Written questions by Kohler.

What the average time taken to make an initial decision on an asylum claim was in each of the last five years.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the 'Immigration System Statistics' and the ‘Migration Transparency Data’ releases.Data on the number of asylum claims awaiting an initial decision by duration is published in table Asy_D03 of the ‘Asylum claims and decisions detailed datasets’ and data on the percentage of applications processed within 6 months is published in table ASY_01 of the ‘Immigration and Protection data’. The latest data relates to as at 30 September 2025. For further information on the data, see the notes pages of the tables.Data on the average processing times of claims is not currently published. Official 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.

What data his Department holds on the number of criminal legal aid firms that have ceased operating in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. The LAA monitors the number of legal aid providers contracted to provide criminal legal aid services throughout England and Wales.Information regarding the number of legal aid providers with a criminal legal aid contract since 2018 is published as part of the LAA’s official statistics [table 9.6]. Please note that data for the current financial year has not yet been published. Information regarding number of contracted providers from 2008-2022 has previously been published in response to a PQ 121917.1Fluctuations in provider volumes can be the result of consolidation or merger activity. As such a reduction to the overall number of firms with a contract to provide criminal legal aid services does not always equate to a loss of provision or coverage. Not all providers who cease undertaking legal aid work will have ceased operating altogether. Some firms may continue to provide criminal advice and representation on a private basis.The LAA regularly reviews available supply of legal aid services across England and Wales to make sure there is adequate provision for legal aid, including under each criminal duty scheme, and takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise.Please note that figures for 2018-2022 in the official statistics may differ for those released under the PQ as the information in the statistics presents data as at the end of the financial year whereas the PQ response presented the figures as at the start of the financial year or most recent period for which figures were available.

What the average time taken was to complete an Education, Health and Care Plan assessment in England in each of the last five years.

The number of requests for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment received during the calendar year, the outcome of those requests and the number of requests where the decision is outstanding at the end of the calendar year is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2025.This publication also includes the number of EHC needs assessments carried out during the calendar year, the outcome of these assessments, the number of assessments where the decision is outstanding at the end of the calendar year and the number and percentage of EHC plans issued within 20 weeks of the date of the request. The latest available data relates to the 2024 calendar year. Information for the 2025 calendar year will be published later this year.

How many asylum seekers are housed in contingency accommodation; and what assessment she has made of trends in the level of the use of that accommodation.

At its peak, around 400 hotels were in use as contingency accommodation for asylum seekers, at a cost of approximately £9 million per day. The number of hotels in use has since reduced to fewer than 200. The Government remains committed to ending the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers by the end of this Parliament.The Home Office publishes data on the number of asylum seekers supported in accommodation, including contingency accommodation such as hotels, broken down by local authority. This information is available in the Asy_D11 table within the most recent Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.The Home Office keeps the asylum accommodation estate under continuous review. Demand for asylum accommodation remains volatile, requiring the Department to respond at pace to meet its statutory duty to support eligible asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute.The Department’s assessment is that overall reliance on contingency accommodation, including hotels, has reduced in recent months, reflecting efforts to move towards more sustainable accommodation solutions.

How many staff were employed in Border Force in each of the last five years.

The latest published staffing and finance figures for Border Force can be found in the Home Office Annual Report for 2020-2025 at: HO annual report and accounts 2020-25 (Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK)

What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of reported incidents of violence against women and girls in England and Wales.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 28th January is attached.

How many appeals relating to special educational needs and disabilities were lodged with the First-tier Tribunal in each of the last five years.

Information about appeals lodged with the First-tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) is published at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

How many people without leave to remain were removed from the UK in each of the last five years.

The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’. Data on returns can be found in Ret_01 of the ‘Returns summary tables’. This data goes up to September 2025 and includes only individuals who do not have valid leave to remain.

How many full-time equivalent police officers there were in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales, on a bi-annual basis, as at 31 March and 30 September each year in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.The latest information on the number of police officers, as at 30 September 2025, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2025.Table 4 of the data tables accompanying the release includes information on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers as at 31 March and 30 September each year from 2007 to 2025.

What the longest waiting time was for a case to be heard in a criminal court in England and Wales once referred, as of the most recent data available.

We have interpreted your question to be asking for information on the longest time a case has taken to have its first hearing at a criminal court from the point of crime referral.The Ministry of Justice does not hold data regarding timeliness from the date of crime referral.The Department publishes quarterly timeliness data concerning the criminal courts in the ‘End-to-end timeliness tool (Crown Court)’ and ‘Magistrates’ courts timeliness tool’, at the following link: Criminal court statistics quarterly: July to September 2025 - GOV.UK.These Accredited Official Statistics present the latest statistics on type and volume of cases that are received and processed through the criminal court system of England and Wales, including multiple measures of timeliness. The statistics give a summary overview of the volume of cases and defendants dealt with by these courts over time, including further breakdowns of available timeliness stages, offence groups and factors impacting case flow (plea, remand and case type).

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals within large commercial organisations.

The government is committed to tackling modern slavery, ensuring that victims are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted.Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 established the UK as the first country in the world to require businesses to report on how they are tackling modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. Section 54 has helped bring greater awareness of modern slavery in boardrooms across the country, but it is clear a decade after the Act, the UK’s approach to tackling labour exploitation needs to evolve.The government is currently conducting a review of Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) policy. The RBC review will consider the effectiveness of the current UK regime and alternative means of supporting responsible business practices, including consideration of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence laws and import controls on goods made by forced labour.The Government is also establishing the Fair Work Agency (FWA). The FWA will bring under one roof multiple agencies and bodies to ensure a more cohesive and streamlined response to exploitation. The FWA will have enhanced powers and resources to identify and address labour exploitation more effectively. It will be a strong, recognisable brand so individuals know where to go for help.

How many prosecutions for modern slavery offences have been brought in the past five years; and what measures are in place to improve victim identification and access to justice.

This Government is committed to tackling modern slavery, ensuring that victims are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted.The data on the number of modern slavery prosecutions is published by the Crown Prosecution Service and the available data shows that between 2019 and 2024 there were: 201920202021202220232024Convictions251197332282311353Non-convictions987013412399101Total prosecuted 349267466405410454 The National Police Chief Council Lead for modern slavery is developing a national investigations framework to strengthen police forces’ ability to identify, disrupt and bring to justice the perpetrators behind this crime.The Home Office has also committed to reviewing the modern slavery system in the Restoring Order and Control Statement to ensure that we have the right protections for those who need it. This will build on the responses we received to a Call for Evidence on the victim identification system which closed in October. The Home Office is now analysing the responses received and we will consider the evidence gathered to explore any further changes that could be made to improve the identification of victims.Furthermore, potential victims of modern slavery with a positive Reasonable or Conclusive Grounds decision have access to legal aid, this includes criminal and civil legal aid, legal aid for immigration advice, advice on an asylum claim, employment law advice and for a civil claim of damages.

What recent assessment she has made of the prevalence of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation in the UK; and what additional measures are being taken to strengthen protections for victims and increase successful prosecutions.

The trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a truly horrific crime. This Government has set out a mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and we will use all the levers available to us to deliver this ambition. This is why the recently published Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy includes a series of measures to tackle sexual exploitation and to better support victims and survivors.Victims of sexual exploitation make up a large proportion of referrals to the National Referral Mechanism. The most recent annual statistics show that in 2024, sexual exploitation (either partly or wholly) accounted for 17% (3,266) of all referrals. Of these, the majority of those referred were females (79%; 2,564).The Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through law enforcement activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats and targeting prolific perpetrators. Also, the National Police Lead for modern slavery is leading Project Turnstone, which will develop a new framework for investigating modern slavery and includes a suite of products to guide forces to identify and tackle sexual exploitation.To support victims to escape and recover from their exploitation, the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract provides support to adult potential and confirmed victims of exploitation and trafficking in England and Wales. This support includes safe accommodation where necessary, financial support and a support worker to help them access wider support services, including medical treatment, legal aid, legal representatives, and legal advice.We recently ran a public Call for Evidence on how the Government can improve the process of identifying victims of modern slavery, including for victims who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation. Following analysis of the responses from this Call for Evidence, we will consider whether any future policy changes are needed.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that companies operating in the UK are carrying out robust due diligence to identify and prevent modern slavery practices within their operations and supply chains.

The UK’s current approach to tackling forced labour in global supply chains is focused on driving transparency. Section 54 of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses with a turnover of £36m or more to publish modern slavery statements. The Government launched a review in the Trade Strategy, into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review is progressing and is considering the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and the merits of alternative measures to support responsible business practices, including mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. We shall update the House when the review is complete.

What steps she is taking to address cases where DWP staff meet the annual Skilled Worker Visa salary threshold but are affected by the method used to calculate hourly pay.

When assessing salaries for visa purposes, our approach is consistent with that taken in national minimum wage guidance, which states:‘If you pay a salaried worker their normal salary while they are absent from work and this forms a part of their employment contract, the time of the absence counts towards the worker’s time worked for minimum wage purposes. For example, during rest breaks, lunch breaks, holidays, sickness absence or maternity / paternity / adoption leave.’We do not plan to change our approach, as it could open up inconsistencies with wider employment regulation.A decision on whether to amend employment contracts, so that salaries reflect the actual hours worked, would be for an employer to make.

What steps her Department is taking to help improve the ability of police forces to (a) investigate sexual offences, (b) fill gaps in data on violence against women and girls and (c) implement recommendations for improving public safety.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government with a manifesto mission to halve VAWG in a decade. We will deliver a cross-government transformative approach to halving VAWG, underpinned by a new VAWG strategy, which we aim to publish as soon as possible.The Home Office has invested £13.1 million this year to establish the new National Policing Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP) to improve the police response to VAWG and child sexual abuse. The NCVPP is continuing to drive forward the transformational work of Operation Soteria ensuring officers build the strongest possible, victim-centred, suspect-focused, context-led cases.The Home Office works closely with police forces on improving the quality of police recorded crime data, including for crimes under the VAWG heading, as well as drawing on data from the Crime Survey for England & Wales (CSEW).The Home Office are also carefully considering the findings and recommendations from the Angiolini Inquiry's Part 2 First Report which has examined the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces.

What steps he is taking to (a) reduce the potential impact of the Not for EU labelling requirement on GB goods sold in Northern Ireland on costs for businesses and (b) ensure that the (i) Duty Reimbursement Scheme and (ii) Trader Support Service provide effective support to those businesses.

The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme simplifies the requirements for movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. To be eligible, certain retail goods must be labelled as ‘Not for EU’. To ensure sufficient time for businesses to plan and prepare, the requirements were first communicated in 2023 and were introduced in phases. We have published detailed guidance to support businesses as well as providing 1:1 support as necessary. We continue to work closely with industry to support compliance. We are committed to ensuring the Duty Reimbursement Scheme works smoothly, including by supporting businesses to access it. The procurement process to extend the Trader Support Service by a further five years, from 2026, is also underway. This procurement provides an opportunity for HMRC and the successful bidder to take into account user needs, to ensure value and to meet our wider technical and strategic priorities.

Whether his Department has a timetable for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework by the Rt Hon Lord Murphy, published on 4 September 2025.

The Government is considering Lord Murphy’s recommendations and will provide a response, including relevant timeframes, by January 2026, in line with our legal obligations.

What steps he is taking to ensure that projects funded by the Government through the City and Growth Deals initiative in Northern Ireland are delivered effectively; how progress will be monitored; and what assessment he has been made of the potential impact of that initiative on (a) the number jobs in and (b) long-term economic development of Northern Ireland.

The UK Government is investing £617 million through the four City and Growth Deals which cover the whole of Northern Ireland. The four City and Growth Deals are: Belfast Region (£350m); Derry-Londonderry City and Strabane (£50m); Mid South West (£126m); and Causeway Coast and Glens (£36m). The UK Government has also provided £55 million for the Inclusive Future Fund to address social deprivation in the North West region, which is part of the Derry-Londonderry City and Strabane District City Deal.Each one of the Deals goes through a rigorous six stage development process to ensure the projects within the Deal are aligned to the strategic priorities of the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as long-term economic growth within the corresponding region.My officials meet regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive, Deal team and delivery partners, through the formal governance process. Each Deal is at a different stage of development, but the two Full Deal Documents of the Belfast Region City Deal and Derry-Londonderry City and Strabane District City Deal set out the impact they will have on their communities and regional economies.

What steps his Department is taking to support small businesses in Northern Ireland by (a) simplifying guidance, (b) reducing administrative burdens and (c) assisting firms trading under the Windsor Framework to navigate post-Brexit trade rules.

The government is committed to supporting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises across the country with our Small Business Plan setting out the most comprehensive package of support for SMEs in a generation, including through the new Business Growth Service. We are cutting the administrative burden of regulation by 25%, saving businesses £5.6bn, by the end of the Parliament. In addition, our dedicated team in Belfast work in partnership with the local ecosystem of the devolved Government and its agencies, including Invest Northern Ireland and local councils, to provide complementary business support. On the Windsor Framework, we recognise the importance of clear guidance to help businesses place products on the Northern Ireland market. The Government is considering its response to the recommendations, including those on guidance, made in Lord Murphy’s Independent Review. We will respond in due course, in accordance with the law.