Written questions by Lowe.

What monitoring and reporting arrangements are in place to track the immigration and residency status of those admitted under the Gaza injured children scheme after their treatment concludes.

The children medically evacuated to the UK, alongside their immediate family members, have been issued with visas and granted leave to remain for up to two years. These families have the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK.Should these individuals wish to remain in the UK beyond the initial two years, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.

How many people evacuated from Gaza under the medical treatment scheme have since applied for or been granted (a) asylum, (b) humanitarian protection and (c) leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

The children medically evacuated to the UK, alongside their immediate family members, have been issued with visas and granted leave to remain for up to two years. These families have the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK.Should these individuals wish to remain in the UK beyond the initial two years, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.

What the budget allocation is for the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in financial year 2025-26; and how much funding has been committed to date for (a) staffing, (b) legal support and (c) survivor engagement.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

What the first local areas to be examined by the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse are; and what criteria was used to select them.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

Whether the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse will have powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to compel evidence from serving and former (a) police officers, (b) council staff and (c) elected officials; and whether those powers have been formally granted.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

When she expects the Terms of Reference for the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse to be published.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

What progress her Department has made in establishing the independent commission to oversee the national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

What interim reporting schedule has been agreed for the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; and whether the Inquiry will publish local findings before its final report.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

Whether a chair has been appointed to lead the national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse; and what the (a) selection process, (b) shortlist and (c) timetable was for that appointment.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

What steps she has taken to ensure that (a) police forces and (b) local authorities are preserving all relevant evidence and records that may be required by the National Inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

What steps her Department has taken to implement the 12 recommendations that were accepted by the Government of the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published in June 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to the Urgent Question of 21 October.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Gaza injured children scheme on NHS capacity in the regions hosting treated patients.

The United Kingdom Government is partnered with the World Health Organisation who provide a list of potential patients compiled by Gazan medical specialists for a team of expert National Health Service clinical leaders to review and match Gazan children needing highly specialist medical care, with where capacity exists within the NHS for treatment.Each child will be assessed based on their individual medical needs. This is a considered process to ensure that treatment in the UK is in the best interests of each individual child.NHS treatment for a very small number of Gazan children should not impact the day to day running of the NHS service.

What the cost to the public purse is of the scheme to evacuate and treat injured children from Gaza in the United Kingdom.

The Government is committed to funding the costs associated with evacuating Gazan children for treatment in the United Kingdom. Departments will share the costs for the process by funding their specific areas of responsibility from their existing budgets.

How many accompanying adults have entered the UK under the Gaza injured children scheme; and what the estimated total cost per individual has been for (a) transport, (b) accommodation and (c) subsistence.

The Government is committed to funding the costs associated with evacuating Gazan children for treatment in the United Kingdom. Departments will share the costs for the process by funding their specific areas of responsibility from their existing budgets.

How much NHS funding has been spent on the treatment of children brought from Gaza under the medical evacuation scheme since its launch; and what proportion of this expenditure has been reimbursed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Government is committed to funding the costs associated with evacuating Gazan children for treatment in the United Kingdom. Departments will share the costs for the process by funding their specific areas of responsibility from their existing budgets.

How many sexual assaults there were in NHS hospitals by staff by the nationality of the assailant in each of the last ten years.

The Government is committed to tackling the appalling crimes of rape and sexual assault. NHS England has introduced a comprehensive package of measures to improve sexual safety across the National Health Service. NHS England has made tackling sexual misconduct in the NHS a priority, with all trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) now signed up to the Sexual Safety Charter for the NHS.NHS England is investing in improving the collection and analysis of sexual violence data to support organisations to implement policies that reduce incidents of sexual misconduct in the NHS. NHS providers have a mandatory duty to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of all incidents that affect the health, safety, and welfare of people who use services, including allegations of sexual assault. The provider must also notify the police if a crime has been committed. The CQC uses the information to monitor the safety of services and to ensure that providers have dealt with incidents appropriately. The CQC publishes reports about the services they inspect on their website.Data relating to sexual assault in NHS hospitals is currently held at NHS trust level. Local police forces hold data where there has been a report to the police of sexual assault. For assaults on NHS staff, the NHS Staff Survey now includes questions about staff experiences of sexual misconduct. Results from the 2024 staff survey show 3.66% experienced unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature from colleagues.

If he will ensure that halal food is not the default option in (a) his Department, (b) military academies and (c) the armed forces.

It is current Defence policy that Halal food is not the default option for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), military academies, or the Armed Forces. There are currently no Defence institutions where Halal food is the only option. Suppliers are required to enable the MOD inclusive Dining Offer by accommodating catering requests for all personnel, irrespective of gender, race, religious beliefs and committed lifestyle choices. Food products used by ethnic groups following traditional dietary practices associated with their cultural background and religious beliefs, shall be sourced, prepared, processed and packaged in accordance with the requirements of the relevant religious law.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 74856 on Deportation: Sanctions, what sanctions have been applied under sections 70-74 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 in each year since 2022.

Sections 70-74 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 refer to the power to impose visa penalties on countries who, in the opinion of the Home Secretary, are a) uncooperative on the return of any its nationals or citizens, or b), pose a risk to international peace and security. These provisions have not been used since their introduction in 2022. But we will use all levers available to ensure the removal of those with no right to remain in the UK, including visa penalties where necessary, and will do whatever it takes to secure the UK’s border.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of implementing and maintaining a Digital ID system.

The government will cost and publish costings of policies it chooses to introduce in the usual way at fiscal events.

How many detention places are currently available for foreign nationals awaiting deportation.

Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) are used flexibly to detain foreign nationals liable for removal from the UK. This includes time-served foreign national offenders, immigration offenders and those who have arrived in the UK illegally. As of 1 September, the Home Office has the capacity to detain around 2,400 people in IRCs, including time-served foreign national offenders awaiting deportation. The Government takes the protection of the public and escapes from immigration detention extremely seriously. There are robust security measures in all IRCs to prevent residents from escaping. The Home Office releases data on escapes from immigration detention on an annual basis. The latest published statistics are for 2024. These are available at: Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 - GOV.UK.