Written questions by Farage.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with (a) local authority officers and (b) local authority elected representatives on the cancellation of the local elections in Essex, and if she will publish such conversations.

The Secretary of State has not had discussions with these local authorities on the cancellation of the local elections. Discussions on the applications to the Devolution Priority Programme have been had with all upper tier and unitary councils in the preparation of the programme, and those discussions covered all matters related to the timetable and process by both officials and ministers, as you would expect.

Whether she plans to prescribe Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer provided to question UIN 23462.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure sanctions are taken against companies which have been sanctioned by other nations for links with the Muslim Brotherhood.

We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. We will consider targets, guided by the objectives of the relevant sanctions regime and the evidence. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. We coordinate sanctions activity with our allies to maximise collective impact where possible, but this does not mean we will always take identical and simultaneous action - our respective sanctions regimes sometimes differ, as do the strategic objectives they serve.

Which countries have had visitor visas reinstated since 5 July 2024.

Since 5 July 2024, the UK has reintroduced visitor visa requirements for nationals of Jordan on 10 September 2024 and for nationals of Colombia on 26 November 2024.

What estimate she has made of the number of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel who are not intercepted by Border Force.

On a daily basis, the Home Office publishes data on the number of small boats crossing the Channel that have been involved in uncontrolled landings. The latest such publication, and a time series dating back to 2018, can be found at: Small boat activity in the English Channel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What information her Department holds on police protection provided to people other than Ministers and members of the Royal Family.

The government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on protective security arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.Decisions on security arrangements are independent operational decisions for the police.

How many foreign national offenders are incarcerated in the United Kingdom as of 22 October 2024.

As of 30 June 2024, there were 10,435 foreign nationals in HMPPS custody. The number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) in prison in England and Wales is published quarterly in table 1_Q_11 of Offender Management Statistics, with the latest data (30 June 2024) available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a1167cce1fd0da7b592c8d/Prison-population-30-June-2024.ods. The removal of FNOs is an important priority of this Government. FNOs who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. This will help to manage prison pressures, keep the public safe and reduce crime. Offender Management Statistics will next be published on 31 October 2024, covering the prison population as of 30 September 2024. Please note, the above figures relate only to foreign nationals detained in prison in England and Wales. Queries concerning the numbers of foreign nationals detained in non-prison settings, such as Immigration Removal Centres or Secure Hospitals, would need to be directed to the relevant government department. Queries on the number of foreign nationals held in custody in other legal jurisdictions within the United Kingdom would need to be directed to the relevant jurisdiction.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the UK withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights.

This Government is unequivocally committed to the European Convention of Human Rights and will not withdraw from it. The UK government maintains profound respect for international law and remains fully committed to the international human rights framework and the important role that multilateral organisations like the Council of Europe play in upholding it.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve flood defences in (a) Jaywick, (b) St Osyth, (c) Point Clear and (d) other high-risk areas in Clacton constituency.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after winter flood season. The Government is investing over £1.25 billion in 2024/25 to build and maintain flood defences to scale up national resilience. We continue to target investment where it’s most needed to ensure that communities are protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal erosion. In Jaywick, the Environment Agency (EA) recently completed the £12 million Cockett Wick seawall improvement scheme, ensuring 3,000 homes and businesses are better protected from tidal flooding. At Point Clear, the EA is developing a scheme to strengthen flood defences, investing £3.5 million by 2029. In Walton-on-the-Naze, the EA is delivering a £1.1 million scheme to improve the resilience of flood defences, and contributing £170,000 to support works to other defences in this area. In Clacton constituency, including St Osyth, the EA spends £300,000 annually for routine operation and maintenance of flood defences. It will also be contributing £200,000 to support works delivered by Essex County Council between 2025-2028 to reduce the risk of flooding from surface water.

How many millionaires have left the UK since the announcement of changes to the tax status for non-UK domiciled individuals.

The Government does not hold this information. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published their assumptions on the behavioural response of the affected population to the previous government’s announced policies in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook in March. This Government is committed to addressing unfairness in the tax system, so that everyone who makes their home in the UK pays their taxes here. The Government will therefore remove the outdated concept of domicile status from the tax system and implement a new residence-based regime, which is internationally competitive and focused on attracting the best talent and investment to the UK. Further details of this policy will be announced at the Budget.

How many small boats without permission to enter the UK departing from northern France have been disrupted this year, and of those how many migrants were (a) detained or (b) attempted a further crossing.

So far in 2024 (to 6 October) a total of 607 boats have been prevented from crossing the Channel as a result of our joint work with the French.

What steps his Department is taking to support the steel industry.

The Government is developing a steel strategy in partnership with the steel sector and trade unions that will set out a long-term vision for a sustainable steel sector, which we plan to publish in Spring 2025. We have committed £500mn to Port Talbot’s transformation and up to £2.5bn for steel which will be available through the National Wealth Fund and other routes to help rebuild the sector.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the value for money of payments made to the French government to stop the departures of illegal boats travelling to the UK from northern France.

Expenditure and value for money are monitored closely, with a joint governance structure to ensure the suitability of proposed expenditure against the shared aim of the UK and French Governments of stopping these dangerous and unnecessary crossings.

Communities and Local Government, how many social housing places are accommodating asylum seekers in (a) Clacton and (b) the UK.

Social housing stock is not used to accommodate asylum seekers. If a person's immigration status does not allow them recourse to public funds, as is the case in respect of asylum seekers, then they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK's military support for Ukraine on the readiness of the armed forces.

The Government's first priority is ensuring the security of the nation and its citizens. The Prime Minister has confirmed that the UK will provide £3 billion a year in military support every year for as long as it takes. The Prime Minister has launched the Strategic Defence Review to ensure that Defence is both capable and affordable now and into the future. Readiness levels are regularly reviewed in relation to the threats faced by both the UK and NATO, and military assets are deployed accordingly. The Ministry of Defence remains fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure both the continuation of supply to Ukraine, and that all equipment and munitions granted in kind from UK stocks are replaced as rapidly as possible.

Whether his Department has had discussions with local authorities on the potential impact of the proposed outdoor smoking ban on local businesses.

The Government will soon introduce the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which stands to be the most significant public health intervention in a generation. The bill will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer. To this end, Department officials regularly engage with local authorities and the Local Government Association.

Whether she has plans to offer an amnesty to illegal immigrants residing in the UK.

No.

What steps her Department is taking to work with young people to help prevent radicalisation.

The Government is committed to ensuring all children and young people are safe, including from radicalisation.The Prevent programme tackles ideological causes of terrorism and provides early intervention for people at risk of radicalisation.Where a young person has been exposed to harmful terrorist narratives, early intervention through Prevent can provide vital safeguarding measures. The programme provides training for educators, healthcare staff and other frontline staff to help them identify and protect those susceptible to radicalisation.The Home Secretary has commissioned the Counter-Extremism Sprint to identify gaps in current policy approaches and to recommend a new approach to tackling radicalisation that can draw individuals to hateful ideologies, both online and offline.We will continue to consider any new measures to prevent youth radicalisation.

What steps his Department is taking to support pubs in (a) Clacton and (b) nationally.

Pubs, including in Clacton, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK. We will restore consumer confidence through measures such as the plan to Make Work Pay, which sets out an ambitious agenda to ensure employment rights are fit for a modern economy, empower working people and contribute to economic growth. Furthermore, through the English Devolution Bill we will introduce a new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets, empowering communities to reclaim empty premises including pubs, to stimulate local growth. We have also established Skills England, a new partnership which will transform the existing Apprenticeship Levy into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy to better support business and boost opportunity for people to work in pubs. This will address one of the key asks of the Hospitality Sector that the Levy should include shorter courses that would be more suitable to this sector.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that housing targets do not negatively impact the delivery of local services for pre-existing communities (a) in Clacton constituency and (b) elsewhere.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets an expectation that the provision of local services is to be taken into account when planning for development. The Government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure that new developments provide appropriate affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.