Written questions by Timothy.

If she will publish a breakdown of migrants removed since 5 July 2024 by (a) voluntary and (b) enforced removals; and by nationality.

The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data on returns are presented in table Ret_D01 of the ‘returns detailed tables’, where the data can be broken down by return type, quarter and nationality. The latest data goes up to September 2024.  Data up to the end of December 2024 is due to be published on 27 February 2025. Information on enforced and voluntary returns from 5th July to 31st January is published at Returns from the UK since 5 July 2024 - GOV.UK.

How many migrants on Health and Care Visas have claimed asylum since 2020.

The information requested 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.However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.

If she will take steps to bar Mohamed Hoblos from entry into the UK.

As the Honourable Member will be aware, it is longstanding policy that the Home Office does not comment on individual cases.However, we have robust safeguards to ensure that those who intend to sow hatred and division in our communities are refused entry to our country, and we make no apology for this. Our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK and our communities.

How many migrants on (a) work, (b) student and (c) family visas have claimed asylum since 2010.

The information requested 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.However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.

How many migrants on Health and Care Worker visas claimed asylum in each year since 2020.

The information requested 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.However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.

Whether her Department holds (a) written and (b) statistical evidence on how police forces treat different identity groups based on (i) ethnicity, (ii) nationality, (iii) gender and (iv) sexuality.

The Home Office collects and publishes regular statistics on the use of police powers. A range of data on different characteristics are collected across the different policing collections. Specifically, on police powers (including stop and search and arrest), data is collected on sex, ethnicity and age.The collection of statistics, along with other policing statistics such as police misconduct and police workforce, are available at the following link:Policing statistics - GOV.UKOfficial statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.

What plans she has to improve the firearms licensing service.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

Whether the revenues from increased firearms licensing fees will be hypothecated to improve the firearms licensing service.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

With reference to her oral contribution of 2 September 2024 in response to the question from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich, Official Report, column 70, on what evidential basis she said that two-tier policing does not occur in England and Wales.

Schedule 4 of the Police Act 1996 requires all police constables to make a declaration that they will carry out their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality. This means that the police must, and do, enforce the law without fear or favour.The use of police powers to maintain public order is an operational decision for the relevant force and how they choose to exercise those powers will depend on the circumstances of a particular incident.The previous Home Secretary (the Rt Hon Member for Fareham and Waterlooville) was rightly dismissed from her position for suggesting otherwise.

How many firearms licence (a) applications and (b) renewals were completed in (i) the UK, (ii) the East of England and (iii) West Suffolk constituency in each year since 2015.

The Home Office publishes information annually on the number of firearm and shotgun certificate applications and renewals that have been granted and refused in England and Wales in the statistical publication on firearm and shotgun certificates. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 March 2024 and can be accessed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/firearm-certificates-in-england-and-walesThe number of firearm and shotgun certificate applications and renewals that have been granted and refused in England and Wales, the East of England region and Suffolk police force area in each year since 2015 can be found in data tables 2 and 4.Data are not available by constituencies specifically. Police Scotland publish broadly comparable annual statistics on the number of firearm and shotgun certificates granted and renewed in Scotland:https://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/what-we-do/firearms-and-explosives-licensing/There are no comparable statistics for Northern Ireland.

What service level agreements exist for firearms licensing.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role the Government has (a) in policing and (b) tackling crime within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone; and whether Westminster Bridge is in the Government Secure Zone.

Departmental responsibility for tackling crime, whether on Westminster Bridge, or in the Hon Member’s own constituency of West Suffolk is a matter for the relevant local police force.

Whether the Homeland Security Group has assessed social media posts written by Elon Musk as part of its disinformation work.

The Homeland Security Group (HSG) in the Home Office routinely conducts open source monitoring to help keep British citizens safe, including on social media platforms in compliance with the relevant legislation governing such activity.As per convention, specific details of this work cannot be provided publicly as this would jeopardise its effectiveness.

Which areas are covered by the pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Whether her Department provides funding for each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors, and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

If she will publish (a) terms and (b) guidance for pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Which Minister is responsible for the (a) implementation and (b) assessment of pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

How many asylum seekers are covered by the pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities by (i) number of family units and (ii) average number of children.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

What the cost is of each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

How many social houses are being used by each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.