Written questions by Franklin.

Whether she plans to introduce additional safe and legal routes for Afghan nationals at risk.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of stopping the issuing of visas to Afghan nationals on the ability of those people to safe and legal routes for relocation and protection.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the impact of pay levels on morale among police contact centre staff.

The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police staff. Their commitment to public service is exemplary, and the Government remains focused on ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need to carry out their vital roles.Every member of the police workforce is valuable in keeping the public safe. Police officers and staff work in partnership, and their combined skills are essential to delivering better outcomes for the public.

What assessment she has made of whether pay for police contact centre staff is sufficient to support recruitment and retention in high-cost areas such as Surrey.

The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police staff. Their commitment to public service is exemplary, and the Government remains focused on ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need to carry out their vital roles.Every member of the police workforce is valuable in keeping the public safe. Police officers and staff work in partnership, and their combined skills are essential to delivering better outcomes for the public.

What steps she is taking to ensure that pay for police contact centre staff reflects regional variations in the cost of living, including in Surrey.

The Government has no statutory role in determining police staff pay and conditions of service which are agreed locally by Chief Constables, in consultation with trade unions.However, the Government recognises and deeply values the dedication of police staff. Their commitment to public service is exemplary, and the Government remains focused on ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need to carry out their vital roles.Every member of the police workforce is valuable in keeping the public safe. Police officers and staff work in partnership, and their combined skills are essential to delivering better outcomes for the public.

Whether she has considered introducing reduced fees or fee waivers for additional copies of death certificates purchased at the same time.

Civil registration fees, including those for issuing certificates, are set at a level to recover the full cost of delivering the service in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money Principles.Registration officials can waive, reduce, or refund any fee in exceptional circumstances due to hardship or for compassionate reasons.

What assessment she has made of the potential cost of obtaining certified copies of death certificates from the General Register Office; and whether she has plans to review those fees.

Civil registration fees, including those for issuing certificates, are set at a level to recover the full cost of delivering the service in line with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money Principles. All fees are reviewed to prevent them falling below cost recovery levels; the fee for a certificate was last increased in May 2024.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that delays in deciding visa extension and in-country switching applications for existing care workers do not lead to the loss of experienced staff from care homes supporting vulnerable residents during the transition period to 2028.

UK Visas and Immigration is not currently experiencing any delays in the processing of visa extensions or applications for switching in-country. Up to date processing times can be found at: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK, and, Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK.The adult social care sector enjoys direct access to UKVI, via Directors of Adult Social Services across England and DHSC funded Regional Partnerships. Contact information can be found here: Support offer to international ASC workers whose employer's sponsor licence has been revoked - GOV.UK.

What operational guidance (including authorised professional practice, College of Policing guidance, National Police Chiefs’ Council guidance, or Home Office circulars) governs police involvement in safeguarding incidents where officers facilitate or endorse a material change in a child’s place of residence despite the refusal of a person with parental responsibility and without exercising section 46 of the Children Act 1989; and whether that guidance requires officers to (a) treat the arrangement as time-limited, (b) take steps to ensure the child is returned absent lawful authority, or (c) notify or refer the matter to the local authority and/or Family Court within a fixed timeframe, and what consequence applies if this does not occur.

The police play a vital role in safeguarding children and relevant guidance materials. This includes the College of Policing's Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and the statutory guidance for safeguarding partners Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023). Furthermore, the Home Office circular 017/2008 provides guidance on the duties and powers of the police under the Children Act 1989, and the Home Office Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit includes guidance on how and when police powers of protection of children can be used.As outlined in these documents, the police have a power to remove a child to suitable accommodation under Section 46 of the Children Act 1989, if they have reasonable cause to believe that the child would otherwise be likely to suffer significant harm.Where police powers are exercised, Section 46 puts an upper limit of 72 hours on the length of time a child may be kept in police protection. Once powers are exercised, officers are required to notify the relevant local authority and they should ensure the child is moved to accommodation provided by or on behalf of the local authority, or a refuge.Police powers can help in emergency situations but should only be used were necessary, for example if is there is insufficient time for the local authority to seek an Emergency Protection Order (EPO), and decisions to remove a child from a parent or carer should be made by a court. Without use of Section 46, the police cannot change a child’s place of residence.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of use of Community Protection Warnings in cases involving people experiencing a mental health crisis; and what guidance exists on the use of those powers.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, 2014 (‘the 2014 Act’) provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices which can be used to stop a person aged 16 or over, business or organisation committing anti-social behaviour which spoils the community’s quality of life.While the details of how the powers are used in individual cases are an operational matter, the Home Office provides statutory guidance to support local agencies in the use of the powers and tools in the 2014 Act. The guidance highlights the importance of considering the needs and circumstances of vulnerable perpetrators when applying the powers.The Home Office does not currently collect data on the reasons why the ASB powers were issued.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of information-sharing arrangements between the National Crime Agency, Action Fraud, the Police and relevant professional regulators; and what plans she has to improve interoperability and avoid administrative duplication.

The Government has recognised the challenges facing the Action Fraud service, and, working with City of London Police, are pleased that the new Report Fraud service launched on 4 December.This new service replaces Action Fraud and includes the provision of improved reporting tools, victim services, and analysis and dissemination of viable investigative cases to police forces. Report Fraud’s new National Crime Analysis Service (N-CAS) will replace the backend system used previously by Action Fraud to analyse reports. This will significantly improve the speed and quality of information provided to law enforcement and other operational partners, boosting their chances of successful prosecution. It will also block and disrupt crime through providing real time information to those institutions and organisations who can deter and disrupt fraudulent websites, bank accounts, and other activities which are enabling criminality

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that no person is extradited to Hong Kong for an act that is not a crime in the UK.

The UKs extradition framework, governed by the Extradition Act 2003,enshrines the principle of dual criminality.This legal requirement means that no person can be extradited from the UK unless the conduct in question would also constitute a criminal offence under UK law.In addition, all UK extradition cooperation is underpinned by strong legalsafeguards operationalised by independent UK courts who have extensive powers to bar extradition where it is politically motivated or where it would beagainst an individual’s human rights.

What steps she is taking to regulate (a) poisonous and (b) harmful substances procured (i) domestically and (ii) internationally that may be used for suicide.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 6 May to Question 48303.

What systems are in place within (a) Border Force and (b) her Department to monitor the international procurement of poisons; and whether those systems are applied consistently across all countries.

We remain committed to stopping dangerous drugs – including poisons – from entering the country. Our Border Force Officers continue to work to stop illegal drugs by making more, higher-quantity seizures than in previous years, using advanced technology, data analytics, and greater intelligence, derived from close working relationships with police, the National Crime Agency, and international partners.It would not be in the interest of national security to disclose specific systems in place, nor further information regarding intelligence gathering and sharing.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that ensure that (a) refugees and (b) stateless people are not penalised for their irregular (i) entry or (ii) arrival.

Irrespective of someone’s method of entry or arrival to the UK, all asylum claims that are admitted to the UK asylum system are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of allowing asylum seekers to work unrestricted by the Immigration Salary List after six months awaiting an asylum decision on (a) the economy and (b) community cohesion.

I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 4 June to Question 55328.

What steps she is taking to support the Community Sponsorship scheme for refugees.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced a review of our existing refugee sponsorship and resettlement schemes to develop a more cost-effective and sustainable framework which will deliver better outcomes for refugees and the communities in which they live.

What steps she plans to take with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that there is adequate (a) capacity and (b) resources for anticipated levels of demand for English-language classes, in the context of proposed requirements for English language proficiency for visa applications.

I refer the Hon Member to Paragraphs 244-258 of the Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, which addresses these issues in detail. Further updates will be provided in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds policy on the mental health of asylum seekers.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 May to Question 53554.

Whether her Department has considered developing a national integration strategy for asylum seekers and refugees similar to those established in Scotland and Wales.

The Immigration White Paper, published on Monday 12 May, announced proposals by a wide range of reforms, including on the issue of integration and community cohesion, further details of which will be published in due course.