Written questions by Dhesi.

What recent steps she has taken to support the police in promptly investigating arson offences.

Awaiting answer.

Whether Subject Access Request responses issued by her Department this year follow a) the format of SARU followed by a series of numbers and b) any other format.

Awaiting answer.

What recent discussions she has had with Thames Valley Police on the prevention of the illegal (a) use and (b) sale of fireworks.

Awaiting answer.

What recent discussions she has had with cyber companies regarding the impact of the Computer Misuse Act on their international competitiveness.

The Home Office is committed to ensuring the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA) remains effective and up to date. Following a review of the CMA, which included a call for information and public consultation, this Government has committed to reforming the cybe...

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

The Home Office is committed to ensuring the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA) remains effective and up to date. Following a review of the CMA, which included a call for information and public consultation, this Government has committed to reforming the cybe...

What recent steps her Department has taken to tackle (a) phishing, (b) online payment fraud and (c) other cybercrime.

The Home Office is committed to ensuring the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA) remains effective and up to date. Following a review of the CMA, which included a call for information and public consultation, this Government has committed to reforming the cybe...

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the risks of attack on Sikh Gurdwaras in the context of the recent conviction of the murderer of Henry Nowak.

Protecting the right of all faith communities to worship in peace and without fear is fundamental. The Government works closely with the police and other partners to review threats and strengthen protections for faith communities against hate crime, terro...

With reference to the Animal research and testing non-technical summaries granted in 2025, October to December, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the number experiments on (a) beagles (b) non-human primates and (c) rabbits on progress towards the Government’s pledge to phase out animal testing.

There is no impact from the number of experiments on (a) beagles (b) non-human primates and (c) rabbits on progress towards the Government’s alternatives strategy. This is because licences for the use of animals in scientific procedures may only be granted only where there is robust scientific justification, no validated nonanimal alternative exists, and use is fully compliant with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.This Government remains firmly committed to working towards the phasing out of animals in science. The strategy, ‘Replacing animals in science’, sets specific targets to reduce the use of dogs and non-human primates by 2030, while ensuring the UK continues to support safe and effective scientific and medical research.The strategy is clear that while the longterm vision is to replace the use of animals in science wherever possible, some animal use remains necessary at present to develop and test new medicines, advance understanding of biology and disease, and to protect human and animal health and the environment. These activities are integral to the UK’s national health preparedness and resilience, including the ability to respond to emerging health threats. Progress towards the phasing out of animal use must therefore be scienceled and supported by reliable alternative methods.Accordingly, the Home Office licensing regime is compatible with the strategy; it enables only tightly controlled animal use where it is scientifically justified and no suitable alternative exists.

What steps they are taking to increase the amount of UK made steel used in procurement contracts overseen by their Department.

The Government wants to ensure that public procurement plays its full role in delivering the Industrial Strategy and fostering a resilient economy that supports British businesses and creates good jobs in communities across the country. UK-produced steel has a significant role to play in construction and infrastructure projects.In June 2025 it published Procurement Policy Note 022 “Procuring Steel in Government Contracts”, which among other things requires departments and prime contractors to consult UK Steel’s Steel Catalogue.In March 2026 Government published the Steel Strategy, and announced changes to protect the industries that matter most to our national security, including steel.Departments will have to confirm for the first time whether prime contractors are using UK steel, or explain why not.

Whether she has had any discussions with Cabinet colleagues on transferring responsibility for animal testing and research to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Ministers of State in the Home Office and DSIT have actively engaged on transferring responsibility for animal testing and research to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Agreement has been reached that the portfolio under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act will remain in the Home Office for the foreseeable future.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential merits of incorporating the Civil Nuclear Constabulary into the National Police Service.

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” sets out the Government’s proposals on the National Police Service. Further details will be set out in legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving all of the UK-wide Protection Command responsibilities of the Metropolitan Police into the new National Police Service.

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” sets out the Government’s proposals on the National Police Service. Further details will be set out in legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

What steps she is taking to ensure all police forces are operating in compliance with the Statutory Guidance on firearms licensing for Chief Officers of Police.

Firearms licensing is an operational matter for chief officers of police, who are required to have regard to the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing in exercising their licensing responsibilities. The Home Office works closely with the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for firearms licensing to support consistent application of the law and accompanying Statutory Guidance across forces.In addition, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services are now undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing, providing independent scrutiny and identifying areas for improvement.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 82712 on Firearms Licensing, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not implementing the recommendation of the Law Commission on codifying existing firearms legislation.

The Government has no plans to take forward the recommendation made by the Law Commission in 2015 to codify existing firearms legislation.

Whether police and fire call handlers are required to have working knowledge of (a) What Three Words and (b) the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Police Call Handlers are not required to have working knowledge of What Three Words and the Nato Phonetic Alphabet. This is an operational matter for Chief Constables.For matters regarding the Fire Service, I would direct my Rt Hon friend to the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, which is responsible for fire policy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Questions 118252, 118255 and 118258, for what reason the College of Policing and Independent Office for Police Conduct have not met their statutory obligation to respond within 56 days to the Prevention of Future Deaths reports of Oladeji Omishore, Sean Fitzgerald and Ashley Crews.

I refer my Honourable friend to the response published on 19 March and suggest that he consider writing to the College of Policing and the Independent Office for Police Conduct concerning their statutory obligations to respond to the respective coroners who published the PFD reports in these cases.

What the average staffing complement is for a ministerial private office within their Department; what grades those staff are appointed at; what the typical remuneration and contracted working hours are for those posts; and what the staff turnover rate is.

Ministerial private offices in the Home Office have a mean of 6 staff members, at grades ranging from Executive Officer to Grade 6 (excluding the Principal Private Secretary and one other member of staff, who are Senior Civil Servants). Staff are contracted between 36 and 37 hours per week depending on their terms and conditions, and their base remuneration is on this basis. An additional allowance is paid in recognition of the expectation that private office staff face additional and out of hours demands. The most recent publication of Home Office salaries (December 2024) lists the salary bands for these grades as: GradeSalary minimumSalary maximumPrivate Office allowanceExecutive Officer£30,000£35,700£5,000Higher Executive Officer£37,300£44,191£6,000Senior Executive Officer£44,720£52,130£7,000Grade 7£60,300£70,730£9,000Grade 6£73,900£85,690£10,000 Pay bands for the Senior Civil Service are centrally determined. Staff turnover for calendar year 2025 was 68%.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.

The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Home Office officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national security and defence.The Home Office is actively contributing to this work, with a range of directorates across the department engaging in matters related to defence and security, including in Homeland Security Group and Public Safety Group.

If she will ask the College of Policing to respond to the coroner's Prevention of Future Death report following the death of Sean Fitzgerald.

Recipients of Prevent Future Death reports are under a statutory obligation to respond within 56 days.In the cases named, it would be a matter for the College of Policing and Independent Office for Police Conduct respectively to respond accordingly as they have to previous such reports.

If she will ask the College of Policing to respond to the coroner's Prevention of Future Death report following the death of Oladeji Omishore.

Recipients of Prevent Future Death reports are under a statutory obligation to respond within 56 days.In the cases named, it would be a matter for the College of Policing and Independent Office for Police Conduct respectively to respond accordingly as they have to previous such reports.