Economic and equality impact assessments will be conducted on the final model and published in due course.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Crime and Policing Bill on the number of young people arrested at protests.

This government is committed to upholding the right to peaceful protest as well as balancing the need to protect the life of a community in the development of public order legislation. The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy, and people are free to gather and express their views, provided they do so within the law.The government has published a human rights memorandum on the measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, here: ECHRMemo.pdfThe memorandum provides a detailed consideration of each provision’s compatibility with Convention rights.An equalities impact assessment for these measures in the Bill will be published in due course, this will assess the potential impact of the measures on those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including age.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Crime and Policing Bill on the right to protest without fear of criminal sanction.

This government is committed to upholding the right to peaceful protest as well as balancing the need to protect the life of a community in the development of public order legislation. The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of our democracy, and people are free to gather and express their views, provided they do so within the law.The government has published a human rights memorandum on the measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, here: ECHRMemo.pdfThe memorandum provides a detailed consideration of each provision’s compatibility with Convention rights.An equalities impact assessment for these measures in the Bill will be published in due course, this will assess the potential impact of the measures on those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including age.

With reference to the document entitled Windrush Lessons Learned Review by Wendy Williams, published in March 2020, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of that review on her Department’s refugee and asylum policies.

We are grateful for the recommendations and insights provided in the Windrush Lessons Learned Review by Wendy Williams.The UK has a long-standing commitment to protecting those in need, in line with our international obligations. We will never remove anyone to a country where they would face persecution or serious harm, and we remain firmly committed to this principle.The reforms set out in the Asylum Policy Statement (Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy - GOV.UK) introduce a comprehensive package of measures designed to restore order, control, fairness, and public confidence in the system. These reforms are fully compliant with our international obligations.Further policy development is needed on the details of these reforms. We will consult meaningfully with affected stakeholders and carefully assess equalities impacts.

What assessment she has made of the impact of her Department’s proposed refugee and asylum policies on community cohesion.

The principle that people genuinely fleeing danger and persecution should be welcomed, is one this government will always defend. The Asylum Policy Statement sets out a fair and firm approach to restoring order to the system, which is essential for building community cohesion. By increasing public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system, the reforms will help build trust and reduce tensions within communities. At the same time, they support successful integration for those granted protection, enabling them to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities. These measures will encourage and enable people granted protection to become self-sufficient, law-abiding members of UK society.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2025 to Question 52657 on Immigration: EU Nationals, whether her Department collects any data on the ethnicity of applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme.

A detailed breakdown of the EU Settlement Scheme statistics is available to the public via GOV.UK. Within the latest published statistics, Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK, a list of data fields sets out what data is collected, as part of the EU Settlement Scheme application.

Whether her Department collects data on the ethnicity of applicants for (a) settled and (b) pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

A detailed breakdown of the EU Settlement Scheme statistics is available to the public via GOV.UK. Within the latest published statistics, Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK, a list of data fields sets out what data is collected, as part of the EU Settlement Scheme application.

What quality controls her Department has put in place to help ensure that people accessing their digital immigration status receive accurate information.

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be more digital and streamlined, a change that will enhance the applicant’s experience and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.The transition to eVisas has seen millions of people already receiving and using eVisas successfully. By the end of April 2025 over 4.3 million people had created an online (UKVI) account to access their eVisa. Between Q4 2019 and Q1 2025, the 'view and prove' service has seen over 41.9 million views by individuals and over 6.3 million views by organisations checking immigration status.The rollout of eVisas does not affect a person’s immigration status. The information in an eVisa is based on the information held on a person’s underlying immigration case, which is recorded in the same way as when we issued biometric residence permits. We have been recording this immigration case information digitally for over 20 years, on various caseworking systems, and if someone encounters an issue with their eVisa we can search those records to find their information and confirm their status.If a person believes there is an error with their eVisa, they should report it to the Home Office using the dedicated ‘Report an error with your eVisa’ form which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa.We are continually improving our systems and welcome feedback on errors and how access to eVisas can be enhanced.

Whether Border Force collects data on the ethnicity of people (a) held or (b) delayed in excess of 30 minutes at the UK border.

Border Force does not collect ethnicity data.

What recent discussions she has had with the Metropolitan Police on the case of Ali Kololo.

The operationally independent Metropolitan Police continue to progress matters relating to this case. It would not be appropriate for Home Office Ministers to comment on any discussions concerning the individual.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of right to rent checks on non-UK passport holders on (a) the private rental sector and (b) levels of homelessness in Battersea.

The Right to Rent Scheme was introduced to ensure only those lawfully in the United Kingdom can access the private rented sector, and to tackle unscrupulous landlords who exploit vulnerable migrants, sometimes in very poor living conditions.The Scheme applies equally to everyone, including British and Irish citizens seeking accommodation in the private rented sector in England. There is an extensive list of documents that tenants can use to prove their right to rent. The Scheme has been independently evaluated twice.Statistics on levels of homelessness are overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The latest official data on statutory homelessness in England can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-july-to-september-2024.

What steps she plans to take to reduce outcome waiting times for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The Home Office seeks to process all applications to the EU Settlement Scheme as expeditiously as possible.Details of the processing times can be found on the GOV.UK website (EU Settlement Scheme: current estimated processing times for applications - GOV.UK) which advises on expected processing times and common reasons an EUSS application may take longer to conclude.It is over three years since the deadline to apply to the main scheme and the Home Office continues to make changes with the aim of improving the customer experience.The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without the need for them to make a further EUSS application. It is expected the first grants under this process will be issued in late January 2025.Pre-settled status holders will not need to take any action and the Home Office will inform them if it is unable to convert them to settled status. The Home Office will undertake automated checks of pre-settled status holders against government-held information, for example in respect of their ongoing continuous residence in the UK. This reflects the assessment undertaken when the person first applied to the EUSS and will ensure their eligibility for settled status is thoroughly considered before it is granted.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing data on whether illicit objects were found during strip searches (a) in police custody and (b) during police stop and searches by (i) police force and (ii) the (A) age, (B) sex and (C) ethnicity of the person.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police. Its use must be fair, respectful, without unlawful discrimination, and transparent. The Government is committed to introducing new legal safeguards around strip searching children.As part of the Home Office’s Annual Data Requirement, data on strip searches which take place in custody is collected and published on an annual basis online at gov.uk:Other PACE powers, year ending March 2023 (second edition) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) This custody data includes the number of strip searches carried out, as well as the age, sex and ethnicity of persons searched. For the 2024/25 custody data collection, forces will be required to record the reasonable grounds for search during a strip search. However, the data does not currently include data on the outcome of the search, and this is something the Home Office will consider collecting in future years.Since April 2023, the Home Office has also collected data on the extent of clothing removal in stop and searches, allowing analysis of strip searches under stop and search powers. This includes publishing for the first time in September 2024 a breakdown by the sex, age and ethnicity of the person strip searched following the stop and search encounter. Home Office statistics on stop and search includes data on the outcome of the search, including the grounds for the search and whether the outcome of the search was linked to the grounds, which allows analysis of items found.Information on the levels of stop and search is available at gov.uk:Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Data on the level of clothing removal during stop and search is labelled as ‘Official Statistics in development’ to denote its collection on a voluntary basis and ongoing quality improvements to the data.

What steps she plans to take to tackle disproportionate use of full strip searches during stop and searches of (a) Black, (b) Asian and (c) other ethnic minority people.

Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must be fair, respectful and without unlawful discrimination. No one should be subject to the use of any police power based on their race or ethnicity. That is why the Government’s manifesto committed to introducing new legal safeguards around strip-searching children and young people.This Government welcomes the recent reduction in the disproportionate use of stop and search powers, but there is more work to do. We are also increasing transparency in the use of these powers. Figures published in September, covering the 12 months to March 2024 includes, for the first time, data on whether the stop and search included a strip search.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) creating a Gaza Family visa scheme modelled on the Ukraine Family Scheme visa and (b) deferring biometric requirements for those eligible for family reunion but unable to leave Gaza.

The Government is determined to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and rapidly increase aid, ensuring humanitarian support is reaching people there. The government is keeping existing visa pathways under review in response to events. Palestinian nationals who wish to come to the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available. Immediate family members of British citizens and those settled in the UK who wish to come and live in the UK can apply under one of the existing family visa routes. The FCDO is also providing consular assistance to those with British nationality, or dual nationality including British, who are in Gaza or who have left Gaza to a third country. Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.Biometrics, in the form of fingerprints and facial images, underpin the UK immigration system and are integral to national security. We recently published updated guidance on Gov.UK that sets out the circumstances where we may predetermine an application before a person attends a visa application centre to enrol their biometric information or when we may excuse the person from having to enrol their biometrics before they travel to the UK. Where a relevant application is made, consideration will be given to compelling compassionate factors that are raised.