Written questions by Maskell.

If she will confirm whether the expediting of Visas and support for exiting Gaza for Chevening and full scholarship offer holders for Gazan students will be extended to the next academic year.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the following key workers will remain eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years under changes to the migration rules, (a) NHS physiotherapists, (b) NHS therapy support workers, (c) physiotherapists employed by non NHS organisations contracted to provide NHS services, (d) therapy support workers employed by non NHS organisations contracted to provide NHS services, (e) physiotherapists employed by hospices, (f) therapy support workers employed by hospices, (g) Ministry of Defence physiotherapists, (h) rehabilitation support workers employed by the Ministry of Defence, (i) physiotherapists employed by other healthcare providers, (j) physiotherapists employed in social care, (k) physiotherapists employed by local authorities, (l) therapy support workers employed by other healthcare providers, (m) academic or research physiotherapists working in higher education, and (n) self employed physiotherapists.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. Contributions will now be analysed, and the findings will support the development of the final model.Economic and equality impact assessments will be conducted on the final model and published in due course.

What assessment she had made of trends in the number of animals who died or were euthanised following non-compliance incidents as reported in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024.

Any incident of non‑compliance with the ASPA, including those where animals died or were euthanised following non-compliance, is taken seriously and investigated in line with ASRU’s published compliance framework The framework explains how potential breaches are assessed and how proportionate, evidence based regulatory actions are determined (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa).All licensed establishments must uphold the standards for animal protections as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the associated Code of PracticeASRU assesses trends and underlying causes of non-compliance as part of its Annual Report. This analysis informs ASRU’s actions that are designed to strengthen compliance, address identified risks and support continuous improvement in animal protections.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the146 cases of non-compliance in British laboratories described in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, involving a total of 22,204 animals.

All establishments licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act1986 are required to meet standards of animal protections as set out in the Act and in the associated Code of Practice. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts a programme of regular audits to assure compliance and takes any instance of non-compliance extremely seriously.ASRU’s annual report for 2024 shows a reduction in the instances of non-compliance from 169 cases in 2023 to 146 in 2024. While 22,204 animals were involved in these incidents, only a small proportion -189 animals - were found to have experienced adverse outcomes, a significant reduction from 553 in 2023. The species most affected were fish (99) and mice (58).ASRU’s published Compliance Policy (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing- and-research-compliance-with-aspa) sets out how the regulator identifies, investigates and responds to potential incidents of non-compliance, and how it applies proportionate measures and sanctions where breaches are found. These actions are designed to drive sustained improvements in compliance, strengthen governance and ensure the principles of the replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs) are fully embedded.

Whether she has had discussions about the reclassification of ketamine.

Ketamine is a dangerous substance, which can cause irreversible bladder damage and in some cases death. We are concerned about the harms ketamine causes and the rise in ketamine use, particularly among young people. In October 2025 the Department for Health and Social Care launched a campaign to alert young people to the dangers of this drug.Home Office Ministers have had discussions about these harms, including with families who have tragically lost relatives as a result of taking ketamine and who have shared their own perspectives on the appropriate classification of ketamine within the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (‘the MDA’).In January 2025 the Government asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to provide an updated harms assessment of ketamine, advice on reducing those harms, and advice on whether ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A within the MDA. The ACMD carried out a public call for evidence in August 2025, and we expect to receive its report soon. We will then carefully consider its recommendations.

What considerations has she made regarding the adequacy of the classification of ketamine as a Class A illicit substance.

Ketamine is a dangerous substance, which can cause irreversible bladder damage and in some cases death. We are concerned about the harms ketamine causes and the rise in ketamine use, particularly among young people. In October 2025 the Department for Health and Social Care launched a campaign to alert young people to the dangers of this drug.Home Office Ministers have had discussions about these harms, including with families who have tragically lost relatives as a result of taking ketamine and who have shared their own perspectives on the appropriate classification of ketamine within the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (‘the MDA’).In January 2025 the Government asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to provide an updated harms assessment of ketamine, advice on reducing those harms, and advice on whether ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A within the MDA. The ACMD carried out a public call for evidence in August 2025, and we expect to receive its report soon. We will then carefully consider its recommendations.

What assessment she has made of the level of the impact of digital ID on the number of undocumented workers in the grey economy.

Due to the hidden nature of illegal working, there is no reliable estimate on the scale of the issue.The Digital ID programme is part of a broader strategy to tackle illegal immigration. By making it harder for people without the right to work to gain employment, the government plans to reduce incentives for unlawful entry. The digital ID will build on the existing digital right to work checks for foreign nationals where eVisa share codes are currently used, further streamlining the process. Digital IDs will:o Make it easier for employers to comply by standardising and simplifying right to work checkso Make it easier for British citizens to demonstrate a right to work.o Remove the reliance on physical documents in the UK, making it harder for forged documents to be used as proof of right to work. The Cabinet Office will launch a public consultation in the coming weeks and has already started engaging key groups.

Whether protections against assaults for retail workers in the Crime and Policing Bill will apply to public transport workers involved in the retail of (a) refreshments and (b) rail products and tickets.

Assaults against retail workers will be covered by a new offence which we are introducing via the Crime and Policing Bill. Our definition of retail worker captures someone working in or about retail premises for or on behalf of the owner or occupier of the retail premises.Our definition is intentionally narrow, and does not include hospitality or transport staff, given the vital need to provide legal clarity and ensure there is no ambiguity for courts in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker and impacted during their job. Any ambiguity in identifying whether an individual is a retail worker, will likely lead the courts to take the case forward as common assault meaning specific recording attributed to a retail worker would not occur.

What information her Department holds on trends in the number of (a) hate crimes and (b) instances of racism in communities that have not (i) taken flags down and (ii) removed graffiti.

The Home Office publishes official statistics on hate crime offences recorded by the police in England and Wales. The latest release, including information on trends, can be found here: Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2024 - GOV.UKThe Home Office does not hold information on whether flags or graffiti were present or removed from the communities the offences took place in.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Foreign Secretary on taking steps to help support Palestinians to access locations to verify their biometric data for UK visa applications.

There are currently two UK Visa Application Centres operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in Ramallah and Jerusalem. The centres in Ramallah and Jerusalem are open twice per week and once every two weeks respectively for biometrics enrolment. The UK Visa Application Centre in Gaza has been closed since 7 October 2023 due to the conflict in the region and to ensure the safety of staff and customers. UKVI will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with the supplier, VFS, to re-open this centre when it becomes safe to do so. There are also Visa Application Centres in neighbouring countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, which are open daily if customers are able to travel to these locations.

What steps she is taking to help reunite people in Gaza with members of their families in the UK.

The Government is keeping all existing visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza. Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website: Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).

Whether her Department is taking to steps to help support children in Gaza with family members in the UK to come to the UK.

The Government is keeping all existing visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza. Palestinians who wish to settle in the UK can do so via the existing routes available. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website: Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).

What steps she plans to take to help ensure that children who experience child sexual abuse feel more confident (a) to report that abuse and (b) that all reports will be listened to and taken seriously.

Through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government is legislating to introduce a mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse for those undertaking regulated activity with children in England.It will ensure that the words of children who are seeking help are heard, and it will provide much-needed clarity for those working with young people on how to respond appropriately when faced with these concerns. It will also apply the strongest possible measures to anyone who seeks to cover up abuse of this kind.The introduction of this measure will be an important moment for young people who do not speak out because of fears they would not be listened to – a mandatory duty to report means they can speak to trusted adults with confidence on the next steps that will be taken.Since 2016, the Home Office has also funded the independent Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (‘CSA Centre’) to improve understanding of the scale and nature of child sexual abuse, and strengthen the ability of professionals to identify and respond effectively to it through the provision of evidence-based training and practice resources. The CSA Centre supports professionals across policing, justice, children’s services, education, health and the third-sector.Its resources include a ‘Signs and Indicators’ template, which supports professionals in recording and communicating their concerns about possible child sexual abuse and a ‘Communicating with Children’ guide, which provides guidance on how to talk to children about child sexual abuse, and what professionals can do to help children communicate what is happening.

Whether groomed children have been placed on the sex offenders register.

Baroness Casey's Audit signalled concerns that victims of child sexual exploitation have been unjustly criminalised and treated as perpetrators for actions taken whilst under the coercion of groomers. As an immediate first step, we will legislate in the Crime and Policing Bill to introduce a disregard scheme for individuals who as children were convicted or cautioned for the offence of loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution. We will work with relevant bodies across the criminal justice system to ensure any such cases are identified, reviewed and that victims are properly supported.The notification requirements for sex offenders (often referred to as "the sex offenders' register") are an automatic consequence of a conviction or caution for an offence in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Offenders subject to the notification requirements must notify their personal details (e.g., their name(s), address(es) and national insurance number) to the police annually or whenever their details change. The notification requirements apply to adult and juvenile offenders, although their duration is halved for juveniles.The offence of loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution has never been in Schedule 3 to the 2003 Act, so convictions or cautions for that offence have not triggered the notification requirements for sex offenders.

With reference to the Government's response to Recommendation 3 of the report entitled National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published on 16 June 2025, what her planned timetable is for introducing a disregard for convictions of people who were (a) groomed and (b) convicted of prostitution as children.

The Government has announced its intention to implement a disregard scheme for convictions and cautions issued to under 18s for the offence of persistently loitering or soliciting in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution (Section 1 of Street Offences Act, 1959).Any individual who has received convictions or cautions while under 18 for this offence will be able to apply to the scheme, regardless of whether they have been a victim of ‘grooming’ or ‘group-based child sexual exploitation’.This reflects the Government’s belief that any procurement of sex from an individual aged under 18 is sexual exploitation of children.The Government is collaborating now with relevant authorities to determine the implementation timeframe for this scheme and will announce this in due course.

How many (a) firearm and (a) shotgun certificates have been issued to people who had previously faced allegations of domestic abuse.

The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms certificates to Chief Officers of Police.The Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing, issued by the Secretary of State, makes it clear that any allegations of domestic abuse concerning a firearms certificate applicant must be taken extremely seriously. Any evidence of domestic abuse will mean that the application is usually refused, or the existing certificate revoked.

How many (a) firearms and (b) shotgun certificate (i) applications and (ii) renewals were completed in (A) York and (B) North Yorkshire in the latest 12 month period for which data is available.

The Home Office collects and publishes information annually on the number of firearms and shotgun certificates that have been granted, refused or revoked by police forces in the Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates publication. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 March 2024 and can be accessed at the following link:Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates: April 2023 to March 2024 - GOV. UK (www.gov.uk).The number of firearms and shotgun certificate applications and renewal applications that were completed (either granted or refused), and the number of firearm and shotgun certificates that were revoked in the Yorkshire and the Humber region in the 12 months to March 2024 can be found in data tables 2 and 4.Within the Yorkshire and Humber region, data are available for Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.Data for the year ending 31 March 2025 will be released between June and July 2025: Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2024 to March 2025 - Accredited official statistics announcement - GOV.UK.

How many (a) firearms and (b) shotgun certificate certificates were revoked in (i) York and (ii) North Yorkshire in the latest 12 month period for which data is available.

The Home Office collects and publishes information annually on the number of firearms and shotgun certificates that have been granted, refused or revoked by police forces in the Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates publication. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 March 2024 and can be accessed at the following link:Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates: April 2023 to March 2024 - GOV. UK (www.gov.uk).The number of firearms and shotgun certificate applications and renewal applications that were completed (either granted or refused), and the number of firearm and shotgun certificates that were revoked in the Yorkshire and the Humber region in the 12 months to March 2024 can be found in data tables 2 and 4.Within the Yorkshire and Humber region, data are available for Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.Data for the year ending 31 March 2025 will be released between June and July 2025: Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2024 to March 2025 - Accredited official statistics announcement - GOV.UK.

If she will place a limit on the period of time that someone can remain in a short-term hold facility.

There are already time limits on detention in short-term holding facilities.Section 147 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 defines a short-term holding facility as a place where a detained person may be detained for not more than 7 days, or such other period as may be prescribed.Subparagraph 4 of the Immigration (Places of Detention) Direction 2021 provides that detention in a residential short-term holding facility shall not continue beyond a normal maximum of 5 days unless the person concerned is to be removed from the UK within the next 2 days, in which case their detention at the short term holding facility may continue for no more than a further 2 days, up to an absolute maximum of 7 days.Rule 6 of the Short-term Holding Facility Rules 2018 limits periods of detention in non-residential short-term holding facilities (holding rooms) to a normal maximum of 24 hours, though this is extendable beyond that point in exceptional circumstances.The Short-term Holding Facility (Amendment) Rules 2022 amended the 2018 rules to create as a third category of short-term holding facility, known as a residential holding room. Rule 2 limits detention in a residential holding room to not more than 96 hours unless a longer period is authorised by the Secretary of State.

What steps she is taking to support people who arrive in the UK as a result of being trafficked to apply for asylum.

The Home Office is committed to identifying and safeguarding those who are exploited or vulnerable in the United Kingdom. All operational staff complete the required Home Office Modern Slavery First Responders training. This content was developed by the Home Office Modern Slavery Unit and is also used by a number of First Responder Organisations.The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the process by which people who may have been victims of modern slavery are identified, referred, assessed and supported in the United Kingdom. The aim of the NRM is to be the bridge to recovery, providing victims with a short period of intensive support and specialist care and put people in a position where they can begin to rebuild their lives with increase resilience against future exploitation.