Written questions by Pochin.

Whether (a) she and (b) officials in her Department reviewed social media posts referring to violence against police officers made by Alaa Abd el Fattah prior to his return to the United Kingdom.

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Whether she has assessed whether Alaa Abd el Fattah meets the criteria for deportation.

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the return to the United Kingdom of Alaa Abd el Fattah on national security.

We do not routinely comment on individual cases however the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have made clear that Ministers and officials were previously unaware of the historic posts made by Mr El-Fattah.All British citizens have a Right of Abode (ROA) in the UK which means they are entitled to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions and do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the UK.Deportation from the UK only applies to foreign nationals. British citizens cannot be deported from the UK.Deprivation of British citizenship is assessed individually on the basis of all available evidence.This government and successive governments before it have been clear that the exercise of this tool must be used sparingly, and only against the highest harm and most dangerous individuals.This includes those who pose a threat to the UK, including terrorists, and those who are involved in serious organised crime. The government does not propose to change the basis on which the power is used.For those who are not deprived of citizenship but may have acted in a criminal manner, we encourage independent law enforcement to use their full suite of powers.

Which local authorities are participating in the asylum accommodation pilot involving the construction of new council housing.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

What criteria she used to select local authorities to participate in the asylum accommodation pilot involving new council housing.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

What assessment she has made of the value for money of constructing new council housing for asylum seekers.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Whether she plans to expand the asylum accommodation pilot involving new council housing beyond participating local authorities.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the asylum accommodation pilot on levels of irregular migration to the United Kingdom.

While we remain committed to supporting those who are destitute, we must also ensure that the offer of accommodation is decent and humane without becoming a pull factor or placing an excessive burden on taxpayers.We are moving at pace to fulfil the Government’s commitment to close every asylum hotel by the end of this parliament. Work to facilitate this exit is ongoing, and we are looking at a range of more appropriate sites including ex-military sites so we can reduce the impact on communities.

What consultation she has undertaken with local residents in areas selected for the construction of council housing for asylum seekers.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

What estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the asylum accommodation pilot involving the construction of new council housing.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

What proportion of the asylum accommodation pilot funding will be from (a) the Government and (b) local authorities.

New council housing will not be constructed for use by asylum seekers under any circumstances. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing.MHCLG and HO are investing millions in a new, more sustainable accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding helps deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers on a temporary basis. In the longer term, the ambition is that the investment leaves a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduces pressure on local housing markets.

Whether her Department considered Baroness Longfield’s previous public statements and policy positions when appointing her as chair of the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence. Its purpose is to uncover systemic failings and ensure accountability at every level. The timetable of the Inquiry is to be determined by the Chair. The draft Terms of Reference make clear that the Inquiry will publish findings and recommendations for each local area reviewed. These local reports will be made publicly available and may be issued ahead of the final report, which will also be published. Local agencies and central government will carefully consider recommendations made by the Inquiry, and act to implement necessary reforms at both local and national levels. On 9 December, Baroness Anne Longfield was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry, supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panel members. Together, they bring extensive experience in championing children’s rights, deep knowledge of policing and local government, and, crucially, a proven ability to hold powerful institutions to account. Each was recommended by Baroness Casey following engagement with victims and survivors to understand the qualities they wished to see in a Chair.Baroness Longfield served under multiple governments and was appointed Children’s Commissioner by the previous Government in November 2014. She will relinquish the Labour whip and take a leave of absence from the Lords. More importantly, her record demonstrates an unwavering commitment to challenging authority, regardless of party, whenever children’s interests are at stake. The starting point for selecting a Chair was expertise and experience - particularly in child protection and in holding institutions to account. There are numerous examples of successful inquiries and investigations in this area led by non-judicial figures, including the work of Professor Alexis Jay in Rotherham and Baroness Casey in her National Audit. Baroness Longfield, together with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly, fully meet these requirements. Their appointment followed a thorough due diligence process. The Chair will establish a robust mechanism enabling victims and survivors to provide evidence safely and confidently. In line with the draft Terms of Reference, the Chair will publish a charter setting out how victims and survivors can participate and how their views, experiences, and testimony will inform and shape the Inquiry’s work. On 9 December 2025, as their first formal act, the Chair and panellists issued an open letter to victims and survivors, acknowledging that trust must be earned and committing to meet with groups of victims and survivors during the initial months of the Inquiry.

What steps she plans to take to ensure ministerial and departmental accountability for any systemic failures by public bodies identified by the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence. Its purpose is to uncover systemic failings and ensure accountability at every level. The timetable of the Inquiry is to be determined by the Chair. The draft Terms of Reference make clear that the Inquiry will publish findings and recommendations for each local area reviewed. These local reports will be made publicly available and may be issued ahead of the final report, which will also be published. Local agencies and central government will carefully consider recommendations made by the Inquiry, and act to implement necessary reforms at both local and national levels. On 9 December, Baroness Anne Longfield was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry, supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panel members. Together, they bring extensive experience in championing children’s rights, deep knowledge of policing and local government, and, crucially, a proven ability to hold powerful institutions to account. Each was recommended by Baroness Casey following engagement with victims and survivors to understand the qualities they wished to see in a Chair.Baroness Longfield served under multiple governments and was appointed Children’s Commissioner by the previous Government in November 2014. She will relinquish the Labour whip and take a leave of absence from the Lords. More importantly, her record demonstrates an unwavering commitment to challenging authority, regardless of party, whenever children’s interests are at stake. The starting point for selecting a Chair was expertise and experience - particularly in child protection and in holding institutions to account. There are numerous examples of successful inquiries and investigations in this area led by non-judicial figures, including the work of Professor Alexis Jay in Rotherham and Baroness Casey in her National Audit. Baroness Longfield, together with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly, fully meet these requirements. Their appointment followed a thorough due diligence process. The Chair will establish a robust mechanism enabling victims and survivors to provide evidence safely and confidently. In line with the draft Terms of Reference, the Chair will publish a charter setting out how victims and survivors can participate and how their views, experiences, and testimony will inform and shape the Inquiry’s work. On 9 December 2025, as their first formal act, the Chair and panellists issued an open letter to victims and survivors, acknowledging that trust must be earned and committing to meet with groups of victims and survivors during the initial months of the Inquiry.

How many allegations of group-based child sexual exploitation were (a) not pursued or (b) discontinued by (i) police or (ii) prosecutors over the last ten years.

The Government does not currently hold information on the number of allegations of group-based child sexual exploitation that were not pursued or were discontinued by police or prosecutors in the last decade. We are taking action to review relevant closed cases under the oversight of the new National Police Operation, Operation Beaconport. For the first time, it brings together police forces, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Child Sexual Exploitation Policing Taskforce, the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme and the National Crime Agency to ensure more perpetrators face justice. Operation Beaconport has already identified over 1,200 cases from police forces across England and Wales that were closed with ‘No Further Action’, and of these, over 200 cases have been prioritised for initial review due to allegations of rape. This was the result of a first tranche of data collected following the Home Secretary’s ask in January. The Operation’s second tranche data request, which is much wider in scope to identify all relevant closed cases, is progressing. On 10 December, the Home Office-funded Child Sexual Exploitation Taskforce published data on cases of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse cases that are recorded by the police: Group-Based-Child-Sexual-Abuse-and-Exploitation-Data-12-months-of-data-from-January-December-2024-December-2025.pdf

What selection criteria her Department applied for the appointment of Baroness Longfield as Chair of the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence. Its purpose is to uncover systemic failings and ensure accountability at every level. The timetable of the Inquiry is to be determined by the Chair. The draft Terms of Reference make clear that the Inquiry will publish findings and recommendations for each local area reviewed. These local reports will be made publicly available and may be issued ahead of the final report, which will also be published. Local agencies and central government will carefully consider recommendations made by the Inquiry, and act to implement necessary reforms at both local and national levels. On 9 December, Baroness Anne Longfield was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry, supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panel members. Together, they bring extensive experience in championing children’s rights, deep knowledge of policing and local government, and, crucially, a proven ability to hold powerful institutions to account. Each was recommended by Baroness Casey following engagement with victims and survivors to understand the qualities they wished to see in a Chair.Baroness Longfield served under multiple governments and was appointed Children’s Commissioner by the previous Government in November 2014. She will relinquish the Labour whip and take a leave of absence from the Lords. More importantly, her record demonstrates an unwavering commitment to challenging authority, regardless of party, whenever children’s interests are at stake. The starting point for selecting a Chair was expertise and experience - particularly in child protection and in holding institutions to account. There are numerous examples of successful inquiries and investigations in this area led by non-judicial figures, including the work of Professor Alexis Jay in Rotherham and Baroness Casey in her National Audit. Baroness Longfield, together with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly, fully meet these requirements. Their appointment followed a thorough due diligence process. The Chair will establish a robust mechanism enabling victims and survivors to provide evidence safely and confidently. In line with the draft Terms of Reference, the Chair will publish a charter setting out how victims and survivors can participate and how their views, experiences, and testimony will inform and shape the Inquiry’s work. On 9 December 2025, as their first formal act, the Chair and panellists issued an open letter to victims and survivors, acknowledging that trust must be earned and committing to meet with groups of victims and survivors during the initial months of the Inquiry.

What steps she is taking to ensure that victims and survivors have confidence in the leadership and conduct of the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence. Its purpose is to uncover systemic failings and ensure accountability at every level. The timetable of the Inquiry is to be determined by the Chair. The draft Terms of Reference make clear that the Inquiry will publish findings and recommendations for each local area reviewed. These local reports will be made publicly available and may be issued ahead of the final report, which will also be published. Local agencies and central government will carefully consider recommendations made by the Inquiry, and act to implement necessary reforms at both local and national levels. On 9 December, Baroness Anne Longfield was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry, supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panel members. Together, they bring extensive experience in championing children’s rights, deep knowledge of policing and local government, and, crucially, a proven ability to hold powerful institutions to account. Each was recommended by Baroness Casey following engagement with victims and survivors to understand the qualities they wished to see in a Chair.Baroness Longfield served under multiple governments and was appointed Children’s Commissioner by the previous Government in November 2014. She will relinquish the Labour whip and take a leave of absence from the Lords. More importantly, her record demonstrates an unwavering commitment to challenging authority, regardless of party, whenever children’s interests are at stake. The starting point for selecting a Chair was expertise and experience - particularly in child protection and in holding institutions to account. There are numerous examples of successful inquiries and investigations in this area led by non-judicial figures, including the work of Professor Alexis Jay in Rotherham and Baroness Casey in her National Audit. Baroness Longfield, together with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly, fully meet these requirements. Their appointment followed a thorough due diligence process. The Chair will establish a robust mechanism enabling victims and survivors to provide evidence safely and confidently. In line with the draft Terms of Reference, the Chair will publish a charter setting out how victims and survivors can participate and how their views, experiences, and testimony will inform and shape the Inquiry’s work. On 9 December 2025, as their first formal act, the Chair and panellists issued an open letter to victims and survivors, acknowledging that trust must be earned and committing to meet with groups of victims and survivors during the initial months of the Inquiry.

What her planned timetable is for the publication of interim and final findings of the national inquiry into grooming gangs; and whether those findings will be presented to Parliament.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence. Its purpose is to uncover systemic failings and ensure accountability at every level. The timetable of the Inquiry is to be determined by the Chair. The draft Terms of Reference make clear that the Inquiry will publish findings and recommendations for each local area reviewed. These local reports will be made publicly available and may be issued ahead of the final report, which will also be published. Local agencies and central government will carefully consider recommendations made by the Inquiry, and act to implement necessary reforms at both local and national levels. On 9 December, Baroness Anne Longfield was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry, supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panel members. Together, they bring extensive experience in championing children’s rights, deep knowledge of policing and local government, and, crucially, a proven ability to hold powerful institutions to account. Each was recommended by Baroness Casey following engagement with victims and survivors to understand the qualities they wished to see in a Chair.Baroness Longfield served under multiple governments and was appointed Children’s Commissioner by the previous Government in November 2014. She will relinquish the Labour whip and take a leave of absence from the Lords. More importantly, her record demonstrates an unwavering commitment to challenging authority, regardless of party, whenever children’s interests are at stake. The starting point for selecting a Chair was expertise and experience - particularly in child protection and in holding institutions to account. There are numerous examples of successful inquiries and investigations in this area led by non-judicial figures, including the work of Professor Alexis Jay in Rotherham and Baroness Casey in her National Audit. Baroness Longfield, together with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly, fully meet these requirements. Their appointment followed a thorough due diligence process. The Chair will establish a robust mechanism enabling victims and survivors to provide evidence safely and confidently. In line with the draft Terms of Reference, the Chair will publish a charter setting out how victims and survivors can participate and how their views, experiences, and testimony will inform and shape the Inquiry’s work. On 9 December 2025, as their first formal act, the Chair and panellists issued an open letter to victims and survivors, acknowledging that trust must be earned and committing to meet with groups of victims and survivors during the initial months of the Inquiry.

What steps she is taking to enable victims and survivors of grooming gangs to provide evidence to the national inquiry without (a) fear of intimidation and (b) adverse consequences.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a statutory inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers to compel evidence. Its purpose is to uncover systemic failings and ensure accountability at every level. The timetable of the Inquiry is to be determined by the Chair. The draft Terms of Reference make clear that the Inquiry will publish findings and recommendations for each local area reviewed. These local reports will be made publicly available and may be issued ahead of the final report, which will also be published. Local agencies and central government will carefully consider recommendations made by the Inquiry, and act to implement necessary reforms at both local and national levels. On 9 December, Baroness Anne Longfield was appointed as Chair of the Inquiry, supported by Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panel members. Together, they bring extensive experience in championing children’s rights, deep knowledge of policing and local government, and, crucially, a proven ability to hold powerful institutions to account. Each was recommended by Baroness Casey following engagement with victims and survivors to understand the qualities they wished to see in a Chair.Baroness Longfield served under multiple governments and was appointed Children’s Commissioner by the previous Government in November 2014. She will relinquish the Labour whip and take a leave of absence from the Lords. More importantly, her record demonstrates an unwavering commitment to challenging authority, regardless of party, whenever children’s interests are at stake. The starting point for selecting a Chair was expertise and experience - particularly in child protection and in holding institutions to account. There are numerous examples of successful inquiries and investigations in this area led by non-judicial figures, including the work of Professor Alexis Jay in Rotherham and Baroness Casey in her National Audit. Baroness Longfield, together with Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly, fully meet these requirements. Their appointment followed a thorough due diligence process. The Chair will establish a robust mechanism enabling victims and survivors to provide evidence safely and confidently. In line with the draft Terms of Reference, the Chair will publish a charter setting out how victims and survivors can participate and how their views, experiences, and testimony will inform and shape the Inquiry’s work. On 9 December 2025, as their first formal act, the Chair and panellists issued an open letter to victims and survivors, acknowledging that trust must be earned and committing to meet with groups of victims and survivors during the initial months of the Inquiry.

If her Department will collect and publish city-specific data on the number of grooming gangs identified by police forces.

Baroness Casey’s rapid national audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse set out stark findings on the scale and nature of offending by grooming gangs. This government is committed to exposing the failures that have happened across the country and making sure that it can never happen again. We accepted all of Baroness Casey’s twelve recommendations and are working across government to implement these as quickly as possible.To improve our understanding of and response to these crimes, we fund a number of policing capabilities, including the Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) programme which uses data and intelligence to increase law enforcement’s capability to respond to organized exploitation. We also fund the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce to improve how the police investigate child sexual exploitation and abuse, with a focus on group-based offending, and bring more offenders to justice. They have created the Complex and Organised Child Abuse Database (COCAD) to improve our understanding of group-based child sexual exploitation cases. On 10 December 2025, the Taskforce published an annual data report for group-based offending in 2024, which can be found here: https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/publications/hydrant-publicationsThe Taskforce do not publish data on offending within specific cities.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that hate crime data reported by police forces is accurate and comparable across categories of characteristic.

Hate crime has no place in our society, and the Government is committed to ensuring it is recorded accurately and addressed effectively. The accuracy and consistency of crime recording, including hate crime, is the responsibility of individual police forces, who must comply with the Home Office Counting Rules. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently inspects, monitors and reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of the police, including crime recording practices. However, HMICFRS does not publish annual compliance reports specifically on hate crime recording. Home Office statisticians work closely with forces to ensure accurate data is provided for the annual statistical publication on hate crime in England and Wales. The latest release, covering the year ending March 2025, is available on GOV.UK. Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025 - GOV.UK The College of Policing sets national guidance and standards for policing, including Authorised Professional Practice on hate crime. The Home Office works closely with the College and other policing partners to review and update recording protocols as needed. This ensures forces have clear, consistent guidance for recording hate crime across all protected characteristics. The government is carefully considering the 34 recommendations made by the Law Commission in its 2021 review of hate crime legislation; this does not contain any formal recommendation on how police should record hate crimes.