Written questions by Whittome.

For what reason applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) route are subject to delays, including the processing times and backlogs of UK Vis

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report 'Deaths of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people in the care of, or supported by, local authorities' by Da’aro Youth Project.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of the visa brake on student visa applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan on individuals who are studying a foundation course in the UK on a valid student visa but whose next course begins more than 28 days after the expiry of their current permission; and whether she plans to make any provision for such students to continue their studies in the UK.

The visa brake applies only to relevant out‑of‑country applications.It was introduced in response to patterns of visa‑linked asylum claims by nationality, and at present we do not intend to introduce exceptions for students who have previously studied in the UK on foundation courses.The visa brake will be kept under regular review. It is not intended to be a permanent measure and will be lifted once the Government considers it appropriate to do so.

If she will make it her policy to allow migrant nurses who are not employed by the NHS to qualify for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years.

The Government recognises and values the important contribution that nurses make to the UK and our National Health Service.The earned settlement public consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed on 12 February 2026. 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, the proposals will be subject to both an economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment which we will publish as well as the Government’s response in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing a 15-year route to settlement on migrants on low wages.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation. The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessment, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the police on taking steps to help ensure that people who incited (a) hatred and (b) violence during the Unite The Kingdom march in London on 13 September 2025 are held to account; and whether she plans to exclude from the UK people who incited (i) hatred and (ii) violence who are not (A) British citizens and (B) resident in the UK.

The Home Secretary and Minsters have regular discussions with policing partners on a range of issues. Decisions on how to police individual protests are for Chief Constables, who are operationally independent and best placed to assess local threat and risk.The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our society; however, this does not extend to violent behaviour and attacks on police officers.Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond. During the Unite the Kingdom protest, the Metropolitan Police Service arrested 24 people - for a variety of offences including for violent disorder, affray, assaults, and criminal damage - and are seeking to identify others.It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.A person who is not a British citizen may be excluded from the UK on the grounds that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good. Exclusion is normally reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour such as inciting violence.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the transition period to 28 days on the ability of refugees to secure accommodation.

On 1 September, the 56 days move on pilot implemented in December 2024 was paused for all single adults in receipt of a positive asylum decision, with the exception of individuals who are pregnant, over the age of 65 or have a known/evidenced disability. This action was taken to ensure that the asylum system continues to run efficiently, and to enable us to continue taking action both to reduce the overall number of asylum hotels in different communities, and the number of people staying in them.We closely monitor the impact of all our policies, including the move on period, on the number and occupancy of asylum hotels, the overall costs of the asylum accommodation estate, the wider effect on local communities, and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities. We remain committed to working closely with our partners to identify improvements and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees move on from asylum accommodation.The independent evaluation of the pilot is due to conclude imminently, and evaluation outcomes will be used to inform longer term policy proposals and will be shared with parliament.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to skilled worker visa requirements for prison officers on the level of prison staffing.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to Parliamentary Question 76286.

Whether she consulted people with direct experience of the immigration system prior to designing the (a) settlement and (b) citizenship changes proposed in the Immigration White Paper.

The Government will consult on the settlement and citizenship changes, proposed in the Immigration White Paper, later in 2025. Changes to the citizenship system will align with changes being made in respect to settlement. Any changes to statutory requirements for citizenship will require an amendment to the British Nationality Act 1981, which will go through the usual parliamentary process.

What steps she is taking to enable Ukrainians who arrived via the (a) Homes for Ukraine and (b) Ukraine Family Scheme to settle permanently in the UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on 1 September 2025.

What discussions her Department has had with the Metropolitan Police on the (a) purchase and (b) deployment of Plesan Sandcat armoured vehicles.

Decisions around the procurement of equipment, including armoured vehicles, are a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, or Mayoral equivalents, who are best placed to consider the needs of their police force and take decisions in line with their existing budget.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of new visa requirements on travellers from Trinidad and Tobago; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an exemption for cultural workers from Trinidad and Tobago with confirmed professional work in the UK.

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago are now required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to the UK. The UK introduced a visitor visa requirement for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago on 12 March 2025 due to the number of nationals of Trinidad and Tobago travelling to the UK for reasons other than those permitted under the Immigration Rules for visitors. This included a significant increase in asylum claims made on arrival at the UK border. Full reasons for the introduction of the visa requirement and a summary of the impact were provided in the Explanatory Memorandum to the changes in the Immigration Rules.We have no plans to introduce a visa exemption for cultural workers. The Creative Worker visa concession is available to individuals who do not require a visa to enter the UK as a visitor. Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago can apply for the Creative Worker route, but are required to obtain a visa before travelling.

What information her Department holds on the number of care workers from overseas who (a) lost their employment after their employer has their licence to sponsor international staff suspended and (b) (i) left the UK and (ii) found employment after (A) extending their visa and (B) finding a new sponsor.

The requested information is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

With reference to the paper entitled Understanding asylum seeker and asylum-route refugee vulnerabilities, needs, and support (2022), published on 22 May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential implication for her policies of the statement in that paper's Executive Summary that there is widespread evidence that the asylum system exacerbates and creates, rather than alleviates, vulnerabilities for people seeking asylum.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration and asylum system under review, taking into account a wide range of research and evidence, as well as consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders.

With reference to her Department’s research entitled Understanding asylum seeker and refugee vulnerabilities and needs (2022), published on 22 May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of its findings for her policies on (a) asylum seeker safeguarding and (b) enforcement culture in her Department.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration and asylum system under review, taking into account a wide range of research and evidence, as well as consultation with relevant experts and stakeholders.

With reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, whether the proposed increase in the standard qualifying period for permanent residence from five to ten years will apply only to newly-arrived migrants.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

Whether she has had discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the policing at the Quaker meeting house in Westminster on 27 March 2025.

The Metropolitan Police are operationally independent of the government. It is for the police to make decisions about how to respond to specific incidents based on their professional judgement and the circumstances at hand.

What recent discussions she has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on (a) the review of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy and (b) detention for vulnerable people.

The review of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy is ongoing and external engagement is taking place during the first quarter of 2025. A range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), will be invited to view and comment on any proposals for reform, as part of this external engagement work.

What steps she is taking to consult with LGBTQI+ sector (a) organisations and (b) individuals on the review of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy.

The review of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy is ongoing and external engagement is taking place during the first quarter of 2025. A range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), will be invited to view and comment on any proposals for reform, as part of this external engagement work.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the (a) equitability and (b) affordability of fees for citizenship applications; and whether she plans to review those fees.

The Home Office routinely considered issues around equitability and affordability, among other considerations, when making determinations on the appropriate level of fees to charge for immigration and nationality applications. The Home Office previously published an Equality Impact Assessment which includes considerations in respect of citizenship fees: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1004/pdfs/uksiod_20231004_en_001.pdf.