Written questions by Berry.

With reference to the press notice entitled New Taser approved for UK police forces to protect public, published on 2 October 2025 and the SACMILL statement on the medical implications of the Taser 10 conducted energy device system, published on 2 October 2025, what discussions she has had with the College of Policing’s on the inclusion of the findings of the Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons on (a) discharge causing subjects to stop breathing and faint, (b) the risk of CED-induced cardiac capture, (c) flammability risk, (d) increased risk of serious injury, (e) increased risk to children and (f) the danger of increased officer errors due to the complexity of the specific Conducted Energy Device in its new guidance and training for use of Taser 10.

Taser provides police officers with an important tactical option to protect the public and save lives. As with any use of force, Taser must only be used when it is reasonable, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances. The decision to approve Taser 10 has been taken on consideration of stringent testing and assessments.In common with other conducted energy devices approved for use in policing, the operational performance of Taser 10 will be closely monitored, with officers required to complete a bespoke form after each use. Data from these forms will provide insights into the safety and efficacy of the system as well as any emerging trends. The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and respective forces will be able to review these forms nationally and locally to identify any patterns and factors for review such as any emerging technical issues with the device. The Home Office has regular discussions with the NPCC and other policing stakeholders to keep this under review. to keep this under review.The College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice refers to the Statement of Medical Implications for Taser 10 by the Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Weapons (SACMILL) and learning is incorporated into CED training and guidance as well as post Taser healthcare procedures. All officers who are selected to use CEDs must have an appreciation of the physical and psychological effects of the device. This includes training officers to factor in the potential vulnerability of a person, and factors such as age and stature when assessing each situation.A Child Rights Impact Assessment was conducted to inform the decision to approve Taser 10.

Whether her Department undertook a Child Rights impact assessment before its decision announced on 10 October 2025 to approve the use of the TASER 10 system by police forces.

Taser provides police officers with an important tactical option to protect the public and save lives. As with any use of force, Taser must only be used when it is reasonable, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances. The decision to approve Taser 10 has been taken on consideration of stringent testing and assessments.In common with other conducted energy devices approved for use in policing, the operational performance of Taser 10 will be closely monitored, with officers required to complete a bespoke form after each use. Data from these forms will provide insights into the safety and efficacy of the system as well as any emerging trends. The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and respective forces will be able to review these forms nationally and locally to identify any patterns and factors for review such as any emerging technical issues with the device. The Home Office has regular discussions with the NPCC and other policing stakeholders to keep this under review. to keep this under review.The College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice refers to the Statement of Medical Implications for Taser 10 by the Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Weapons (SACMILL) and learning is incorporated into CED training and guidance as well as post Taser healthcare procedures. All officers who are selected to use CEDs must have an appreciation of the physical and psychological effects of the device. This includes training officers to factor in the potential vulnerability of a person, and factors such as age and stature when assessing each situation.A Child Rights Impact Assessment was conducted to inform the decision to approve Taser 10.

What the cost to the public purse was of the policing of the law that proscribes Palestine Action on 6 September 2025 in London.

Policing is operationally independent and decisions as to spending will be taken by Chief Constables and PCCs at a local level. The Home Office does not hold figures on the cost to the public purse of specific protests or enforcement of specific laws.The decision to proscribe Palestine Action was taken following an escalating campaign by the organisation involving not just sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure, but also intimidation, alleged violence and serious injuries to individuals.It is a criminal offence to express support for a proscribed organisation. This Government has been and will continue to be clear about the importance of upholding the rule of law

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 904439 on Protest, what her Department's planned timetable is for considering the Court of Appeal judgment in relation to Serious Disruption Regulations.

The Government has accepted the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which upheld the quashing of the Serious Disruption Regulations. The Home Office is currently reviewing the implications of the judgment and will set out any further action in due course.

What discussions she has had with Police and Crime Commissioners on the impact of the proscription of Palestine Action on police (a) budgets and (b) operations.

Policing is operationally independent and decisions as to spending will be taken by Chief Constables and PCCs at a local level. The Home Office does not hold figures on the cost to the public purse of specific protests or enforcement of specific laws.The decision to proscribe Palestine Action was taken following an escalating campaign by the organisation involving not just sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure, but also intimidation, alleged violence and serious injuries to individuals.It is a criminal offence to express support for a proscribed organisation. This Government has been and will continue to be clear about the importance of upholding the rule of law

If she will publish guidance to Hon. Members on how students in Gaza who are eligible for support to come to the UK can access this support; and if she will provide a dedicated communication pathway for Hon. Members to find out whether an eligible student is on the list of those to be provided with that help.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Home Secretary’s oral statement to the House on 1 September 2025 on strengthening border security and reforms to the asylum system. Further details will be set out in due course.Members can continue to contact the Home Office via Ministers and the Direct Communications Unit. Further detail can be found on the Home Office GOV.UK website.

What assessment her Department has made of the deterrent effects of classification on drug (a) use, (b) production, (c) sales and (d) the reduction of anti-social behaviour.

The Government has not made a formal assessment of the deterrent effects of classification. The Government consults the statutory expert advisory group, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, about the classification of drugs under the Act.Recommendations made by the ACMD about classification are determined by an assessment of health and social harm, based on the evidence at the time of the review. ACMD advice on classification will depend on a range of factors, including evidence of actual and potential harms and comparisons with the harm of other controlled substances. While the Government must consider ACMD recommendations it is not bound by ACMD advice.

Whether her Department has made a recent estimate of the value of the illegal drugs market for (a) cannabis, (b) cocaine, and (c) opioids.

The most recent estimate of the value of the illegal drugs market for cannabis, cocaine and opioids is available as a part of the Dame Carol Black’s Independent Review of Drugs: Evidence Pack. This is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-drugs-phase-one-reportThe evidence pack provides the following estimates for value of the illegal drugs market in England and Wales, measured by the amount spent on these drugs:Powder cocaine: £1.9bnCannabis: £2.4bnCrack cocaine: £1.3bnOpiates: £3.8bn

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of legislation relating to peaceful protest.

Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and this government keeps protest legislation under review.Expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 began last month, and we are also carefully considering the Court of Appeal judgment in relation to Serious Disruption Regulations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33251 on Domestic Abuse: Parents, when she plans to publish the Government response to the consultation on the definition of child-to-parent abuse.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government.A consultation into the definition of child to parent abuse was launched by the previous government but never responded to. This Government is looking afresh at theresponses and will provide an update in due course.

With reference to Official Tribunals Statistics quarterly: July to September 2024, what analysis has been done of the reasons for the increase in asylum appeal cases in the category of Asylum/Protection/Revocation of Protection.

Both the Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2024 to which the question refers, published by the Ministry of Justice, and the latest Immigration System Statistics quarterly release, published by Home Office, explain that the rise in asylum appeals is linked to the increase in asylum claims receiving an initial decision as part of the Home Office’s work to reduce the initial decision backlog.

With reference to the report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration entitled An inspection of asylum casework June-October 2023, published on 29 February 2024, whether she has taken steps to (a) identify vulnerable claimants in the asylum work in progress queue and (b) prioritise their claims.

This report deals wholly with the Asylum Casework system under the previous administration.The Home Office partially accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to introduce a published service standard for deciding asylum claims.We are reviewing that recommendation but this is a complex area that needs to balance operational efficiency, the needs of asylum seekers and the integrity of our asylum system, so we cannot provide an immediate answer on the proposed implementation timetable.The Home Office accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to (a) identify vulnerable claimants in the asylum work in progress queue and (b) prioritise their claims and we can confirm this work has been completed.

With reference to the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration entitled An inspection of Asylum Casework June-October 2023, whether her Department has taken steps to introduce a published service standard for deciding asylum claims.

This report deals wholly with the Asylum Casework system under the previous administration.The Home Office partially accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to introduce a published service standard for deciding asylum claims.We are reviewing that recommendation but this is a complex area that needs to balance operational efficiency, the needs of asylum seekers and the integrity of our asylum system, so we cannot provide an immediate answer on the proposed implementation timetable.The Home Office accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to (a) identify vulnerable claimants in the asylum work in progress queue and (b) prioritise their claims and we can confirm this work has been completed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8868 on Mistreatment of Detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre Inquiry, whether she plans to publish a response to each of the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry report; and whether she has taken steps relating to the use of force against people in immigration detention pending her response to recommendations 14, 15, 16 and 17 of that report.

The abuse that took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in 2017 was unacceptable.Whilst there are no plans to publish a response to each recommendation raised by the inquiry, positive progress continues to be made against the 30 accepted recommendations. The Government will continue to reflect and act on Inquiry recommendations.Specifically on recommendations 14-17, on the use of force in IRCs, the Home Office communicated to all IRC and contracted service provider staff in December 2023 and May 2024, that techniques involving handcuffing behind backs whilst seated is not permitted. A new Detention Services Order in relation to use of force is being developed specifically for the immigration detention estate and will be published in Spring 2025.