Written questions by Farron.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of designating waste crime as a national strategic policing priority.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently published the Waste Crime Action Plan, which sets out how we will tackle waste crime through prevention, enforcement, and accelerating the clean-up effort. National leadership for tackling waste crime sits with the Environment Agency. Its Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC), which focusses on waste crime linked to Serious and Organised crime, brings together operational partners, such as the police and NCA, with appropriate agencies to ensure a joined up and effective response.Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) is identified in the Strategic Policing Requirement as a national threat requiring a coordinated, cross‑boundary policing response. As set out in the White Paper, we will introduce new National Strategic Policing Priorities (NSPP) which will bring together strategic priorities for policing, and the national threats and capabilities forces need to respond to these threats, in one place. We will legislate for the NSPP, and set out the specific priorities, when parliamentary time allows.

What role the National Crime Agency currently plays in tackling organised waste crime.

National leadership for tackling waste crime sits with the Environment Agency. Its Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) brings together operational partners (including the NCA) to coordinate the response. The NCA can investigate waste crime where cases meet the thresholds of complexity and severity outlined in the National Tasking Model. In practice, this is most likely where waste crime overlaps with an existing NCA priority threat.The NCA also hosts the National Assessments Centre, which draws on law enforcement intelligence to produce threat assessments for policing, Government and operational partners. These assessments are shared with bodies such as the Environment Agency and the JUWC and can help inform their understanding of serious and organised crime risks including those associated with waste crime.

Whether she plans to introduce an expedited visa and scholarship scheme for at‑risk Iranian activists, journalists and human‑rights defenders seeking sanctuary and study in the UK.

The Home Office is monitoring the situation in Iran and the impacts it will have.The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route in response to the conflict. Existing visa routes remain available and Iranian nationals who wish to come to the UK can apply to do so via these routes.Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.  We advise people to consider the most appropriate visa route for their own circumstances.

What steps her Department is taking to protect Iranian dissidents, journalists and human‑rights defenders resident in the UK from surveillance, harassment and threats linked to the Iranian state.

The Home Office works closely with other Government departments as well as relevant agencies and law enforcement to protect those identified as being at risk.  We will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK and its people against any threats from the Iranian state. Any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK, including Iranian dissidents, journalists and human-rights defenders, will be thoroughly investigated.The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our powers to counter transnational repression and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.  Last year, I announced a robust package of measures to tackle state threats from Iran. This included placing Iran on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). I also announced new training for all frontline police officers on state threats; further sanctions against Iranian-linked criminal groups; an independent review of the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to state threats; continued support to the Jewish community; and strengthened enforcement of our immigration measures to protect the UK from Iranian interference.Finally, the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies, including Persian language media organisations.Anyone who thinks they might be a victim should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.

What the cost price is of a child citizenship application.

The Home Office publishes the fees charged and the estimated unit cost of processing immigration and nationality applications on Gov.UK. This can be reviewed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) gathering documentation and (b) submitting biometrics on people submitting refugee family reunion applications; and whether she plans to reduce those requirements in future changes to refugee family reunion.

The family reunion route is temporarily suspended for a short period until Spring 2026. The Home Office is reviewing the route, with the intention to set out and implement those changes from then.

Whether her Department plans to exempt (a) unaccompanied children seeking to reunite with parents already in the UK and (b) families facing (i) conflict, (ii) persecution and (iii) medical emergencies from future changes to refugee family reunion.

The family reunion route is temporarily suspended for a short period until Spring 2026. The Home Office is reviewing the route, with the intention to set out and implement those changes from then.

Whether the review of refugee family reunion will consider the optimisation of decision making to reduce the need for appeals.

The family reunion route is temporarily suspended for a short period until Spring 2026. The Home Office is reviewing the route, with the intention to set out and implement those changes from then.

How she communicates to migrants in France about the route to the UK under the Migration Treaty with France.

Information about applying to the scheme is available online at the following link: UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme - GOV.UK and applications continue to be received from migrants in France seeking to come to the UK. We continue to monitor engagement with the scheme to ensure it is being accessed by those wishing to consider making an application.

Whether asylum applicants are informed of a timeframe within which they would receive a decision in relation to their application to come to the UK under the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys.

Individuals who make an expression of interest application to the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme will be contacted when a decision is made on their application. Timeframes for considering applications may vary depending on the application. Applications are considered in accordance with the published Immigration Rules and guidance for the scheme.

How many people have been transferred from France to the UK under the Migration Treaty with France.

The Home Office publishes statistics on entry clearance visa applications and outcomes as part of the Immigration System Statistics quarterly release. Data for all visa types, including for those arriving via the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, will be included within the entry clearance visas data tables.The Home Office is committed to publishing further data at the end of the pilot period in 2026.As of close of play on 20 October, 23 people have been transferred from France to the UK via the new safe, legal route. However, it is not appropriate to provide a continual update on each phase of the operation, not least as it involves sensitive information that could prove valuable to the organised immigration crime gangs that are behind small boats crossings.

Whether she plans to publish data on the (a) number of applications received and (b) outcomes of applications of people who have applied to come to the UK under UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys.

The Home Office publishes statistics on entry clearance visa applications and outcomes as part of the Immigration System Statistics quarterly release. Data for all visa types, including for those arriving via the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, will be included within the entry clearance visas data tables.The Home Office is committed to publishing further data at the end of the pilot period in 2026.As of close of play on 20 October, 23 people have been transferred from France to the UK via the new safe, legal route. However, it is not appropriate to provide a continual update on each phase of the operation, not least as it involves sensitive information that could prove valuable to the organised immigration crime gangs that are behind small boats crossings.

How many unaccompanied children were granted refugee family reunion visas in the year ending 30 June 2025.

The Home Office publishes data on refugee family reunion in the 'Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release'. Data on refugee family reunion visa grants, by age group, is published in table Fam_D01 of the 'family reunion visa grants detailed datasets'. The latest data relate to June 2025.In the year ending June 2025 11,641 children under the age of 18 were granted a family reunion visa - this figure includes both accompanied and unaccompanied children.We do not publish data for the number of unaccompanied children who have been granted family reunion visas. 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, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.

What steps her Department is taking to support (a) refugees and (b) displaced Ukrainians with leave to remain in the UK to (i) secure decent employment and (ii) improve their English language skills.

In the recently published Immigration White Paper, we committed to increase English Language proficiency across the immigration system. This change will support migrants to integrate and be active participants in their local communities.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Metropolitan Police on arrests made in a Quaker meeting house in March 2025.

The police are operationally independent of the government and make decisions on specific incidents based on their intelligence and judgment. The Home Office does not have the power to direct them to make any operational decisions. However, the Home Secretary has regular meetings with all policing leaders, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), covering a range of matters.

What steps she is taking to support local authorities to provide housing for people seeking asylum.

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of local authorities providing housing for people seeking asylum.

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.

How many people were granted leave to enter (a) on the basis of family life as a (i) partner and (ii) parent and (b) due to exceptional circumstances in compliance with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in each year since 2022.

The requested data is not available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

What steps she has taken to ensure that victims of modern slavery detained in enforcement activity for illegal working are (a) identified and (b) protected.

All staff within the Home Office involved in immigration enforcement activity are provided with appropriate training and guidance for their roles. This includes, but is not limited to, training around Modern Slavery, the National Referrals Mechanism process and the Adults at Risk in detention policy.

What (a) provisions and (b) safeguards her Department has put in place to help ensure that victims of modern slavery detained in recent enforcement activity for illegal working are (i) identified and (ii) protected.

All staff within the Home Office involved in immigration enforcement activity are provided with appropriate training and guidance for their roles. This includes, but is not limited to, training around Modern Slavery, the National Referrals Mechanism process and the Adults at Risk in detention policy.