Written questions by Wrigley.

Whether it remains her Department's policy to recognise existing visas under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

To provide future certainty, Ukrainians provided with temporary sanctuary in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes can apply for a further 18 months’ permission to remain in the UK through the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025.The Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open, uncapped and free of charge for Ukrainians in need of sanctuary to apply to come to the UK. Ukrainians granted under the Homes for Ukraine scheme can continue to travel to sanctuary in the UK while their visa remains valid.The Government keeps the Ukraine schemes under review and engages, where appropriate, with relevant stakeholders while closely monitoring developments in Ukraine.

Whether it remains her Department's policy to continue the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.

To provide future certainty, Ukrainians provided with temporary sanctuary in the UK under the Ukraine visa schemes can apply for a further 18 months’ permission to remain in the UK through the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025.The Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open, uncapped and free of charge for Ukrainians in need of sanctuary to apply to come to the UK. Ukrainians granted under the Homes for Ukraine scheme can continue to travel to sanctuary in the UK while their visa remains valid.The Government keeps the Ukraine schemes under review and engages, where appropriate, with relevant stakeholders while closely monitoring developments in Ukraine.

If she will take steps to tackle (a) violence, (b) abuse and (c) neglect against young people.

The Government is seeking to protect young people against a range of specific harms. We have committed to the creation of a new Young Futures Programme (YFP), which will establish a network of Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships, to intervene earlier to ensure at-risk young people are identified and offered support in a more systematic way, as well as creating more opportunities for young people in their communities, through the provision of mental health and careers support.New Young Futures Prevention Partnerships will bring local partners together to identify vulnerable children at-risk of being drawn into crime, map local youth service provision, and ensure that evidence-based support is provided to those in need.

What steps she is taking to reduce the number of cases under investigation by police for over one year.

Timely investigation of crime is important for victims and to ensure swift justice. Official statistics on crime outcomes, published by the Home Office for the year ending September 2024, shows that 86% of all offences (without fraud) are closed within 100 days.I welcome that HMICFRS is currently undertaking an ‘investigations’ thematic inspection and we will work with the sector on its recommendations. We will work closely with policing partners to continue to equip them with the tools needed to investigate crime and progress cases through the system swiftly, I welcome that HMICFRS is currently undertaking an including those which can significantly reduce the time taken to process digital forensic material.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of replacing Police and Crime Commissioners with police panels.

Police and Crime Commissioners play a vital local role acting as the voice of the public and victims in policing, holding Chief Constables to account and leading local partnerships to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour. The government will continue t...

If she will have discussions with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on the adequacy of the system for appointing a Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall Po

It is for locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to make decisions around appointing, suspending, and removing chief constables. The College of Policing updated the national Guidance for Appointing Chief Officers in February 2024 to ensure ...