Written questions by Braverman.

Whether her Department plans to increase its oversight of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a review into the operations of the Independent Custody Visiting Association (a) in Hampshire and (b) nationally.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Whether her Department plans to appoint an independent ombudsman to provide oversight of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Whether her Department plans to take steps to ensure guidance is followed on the operations of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

What steps her Department has taken to ensure (a) guidance and (b) standards are followed on the operation of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

What steps her Department has taken to ensure (a) structured training programmes and (b) required materials are provided to new volunteers in the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

Whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the operations of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association is a membership organisation which supports local Independent Custody Visiting schemes in England and Wales. ICVA has no direct role in facilitating visits to custody suites. It is independent of Government but receives grant funding from the Home Office, which is managed in accordance with Home Office grant policies.Responsibility for organisation, oversight and delivery of independent custody visiting lies with individual Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and PCC equivalents, under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The Home Office Code of Practice for Independent Custody visiting makes clear that PCCs are responsible for the initial and ongoing training of custody visitors. They must also assess how well their independent custody visiting (ICV) arrangements are working with regard to nationally set standards.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a review of police conduct in relation to the treatment of grooming gang survivors.

On Monday 16 June 2025 the Home Secretary set out the Government’s response to Baroness Casey’s audit on grooming gangs, which includes the Government’s commitment to establish a national inquiry, and our support for the police in launching a new national criminal operation in.Any evidence of police wrongdoing identified through the work of the new national operation should be fully investigated and referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as required. The national inquiry will also direct local investigations and hold institutions to account for past failures. Further detail on the new national operation and the inquiry will be announced in due course.

Whether her Department has an internal target for net migration in 2025.

In the Immigration White Paper published on 12 May, we set out our commitment to continue reducing net migration from the record highs that were reached when the Rt Hon Member was the Home Secretary in June 2023.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of foreign nationals who would be fast-tracked to citizenship under the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including the rules on citizenship and refugee settlement, further details of which will be set out in due course.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the proportion of UNHCR recognised refugees by country that would be resettled in the UK under the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including the rules on citizenship and refugee settlement, further details of which will be set out in due course.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of raising the salary threshold to £45,000 for work visas; and if she will make an assessment of the impact of this on net migration figures.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including the rules on citizenship and refugee settlement, further details of which will be set out in due course.

Whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that police widows do not lose access to their survivor's pension if they cohabit or remarry.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of access to widow pensions for women who (a) cohabit and (b) remarry for widows of (i) police and (ii) armed forces personnel.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of police widows who lose access to their survivor's pension when they cohabit or remarry.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of access to police widow pensions for women who (a) cohabit and (b) remarry in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland.

The 2015 police pension scheme is the scheme currently open to serving police officers. This scheme provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse. The introduction of the 2006 police pension scheme meant that all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme with such survivor benefits.Prior to 2006, the 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation. When the 1987 Police Pension Scheme was amended from 1 April 2015 by the previous government, estimates of the cost were made. There are no plans at this time to make any further estimates or undertake comparative assessments that might lead to changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.Policing is a devolved matter in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions of the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive should not form a precedent without due consideration of the Government’s continuing duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair in England and Wales.A justification was made under the previous government for allowing all surviving partners of Armed Forces pension scheme members to retain their survivor’s pension for life, relating to the combination of factors that apply specifically to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of scrapping non-crime hate incidents on (a) the public purse and (b) police time.

The current policy and code of practice on the recording of Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) remains exactly the same as when it was laid before Parliament by the Rt Hon Member on 13 March 2023, during her second spell as Home Secretary.However, the current Home Secretary is clear that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken with NCHIs. She has also been clear that her top priority for policing is delivering on our Safer Streets Mission to rebuild neighbourhood policing, restore public confidence in the police and the criminal justice system, tackle antisocial behaviour and make progress on our unprecedented ambitions to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls.The Home Secretary has agreed that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of NCHIs. The review will cover when the police should record information that has not yet reached the criminal threshold, but which is still deemed necessary to monitor community tensions and keep the public safe. It will also consider the fundamental right of freedom of expression and recent court rulings in this area. The Government welcomes this review and will work closely with the NPCC and the College as they develop their findings and any proposals. It would be premature to make any decisions about the future of this type of recording before the review concludes later this year.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of non-crime hate incidents logged that led to criminal acts.

The current policy and code of practice on the recording of Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) remains exactly the same as when it was laid before Parliament by the Rt Hon Member on 13 March 2023, during her second spell as Home Secretary.However, the current Home Secretary is clear that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken with NCHIs. She has also been clear that her top priority for policing is delivering on our Safer Streets Mission to rebuild neighbourhood policing, restore public confidence in the police and the criminal justice system, tackle antisocial behaviour and make progress on our unprecedented ambitions to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls.The Home Secretary has agreed that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of NCHIs. The review will cover when the police should record information that has not yet reached the criminal threshold, but which is still deemed necessary to monitor community tensions and keep the public safe. It will also consider the fundamental right of freedom of expression and recent court rulings in this area. The Government welcomes this review and will work closely with the NPCC and the College as they develop their findings and any proposals. It would be premature to make any decisions about the future of this type of recording before the review concludes later this year.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of recording non-crime hate incidents on levels of hate crime.

The current policy and code of practice on the recording of Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) remains exactly the same as when it was laid before Parliament by the Rt Hon Member on 13 March 2023, during her second spell as Home Secretary.However, the current Home Secretary is clear that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken with NCHIs. She has also been clear that her top priority for policing is delivering on our Safer Streets Mission to rebuild neighbourhood policing, restore public confidence in the police and the criminal justice system, tackle antisocial behaviour and make progress on our unprecedented ambitions to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls.The Home Secretary has agreed that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of NCHIs. The review will cover when the police should record information that has not yet reached the criminal threshold, but which is still deemed necessary to monitor community tensions and keep the public safe. It will also consider the fundamental right of freedom of expression and recent court rulings in this area. The Government welcomes this review and will work closely with the NPCC and the College as they develop their findings and any proposals. It would be premature to make any decisions about the future of this type of recording before the review concludes later this year.

Whether her Department plans to systematically collect data on safeguarding incident outcomes on asylum seekers in receipt of government accommodation support.

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, as well as quality and availability of data.