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gov.uk change note: This guidance has been updated in the section British nationality certificate is not showing on Atlas to tell examiners to contact QuESt (Quality and Examination Support team) when a certificate issued after 30 September 1986 is not on Atlas and with a new section that tells HM Passport Office staff how to check a British nationality certificate with the Channel Islands and Isle of Man and in the section When the Citizenship team change a British nationality certificate, to give examples of when the Citizenship team will amend a British nationality certificate.
AI summaryVersion 34.0 of the HM Passport Office caseworker guidance on naturalisation and registration certificates introduces a new procedure for verifying Channel Islands and Isle of Man nationality certificates, clarifies the QuESt referral route when a post-1986 certificate is absent from Atlas, and adds examples of when the Citizenship team will and will not amend a British nationality certificate.
gov.uk change note: The UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme is closed to new applications. If you have already submitted an application, you will be informed of the decision in due course.
AI summaryThe UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme has closed to new applications, and a previously published statement that applicants rejected before 12 November 2025 with a "cannot reapply" message may still be eligible has been removed from the guidance.
gov.uk change note: Final employer RTW guidance added for 1 October,
AI summaryThe DRAFT guidance dated 11 September 2026 has been replaced by the FINAL version dated 1 October 2026, which adds a new Annex C (Q&A on changes to the Right to Work Scheme), clarifies the application of TUPE to workers engaged under contracts for services, and introduces a new signposting mechanism for employers to receive scheme update notifications.
gov.uk change note: Updated information for employers carrying out right to work checks from 1 October 2026.
AI summaryThis is an updated Right to Work Checklist (effective 1 October 2026) consolidating the three prescribed check methods — manual document-based, Home Office online, and DVSP — into a single employer-facing reference document, with explicit integration of facial recognition technology as a permissible verification step across all three methods.
gov.uk change note: Updated the guidance for licensing authorities to prevent illegal working in the taxi and private hire sector in the UK. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.
AI summaryThis is a substantially revised version of the guidance dated 1 October 2026, replacing the 6 August 2025 edition; the most operationally significant change is that use of a registered Right to Work digital verification service provider (RtW DVSP) is now mandatory when conducting digital right to a licence checks, replacing the previously advisory approach to DVS certification.
gov.uk change note: An updated version of the Criminal Bills Assessment Manual has been published.
AI summaryVersion 27 (October 2026) introduces draft guidance — flagged as tracked changes to take effect on 26 October 2026 — on the break-up of Part 1 ASBCPA 2014 injunctions into three distinct types, with corresponding changes to sections 6.15, 6.16 and 14.3, and confirms that criminal legal aid will cover Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) arising on acquittal (and where a defendant successfully appeals conviction) on the same basis as SCPOs on conviction.
gov.uk change note: Updated the landlord's guide to right to rent checks. A full list of the changes can be found in the guide.
AI summaryThis is the 1 October 2026 version of the Landlord's Guide, superseding the 26 June 2025 version; the Summary of Changes within the guide identifies eight substantive updates including mandatory use of registered RtR DVSPs, changes to acceptable documents, removal of the Swiss Service Provider route, the move away from visa vignettes from 1 July 2026, and removal of the separate Ukrainian nationals annex.
gov.uk change note: Removed 'draft' from the title in line with legislation change.
AI summaryThe document has been replaced with a new version dated 1 October 2026, removing the word "Draft" from the title; the February 2024 English code and the Welsh language version have been removed from the aggregate page, leaving only the new October 2026 document.
gov.uk change note: This guidance has been updated in the section How customers can apply for an additional passport, to tell examiners that a member of the Armed Forces can apply for a first-time additional passport at the counter, if they have an urgent government business travel need and in the section When we will issue an additional or overlap passport, to create a new section called Additional passports: exceptional circumstances.
AI summaryVersion 39.0 of HMPO's additional passports caseworker guidance introduces two substantive policy changes: a new counter-application route for Armed Forces members with urgent government business travel needs, and a new formalised "exceptional circumstances" category for issuing restricted-validity additional passports.
gov.uk change note: Updated information on the alcohol duty free personal allowance limit in the England, Scotland and Wales guidance.
AI summaryThe duty-free alcohol personal allowance guidance for England, Scotland and Wales has been revised to restructure which drinks fall into which allowance category, with beer, cider and sparkling wine moved out of the "less than 22% ABV" combined allowance into the separate beer/wine allowance.
gov.uk change note: Updating the data on Online immigration status (eVisa): UKVI account creation data page.
AI summaryRoutine statistical refresh: UKVI account creation data extended to August 2026, historical figures revised downward, and the eVisa error section updated to reflect that errors corrected via internal Home Office routes (not just user-submitted webforms) are now included in the published counts.
AI summaryThe Home Office has suspended Buckinghamshire New University's Student sponsor licence with immediate effect from 30 September 2026, removing it from the Register of Licensed Sponsors: students.
AI summaryFirst published guidance establishing the Single Protection Interview (SPI), a new process that merges asylum screening and substantive interview into one sitting for nationals of specified safe countries whose claims appear clearly unfounded.
gov.uk change note: Updated the booklet to include information about the Single Protection Interview.
AI summaryA new "Single Protection Interview" section has been added to the booklet, describing a combined screening-and-asylum-interview process applicable to nationals of specified countries.
gov.uk change note: Published the country policy and information note on sufficiency of protection. Removed the note on actors of protection as this is out of date and not being replaced.
AI summaryThe Home Office has published a new CPIN on sufficiency of protection for Pakistan (version 5.0, September 2026), replacing an earlier note previously titled "actors of protection," which has been removed and not replaced; the new note sets out the Home Office's current assessment of state protection across the legal framework, police, human rights violations, and judiciary.
gov.uk change note: Information on the permitted work for Seasonal Worker Visa holders has been added to the accessible HTML attachment.
AI summaryThis document adds an explicit list of permitted work activities and restrictions for Seasonal Worker visa holders to the accessible HTML version of the sponsor guidance.
AI summaryThe Home Office has published four comparative documents setting out the changes to the OISC Level 1 and Level 2 Immigration, Level 2 Asylum, and Level 3 Asylum and Immigration competence assessment syllabuses, marking a wholesale shift from knowledge-based to competency-based assessment across all levels.
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gov.uk change note: Updated content to reflect that from 22 September 2026, carriers may be liable for financial penalties where a passenger requiring an ETA or other valid immigration permission arrives in the UK without the required permission to travel.
AI summaryFrom 22 September 2026, carriers face potential Section 40 liability for passengers arriving without an ETA or other required immigration permission, and the document now sets out a distinct procedural pathway for those "No ETA" cases.
gov.uk change note: Published an updated version of the country policy and information note on internal relocation in Pakistan.
AI summaryThe Pakistan internal relocation CPIN has been updated from version 2.0 (June 2024) to version 3.0 (September 2026), with substantially expanded country information on socio-economic conditions, freedom of movement restrictions, and returnee treatment, while the core assessment on internal relocation for non-state/rogue-state actor cases remains the same.
AI summaryThis document is the Immigration Advice Authority's supporting FAQ on changes to the OISC competence assessment process, confirming that assessments are not expected to resume until November 2026 and setting out the revised assessment structure and pre-registration requirements.
AI summaryThe Immigration Advice Authority has published its 2026 competence assessment syllabuses — six documents setting out, for the first time in this form, the detailed learning objectives against which Level 1, Level 2 (Immigration and Asylum), and Level 3 (Immigration and Asylum) OISC-registered advisers will be assessed.
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gov.uk change note: This guidance has been WITHDRAWN by the Home Office. Reintegration services are not currently available in Algeria. See Get help after you return from the UK for reintegration services in other countries.
This document has been WITHDRAWN by the Home Office — the guidance no longer applies.
gov.uk change note: Updated to include guidance on registration of a child whose mother is in a
same sex relationship with a British citizen.
AI summaryVersion 19.0 adds a new section of guidance on registering children whose mother is in a same-sex relationship with a British citizen — a category previously unaddressed in this document.
AI summaryThe leaflet introduces a new 3-month contact deadline for returnees to register with IRARA, alongside a clarified 5-day window for short-term arrival services.
gov.uk change note: Updated Immigration bail guidance. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.
AI summaryVersion 23.0 of the Immigration Bail guidance (dated 18 September 2026) introduces a new dedicated section on EUSS bail conditions, reflects changes under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, and substantially rewrites the digital reporting section — including adding location reporting as a condition distinct from consent-based location recording.
gov.uk change note: Updated Visas: applying the code of practice about the sanctions for non-compliance with the biometric registration regulations to amend the section ‘Unable to enrol biometrics overseas’ section to reflect current operational process.
AI summaryThe 'Unable to enrol biometrics overseas' section has been substantively rewritten to reflect current operational process (Version 2.0, published 17 September 2026).
gov.uk change note: Removed National X-ray Clinic in Lucknow.
AI summaryThe National X-ray Clinic in Lucknow (195/104 Jagat Narain Road, Lucknow 226 003) has been removed from the list of approved TB testing clinics for UK visa applicants in India.
gov.uk change note: Addition of guidance on the application of ‘Reconsideration’.
AI summaryA retraction notice in version 11.0 states that the policy at section 'Reconsideration cohorts' of v10.0 — which disapplied the reconsideration process for individuals intended for removal to an ECAT and ECHR signatory country — is no longer being applied, and replaces that section with new, substantially different guidance on when the reconsideration policy applies or is disapplied.
Bills before Parliament, ministerial statements, written parliamentary questions whose answers reveal something substantive (when several members receive the same answer it is shown once), parliamentary scrutiny, Commons Library research and statements of changes — what's moving through Westminster. Each item links out to the original source; we don’t
interpret them.
AI summaryUK-France small boat prevention deal includes increased French deployments, specialist units, enhanced surveillance, and new maritime interception authority.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that French police assist migrants seeking to cross the Channel to the UK in small boats. Answered: The UK works closely with the French Government and French law enforcement partners to prevent dangerous small boat crossings and tackle the criminal gangs that facilitate them. Since the election, joint work with France has prevented more than 48,000 attempted crossings and resulted in the seizure of over 1,100 boats and engines. Operational decisions in French territorial waters remain a matter for the French authorities but reports of them assisting migrant journeys is a mischaracterisation of their activity.
AI summaryGovernment announces timetable for new refugee study, sponsorship, and work routes with applications and arrivals expected in 2026-2027.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to announce the proposed work and study route for refugees; and what assessment they have made of its role in providing safe and legal pathways for refugees to the UK who are currently unable to access existing routes. Answered: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 11 September to Question HL3403. “In the Restoring Order and Control statement, the Home Secretary announced the development of new safe and legal routes to enable communities, universities and employers to identify refugees to sponsor.These routes offer an alternative to dangerous journeys for refugees genuinely fleeing war and persecution. As announced on 27 June, the refugee study and named sponsorship routes will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors in the autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards.
AI summaryStudent visa applications from affected nationalities fell over 90% Q2 2026; brake is temporary and evidence-led but lifting timing uncertain.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of prospective students from Cameroon, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Sudan who have been unable to access a UK student visa for the 2026–27 academic year as a result of the restrictions on visa applications from nationals of those countries; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those restrictions on affected students and UK higher education institutions. Answered: Applications for visas on the affected routes from the affected nationalities are now being refused. The Impact Assessment published during implementation of the visa brake sets out the forecasted impacts on Student visa applications for the affected nationalities. The latest public immigration statistics show that visa applications for the affected routes and nationalities in Q2 2026 have on average fallen by over 90% compared to Q4 2025.
AI summaryImmigration Enforcement visits up 111%, arrests up 122% over two years; investment to double by 2029 with 60% more officers.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration enforcement visits have been carried out at barbering premises in the UK over the past five years; and how many arrests and civil penalties resulted from those visits. Answered: The Home Office does not hold data on immigration enforcement activity at the level of detail requested. Illegal working enforcement activity is recorded by broader business sectors and enforcement outcomes, not by specific sub-sectors such as barbering premises. As a result, we are unable to provide figures on the number of immigration enforcement visits carried out at barbering premises, or the number of arrests and civil penalties arising from those visits.
AI summaryVisa applications from affected nationalities fell 90% after brake implementation; measure temporary but duration uncertain.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of prospective students from Cameroon, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Sudan who have been unable to apply for student visas for the 2026–27 academic year as a result of restrictions on visa applications from nationals of those countries; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those restrictions on UK higher education institutions. Answered: Applications for visas on the affected routes from the affected nationalities are now being refused. The Impact Assessment published during implementation of the visa brake sets out the forecasted impacts on Student visa applications for the affected nationalities. The latest public immigration statistics show that visa applications for the affected routes and nationalities in Q2 2026 have on average fallen by over 90% compared to Q4 2025.
AI summaryRefugee study and named sponsorship routes open to prospective lead sponsors in autumn 2026, with arrivals from autumn 2027; the refugee work route is expected to open in 2027.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to announce the proposed work and study visa routes for refugees; and what assessment they have made of the role such a route could play in providing safe and legal pathways to the UK for refugees who are currently unable to access existing visa routes. Answered: In the Restoring Order and Control statement, the Home Secretary announced the development of new safe and legal routes to enable communities, universities and employers to identify refugees to sponsor. These routes offer an alternative to dangerous journeys for refugees genuinely fleeing war and persecution. As announced on 27 June, the refugee study and named sponsorship routes will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors in the autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards. The refugee work route is expected to open next year.
AI summaryHome Office confirms individuals can reapply and appeal before pre-settled status expires; 1,473 flagged as granted in error since 2018.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to suspending the expiry or cancellation of an individual's EU Settlement Scheme status where it is alleged to have been granted in error until the individual concerned has had a meaningful opportunity to challenge that decision. Answered: Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
AI summaryHome Office explains it doesn't cancel erroneous EUSS pre-settled status immediately; 1,473 people notified of errors since 2018.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider allowing individual's EU Settlement Scheme status to expire because the Home Office considers it was granted in error to be consistent with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Answered: Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
AI summaryEU Settlement Scheme error cases can appeal to First-tier Tribunal; 1,473 pre-settled status errors notified since 2018.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what right of appeal or administrative review is available to individuals whose EU Settlement Scheme status is determined to have been granted in error; and what safeguards are in place to prevent erroneous decisions resulting in the loss of lawful residence rights. Answered: Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
AI summary1,473 individuals notified of erroneous pre-settled status since 2018; status remains valid until expiry with limited sponsorship rights.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals have been informed that their EU Settlement Scheme status was granted in error since the introduction of the scheme; and how many of those individuals have subsequently lost, or are at risk of losing, their right to reside in the United Kingdom. Answered: Where the Home Office identifies that a person may have been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status in error, they are given an opportunity to provide evidence to show that they meet the requirements for that status. Their existing status under the EUSS is not cancelled as a result of that process. Where the person holds pre-settled status, it remains valid until its expiry date but will not be extended beyond that point. The person is informed they do not meet the requirements to sponsor applications to the EUSS from family members.
AI summaryHome Office consults local authorities (5 working days) but not elected members or parish councils on asylum dispersal accommodation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which bodies her Department and its accommodation providers are required to consult before approving new asylum dispersal accommodation; and whether that consultation includes (a) the relevant local authority, (b) parish councils, (c) local NHS bodies and (d) the relevant Member of Parliament. Answered: The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process for the procurement of prospective dispersal accommodation. Proposed properties are shared with nominated local authority officials, providing them with an opportunity to assess the suitability of each property before any procurement decision is made. Local authorities are given five working days to provide relevant local insights and intelligence, including information obtained from statutory partners such as the police and health services.
AI summaryHome Office commits to share data on all newly granted refugees with local authorities within defined timescales to improve homelessness prevention coordination.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve data-sharing protocols between the Home Office and local authorities regarding individuals leaving asylum accommodation. Answered: The Home Office continues to share information to support effective transitions from asylum accommodation. This includes the weekly Discontinuation Prediction Tool, which provides a real-time view of cases entering the discontinuation process and a four-week forward look at the likely volumes of individuals who may seek local authority assistance following a positive decision.
AI summaryAsylum grant rate fell to 38% in year ending June 2026, down from 48% previous year and 77% in September 2022.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the claim reportedly made by a Home Office official to The Times newspaper that just one in every hundred asylum claims is genuine. Answered: We do not comment on anonymous briefings. The Home Office is committed to ensuring that the asylum system is not open to abuse. It is the responsibility of everyone claiming asylum in the UK to co-operate with the Home Office and tell us the truth. It is a crime to make an asylum application that involves trying to deceive the Home Office. If anyone does this and is found guilty of it in a court, they may receive a custodial sentence, after which they may be deported.
AI summaryUK operates intelligence-led checks away from NI-Ireland border under CTA arrangements to detect abuse while preserving citizen rights.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what checks are being conducted at the borders between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to prevent the entry into the UK of unauthorised migrants. Answered: As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys from Ireland to the UK, with no immigration checks being undertaken on the Northern Ireland-Ireland land border. The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes – away from the land border. This is to detect those who intend to abuse CTA arrangements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
AI summaryGovernment suspending refugee family reunion pending wider asylum reforms; details promised; other family routes remain available.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to end the refugee family reunion suspension, which has been in place since 4 September 2025. Answered: Given the immediate pressures that result from family reunion, we suspended the Refugee Family Reunion route to new applications on 4 September 2025. This was a difficult but necessary decision. During the suspension, the Government is taking forward wider asylum and family migration reforms to place the system on a fair, controlled and sustainable footing, as set out in the Immigration White Paper and the Restoring Order and Control statement. Details of forthcoming changes will be set out in due course.
AI summaryFrom March 2026, asylum claimants get 30-month protection requiring renewal; new route offers shorter settlement path for those in work/study.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government how reducing refugee protection to 30 months aligns with wider Government aims of improving integration and social cohesion. Answered: The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities. Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home.
AI summaryGovernment commits to impact assessments on 30-month renewals; introduces alternative Protection, Work and Study route with no numerical limits.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to conduct impact assessments on making refugee protection subject to renewal every 30 months, including its impact on integration outcomes and Home Office resources. Answered: The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities. Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home.
AI summaryFrom March 2026, asylum grants will be limited to 30 months with mandatory reviews; HO will deploy workforce flexibly to manage implementation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on Home Office resources of making refugee protection subject to review every 30 months. Answered: The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities. Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home.
AI summaryRefugees renew every 30 months with review of country conditions; new Protection, Work and Study route offers alternative pathway with shorter settlement timeline.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what the renewal process for refugees with 30 months’ temporary protection will entail. Answered: The November 2025 Asylum Policy Statement set out plans to restore order and increase public confidence in the integrity of the asylum system. The reforms aim to balance increased control over those entering the UK by irregular means with successful integration for those granted protection, enabling people to contribute positively to society. Integration brings significant benefits for individuals, taxpayers, and communities. Under Core Protection, protection will be granted for the duration of need, lasting only until a refugee can safely return home.
AI summaryGovernment appealing Upper Tribunal decision and introducing Bill to reset Article 8 rights balance against public interest.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), issued earlier this year, to allow the appeal of a Gaza-born family of 18 to enter the United Kingdom on human rights grounds; who provided the mental health evidence relied upon by the Tribunal; how that evidence was assessed; and what weight should be attached to that evidence. Answered: The Government has noted the Upper Tribunal’s decision and sought permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal. As the case remains subject to further judicial scrutiny, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific circumstances of the case, the evidence before the Tribunal, or the weight attached to that evidence while proceedings are ongoing.
AI summaryHome Office confirms no plans to publish immigration status data disaggregated by VAWG offence type or victim age.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data is collected on the immigration status of alleged perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and whether she plans to publish such data by offence and age of victim. Answered: Immigration Enforcement records immigration status information for individuals referred to it by the police for operational purposes. This does not represent all alleged perpetrators of violence against women and girls and is not routinely collated by VAWG offence type or the age of the victim. There are currently no plans to publish the data in this format.
AI summaryHome Office shares operational/maritime intelligence with France via liaison officers to target people-smuggling networks.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data is being shared by her Department with the French government to help tackle small boat crossings. Answered: The Home Office shares operational data with French partners to support the disruption, investigation, and prosecution of people-smuggling networks. This includes intelligence, operational information relating to the maritime environment. Information is exchanged through established joint working arrangements and liaison officers based in France.
AI summaryGovernment defines pull factors as asylum system aspects incentivizing irregular migration; outlines reforms including refugee leave restrictions, returns agreements, and border security measures.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what she defines as immigration pull factors to the United Kingdom; and what steps she is taking to remove those pull factors. Answered: The Government considers immigration pull factors to be aspects of the UK's asylum and immigration system that may incentivise irregular migration to the United Kingdom. Through the Restoring Order and Control Policy Statement and the Immigration and Asylum Bill , introduced on 30 June 2026 the Government is reforming the asylum and returns system to reduce such incentives while continuing to meet its international obligations to those in need of protection.
AI summaryAsylum returns hit highest level since 2010 since July 2024; monthly data published in transparency release.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that those who have had asylum claims rejected are removed from the United Kingdom; and what percentage of rejected claimants have been removed from the UK since July 2024. Answered: Since the July 2024 election, asylum-related returns have reached their highest level since 2010. The monthly breakdown in asylum related returns since July 2024 is published in the ad-hoc transparency release, which can be found here: Returns from the UK between 1 July 2024 and 31 July 2026 - GOV.UK Ramping up returns is an important part of the government’s system-wide action to strengthen UK border security and restore order to the asylum and immigration system.
parliament.uk: Frequently asked questions about the UK government's immigration white paper proposals in 2025, including longer qualifying periods for indefinite leave to remain.
AI summaryHome Office transitioning asylum accommodation from hotels to large sites and dispersal, consulting local authorities on implementation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a provider contracted by her Department has entered into negotiations, agreements or contractual arrangements with property owners or their agents for the provision of asylum accommodation in Audlem, Cheshire East, since 5 July 2024. Answered: The Home Office provides support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to asylum seekers and their dependants who would otherwise be destitute in order to comply with its legal obligations. The Home Office is committed to ensuring that destitute asylum seekers are housed in safe, secure and suitable accommodation, and that they are treated with dignity while their asylum claim is considered. The Home Office is working closely with local authorities, property partners and the local community as we transition away from using hotels.
AI summaryOver 70% of asylum claims from Q3 2025 decided within 6 months—highest rate since Q1 2016, indicating improved processing times.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of waiting times for asylum seeker applications to be determined. Answered: We remain focussed on reducing the number of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision. The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up decision making and reduce the time people spend in the asylum system. This will enable us to maximise our capacity and progress cases in a more efficient and cost-effective way. Over 70% of asylum claims received in Q3 2025 have been decided within 6 months, the highest percentage since Q1 2016.
AI summaryHome Office set 42-day notice period for refugees leaving asylum accommodation following pilot evaluation in March 2024.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the average time taken for newly recognised refugees to secure accommodation following the issuance of a biometric residence permit. Answered: We continue to work closely with local authorities to improve housing outcomes for newly recognised refugees leaving asylum accommodation. In March this year, the Home Office decided to set the notice period for all individuals granted leave exiting the asylum accommodation estate to 42 days, following an extensive 56-day pilot and evaluation. In reaching the decision, we considered a wide range of evidence, including key findings from the evaluation of the 56-day pilot.
AI summaryNo final decision on RAF Barnham asylum use; suitability assessments ongoing considering safety, security, planning, and community impact.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide a copy of risk assessments or feasibility assessments prepared for the housing of migrants at RAF Barnham. Answered: No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Barnham for asylum accommodation. Large sites (such as former MOD sites) offer a sustainable solution for housing asylum seekers. Accommodation on former military sites is designed to be largely self-sufficient, with essential services being provided on site to minimise impacts on the local community and upon local services and offer better longer-term value for money. They reduce pressure on communities whilst also giving us greater oversight and control at critical points in the asylum decision making process.
AI summaryFNO returns to five countries: Albania down 7%, Romania up 3%, Poland up 17%, Lithuania up 20%, Jamaica not listed in top 10.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in deporting foreign national offenders to (1) Albania, (2) Romania, (3) Poland, (4) Lithuania and (5) Jamaica, since July 2024. Answered: We are committed to delivering justice for victims and safer streets for our communities. Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will pursue their deportation. Since this Government came to power over 11,700 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned, an increase of 41%, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.
AI summaryUKVI uses HMRC salary data with manual verification to detect visa holders breaching conditions, acknowledging data limitations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the risk that visa holders may remain in the United Kingdom in breach of the conditions attached to their leave without being detected. Answered: UKVI uses HMRC data as part of a broader intelligence driven compliance approach to help identify potential concerns about sponsor compliance. HMRC information provides an initial indicator of whether sponsored workers appear to be receiving the salary recorded on their Certificate of Sponsorship and helps target compliance resources towards cases that may require further examination.
AI summarySets out UK compliance detection methods including Intelligence Compliance Enforcement teams, data analysis, and sponsor reporting duties.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms her Department uses to identify visa holders who may no longer be complying with the conditions attached to their leave. Answered: Immigration Enforcement has Immigration Compliance and Enforcement teams across the UK that identify suspected breaches and take proportionate action. This activity supports both the detection of non-compliance and the deterrence of future breaches. A combination of intelligence-led operations, data analysis, data sharing with relevant partners and compliance visits helps the Department identify visa holders who may have ceased to comply with the conditions of their leave.
AI summaryUKVI uses HMRC salary data to identify sponsor compliance concerns, with manual verification before action taken.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how immigration records are used alongside information held by other government departments to identify potential breaches of visa conditions. Answered: UKVI uses HMRC data as part of a broader intelligence driven compliance approach to help identify potential concerns about sponsor compliance. HMRC information provides an initial indicator of whether sponsored workers appear to be receiving the salary recorded on their Certificate of Sponsorship and helps target compliance resources towards cases that may require further examination.
AI summaryDetails immigration enforcement's compliance checks, intelligence methods, and consequences including curtailment, removal, or sponsor licence revocation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what checks her Department undertakes to establish whether visa holders remain employed in accordance with the conditions of their leave. Answered: Immigration Enforcement has Immigration Compliance and Enforcement teams across the UK that identify suspected breaches and take proportionate action. This activity supports both the detection of non-compliance and the deterrence of future breaches. A combination of intelligence-led operations, data analysis, data sharing with relevant partners and compliance visits helps the Department identify visa holders who may have ceased to comply with the conditions of their leave.
AI summaryHome Office developing new digital system in 2026 to track visa holder compliance with time-limited conditions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of visa holders whose whereabouts are easily identifiable. Answered: No estimate of the proportion of visa holders whose whereabouts are easily identifiable is held. All sponsors of migrants coming to the UK in order to work and study are required as part of their licensing arrangements to report to the Home Office on changes of circumstances of the migrants they are sponsoring. The Home Office remains committed to making improvements where they can be achieved within existing resources. This includes a programme of continuous improvement in data management and caseworking platforms as part of the Home Office’s delivery of its digital immigration system.
AI summaryAsylum seekers must notify Home Office of address changes under Immigration Rule 358B, including when leaving accommodation to stay with friends/family.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what requirement exists for an asylum seeker to notify her Department of a change of address after leaving Home Office accommodation to stay with friends or family, where they are not in receipt of subsistence-only support. Answered: Where an asylum seeker makes an application for subsistence only support, an assessment is made on whether they are destitute. This may involve enquiries about the hosts circumstances where relevant to determining whether the asylum seeker is destitute. Asylum seekers are required by Immigration Rule 358B to provide the Home Office with any change of address where they are not being supported by the Home Office. This includes where supported asylum seekers intend to leave asylum accommodation.
AI summaryProtection reassessments for Bangladeshi nationals will continue individually; settlement is not automatic; status can be revoked if country conditions change significantly.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to undertake a review of the refugee status, humanitarian protection status and subsequent settlement grants of Bangladeshi nationals whose protection claims were based on a risk of persecution by the former Awami League government. Answered: The UK’s asylum policy statement, published in November 2025, sets out a new approach to protection in the UK, which marks a significant change in direction away from an assumption of offering permanent protection, and towards protection that is granted for the duration of need, which we call ‘Core Protection’. For people who claim asylum and are granted protection in the UK, we will provide support for refugees that is entirely in accordance with our international obligations but does not exceed them.
AI summaryGovernment moved from permanent to temporary protection; will revoke status for serious crime, security threats, or fraud.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the activities of successful asylum applicants. Answered: We do not routinely monitor those who are granted asylum or leave to remain but refugees, and those granted protection in the UK, have equitable access to the resources and support necessary to fully integrate into life here, achieve self-sufficiency, provide for themselves and their families, and contribute to the UK economy. Integration outcomes of asylum refugees and refugees resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and Vulnerable Children Resettlement Schemes is available on GOV.UK at: Refugee Integration Outcomes (RIO) Insights - GOV.UK.
AI summaryOver 70% of asylum claims decided within 6 months in Q4 2025, the highest rate in 11 years. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the average time spent on responding to an asylum claim which is (a) rejected and (b) accepted. Answered: The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained through examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. However, the Home Office does publish data on the number of asylum claims awaiting an initial decision by duration. This data can be found at table Asy_D03 of the ‘Asylum and resettlement summary tables’ at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK .
AI summaryGovernment publishes nationality and entry route data but not country travelled from; explains manual extraction cost barrier.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wood of Anfield on 27 July (HL1989), whether they will commence the recording by data fields of (1) the nationality of asylum seekers, (2) how they entered or came to be in the United Kingdom, and (3) which country they travelled from most recently before reaching the UK. Answered: The Home Office publishes the number of asylum claims raised by nationality, and the number of people claiming asylum by prior route, by nationality in the Asy_D01 and Asy_D01a tables available here: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers arrive in the UK through a range of routes before claiming asylum. In the year ending June 2026, 41% had previously entered on a visa or other leave, 40% arrived by small boat, 12% arrived via other illegal entry routes, and 8% entered via other routes or could not be matched to a route of entry.
AI summaryVisa brake on Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan will be reviewed after 18 months; lift contingent on reduced asylum claim risk.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government when they anticipate lifting the visa brake. Answered: Applications for visas on the affected routes from the affected nationalities are now being refused. The latest public immigration statistics show that visa applications for the affected routes and nationalities in Q2 2026 have on average fallen by over 90% compared to Q4 2025. The visa brake for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan will be reviewed by the Home Office after 18 months after imposition. This principally involves an assessment of the risk of future visa-linked asylum claims. It does not mean the visa brake will necessarily be lifted.
AI summaryUK working with European partners on product safety regulations to seize boats; recent seizures in Bulgaria (25) and Germany (30+).
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with European countries in which large inflatable dinghies used to transport illegal immigrants to the UK are manufactured or marketed. Answered: We are committed to working closely with European partners to disrupt the people-smuggling networks that facilitate illegal migration to the UK. This includes working with partners to target and intercept vessels and equipment used to enable crossings, promoting the use of product safety regulations to seize and destroy unsafe equipment, and supporting additional legislative and enforcement measures where necessary. This cooperation is delivering tangible results, including the recent seizure of 25 inflatable boats in Bulgaria and over 30 in Germany.
AI summaryNew support contract 2027; Independent Child Trafficking Guardians expanding to national coverage Spring 2027 across England and Wales.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reduced waiting times for conclusive grounds decisions in the National Referral Mechanism on modern slavery victims' recovery and access to support services. Answered: This government is proud of our record to reduce the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) backlog and ensure victims of modern slavery receive certainty in a timely fashion. There has been a decrease to the backlog of 84% since the peak in 2022. Adult victims receive support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) and through wider state services. Victims supported by the MSVCC will currently continue to receive support following a positive Conclusive Grounds decision where needs are identified through the Recovery Needs Assessment process.
AI summaryCouncils to receive 100% refugee homelessness-risk notifications within 2 days; 42-day end-of-support policy introduced post-pilot.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms her Department utilises to coordinate refugee transition policy with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Answered: We have worked, and continue to work, with colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), including through ongoing cross-government discussions, to understand rough sleeping and homelessness pressures within local authorities in England.
AI summaryGovernment distinguishes Section 55 duty from Children's Rights Impact Assessments; declines commitment to publish standalone CRIA.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 28 July (HL2268), what is the anticipated timeline for the publication of a standalone bill-level Child’s Rights Impact Assessment analysing the impact of measures in the draft Immigration and Asylum Bill against the UN Convention on Rights of a Child. Answered: Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 places a legal duty on the Secretary of State to make arrangements for ensuring immigration, asylum, nationality and general customs functions are carried out with regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. This legal duty requires us to develop policy in respect of children through the lens of safeguarding and welfare, as well as the best interests of children as a primary (although not the only) consideration, as set out in our statutory guidance.
AI summaryGovernment amending Bill to remove deportation exemption previously held by Commonwealth and Irish citizens under 1971 Act.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to table amendments to the Immigration and Asylum Bill; and if so, to which clauses and to what effect. Answered: The Home Secretary has announced the Government’s intention to amend the Immigration and Asylum Bill to introduce a new provision which would disapply the exemption from deportation for Commonwealth and Irish citizens in section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971. The Government is considering whether further amendments are necessary to support the overall intentions of the Bill, including if further provisions are needed. These will be announced in the usual way.
AI summaryHome Office conducted two financial audits of asylum contracts since 2021 and achieved cost reductions through hotel rate negotiations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what value for money reviews her Department has commissioned into asylum procurement contracts awarded prior to July 2024. Answered: Since 2021, the Home Office has carried out two financial audits into its existing Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC). The Home Office has a rigorous regime of oversight of its asylum contracts, including delivery performance, finance performance and of value for money. This includes continued negotiation of rates paid for services at contracted hotels, with ongoing work to end the use of hotels across the UK. This work has delivered significant cost reductions to date across the asylum portfolio.
AI summaryHotels used for asylum accommodation reduced from 213 (July 2024) to fewer than 160 currently, with 50% population decline in past year.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of hotels used for contingency asylum accommodation since July 2024. Answered: This government committed to end the use of asylum hotels this parliament and we are on track to deliver just that. We have brought the number of hotels down from 213 in July 2024 to fewer than 160 today, meaning almost 1 in 3 hotels open at the election are closed now. The Asylum Hotel population peaked courtesy of the actions from the previous Government. As we started to grip the crisis, this has led to the population in asylum hotels falling by 50% in the last year and by 71% since the peak under the previous government.
AI summaryAsylum accommodation costs increased from £283m (2016-17) to £4bn (2023-24), with sharp acceleration post-2020.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the expenditure on asylum accommodation contracts was between the 2016–17 and 2023–24 financial years. Answered: Expenditure on asylum accommodation contracts is not published separately within the Home Office’s accounts. However, asylum accommodation contract costs are included within the published asylum costs in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, set out below.
AI summaryGovernment introducing requirement for refugees to repay asylum support costs once financially able; impact assessments published.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of introducing a requirement for refugees to repay asylum support costs. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill introduced the principle that, where a person has received taxpayer-funded asylum support and later becomes financially able to contribute towards those costs, it is right and fair that they should do so. The Government considers the impacts of different policy options as part of policy development.
AI summaryUK and Ireland committed to expanding immigration data sharing as part of enhanced cooperation framework.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of foreign nationals or asylum seekers travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK. Answered: As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border. There is a high level of cooperation on migration and border security between the UK and Ireland to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge.
AI summaryUK and Ireland committed to expanding immigration data sharing following 2026 Summit agreement.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of foreign nationals or asylum seekers travelling to the Republic of Ireland from the UK. Answered: As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border. There is a high level of cooperation on migration and border security between the UK and Ireland to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge.
AI summaryHome Office confirms it doesn't record Global Talent visa data by video games job roles or intended employers.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the job roles successful applicants have qualified under when applying for a global talent visa in order to work in the video games industry. Answered: Applicants with skillsets utilised by the video games industry could potentially qualify under the criteria for multiple Global Talent endorsing bodies, including Tech Nation, Arts Council England and Pact. The visa does not tie individuals to a specific job role or employer. As a result, the Home Office do not record the number of Global Talent applicants granted who are intending to work in the video games industry.
AI summarySponsors must report non-attendance/failure to engage; permission can be cancelled if requirements no longer satisfied.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes when a Student Visa holder ceases to attend the course for which leave was granted. Answered: All applicants seeking permission under the Student route must meet the English language requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. Applicants studying at degree level or above must demonstrate English language ability at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, while those studying below degree level must demonstrate ability at level B1. Higher education providers with a track record of compliance may assess the English language ability of applicants studying at degree level or above using a method they consider appropriate.
AI summaryApplicants assessed on immigration history, course relevance, financial circumstances; credibility interviews used; sponsorships monitored for non-enrolment and completion rates.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment is made before granting a Student Visa of whether the applicant is a genuine student whose primary purpose is study. Answered: All applicants seeking permission under the Student route must meet the English language requirements set out in the Immigration Rules. Applicants studying at degree level or above must demonstrate English language ability at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, while those studying below degree level must demonstrate ability at level B1. Higher education providers with a track record of compliance may assess the English language ability of applicants studying at degree level or above using a method they consider appropriate.
AI summaryAll UK carriers integrated into eVisa verification system since Feb 2026; 24/7 Border Force support hub established for carriers unable to confirm travel permission.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 15 July (HL1735), what steps they are taking to ensure compliance with regulations UK261 and to protect passengers lawfully resident in the UK with a valid digital-only eVisa who are denied boarding by airlines on the basis they are not adequately documented, and prevented from claiming compensation under the regulations due to airlines not following Home Office guidance on checking permission to travel to... Answered: The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for enforcing UK261. Whether compensation is payable where a passenger is denied boarding depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Passengers who consider that an airline has not complied with its obligations should first raise the matter with the airline and may then pursue the available redress arrangements. Since 25 February 2026, all commercial aviation carriers flying directly to the UK have been integrated into the interactive Advance Passenger Information system and use it to verify passengers’ permission to travel to the UK.
AI summaryVisa brakes on Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan will be reviewed in 18 months based on visa-linked asylum claim risk reduction.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the latest visa and asylum statistics relating to (1) Cameroon, (2) Afghanistan, (3) Myanmar, and (4) Sudan. Answered: The latest public immigration statistics show that visa applications and asylum claims for the affected routes and nationalities in Q2 2026 have on average fallen by over 90% and 70%, respectively, compared to Q4 2025. The visa brake for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan will be reviewed by the Home Office after 18 months after imposition. This principally involves an assessment of the risk of future visa-linked asylum claims. It does not mean the visa brake will necessarily be lifted.
AI summaryVisa brake reviewed after 18 months; lifted only if visa-linked asylum claim risks sufficiently reduced.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government when the next review of the visa brake for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan is scheduled to take place; and what criteria and evidence will be used when undertaking it. Answered: The latest public immigration statistics show that visa applications and asylum claims for the affected routes and nationalities in Q2 2026 have on average fallen by over 90% and 70%, respectively, compared to Q4 2025. The visa brake for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan will be reviewed by the Home Office after 18 months after imposition. This principally involves an assessment of the risk of future visa-linked asylum claims. It does not mean the visa brake will necessarily be lifted.
AI summaryDNA samples taken only from those prosecuted under Section 24, not routine for all boat arrivals.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether DNA samples are being obtained from those who commit an offence under the Immigration Act 1971 when entering the United Kingdom by boat without a visa or valid entry clearance. Answered: Individuals entering the United Kingdom without a visa or valid entry clearance may be charged with an offence of entering the UK without a visa or valid entry clearance under Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971. Section 3(10)(a) refers only to a relevant person in respect of the other points covered in Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 and is not, in itself, an offence.
AI summaryUK closed Investor Visa in 2022; remaining cases process through FCA-regulated institutions with enhanced due diligence and Home Office security checks.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what anti-money laundering due diligence protocols are utilised when evaluating high-net-worth business investment visa applications. Answered: The UK closed its Investor Visa to new applications in February 2022 due to the illicit finance risks and poor economic value. At present, the UK does not have an investor visa that is open to new applications and applications for extensions of existing leave closed on 17 February 2026. We continue to process applications for indefinite leave to remain for those on existing leave and this will continue until 17 th February 2028. The Immigration Rules require that funds be held in FCA regulated financial institutions with funds subject to those companies ongoing due diligence obligations.
AI summaryOutlines operational compliance checks: sponsor reporting, on-site visits, salary/employment verification, and previous compliance review in applications.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what operational checks her Department undertakes to satisfy itself that visa holders remain compliant with the conditions attached to their leave throughout the duration of that leave. Answered: It is a core duty of Sponsor Licence holders to report any material change of circumstances relating to their sponsored workers / students. If these denote that a visa holder has not been compliant with their visa conditions their status will be reviewed and where appropriate cancelled.
AI summaryHome Office considers whether breach was within person's control and exceptional circumstances like serious illness when deciding to cancel leave.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors are taken into account when deciding whether to curtail leave following a breach of visa conditions. Answered: When a visa holder is found to have breached the conditions attached to their leave, the Home Office has the power to cancel the person’s permission to enter or stay in the UK, under the Immigration Rules. The ground on which the person’s permission is cancelled will be dependent on the condition breached. Decisions on whether to cancel a person’s permission to enter or stay are made on an individual basis, after careful consideration of all the relevant facts and circumstances of the case.
AI summaryHome Office conducts routine compliance checks on care worker visas but no targeted sector operations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department conducts targeted compliance operations in sectors with large numbers of Health and Care Worker Visa holders. Answered: The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa. If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence. If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.
AI summaryHome Office conducts routine employment checks on Health and Care Worker Visa holders; breach responses include sponsor licence revocation and leave cancellation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Health and Care Worker Visas holders do not breach their visa conditions after leaving sponsored employment. Answered: The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa. If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence. If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.
AI summaryHealth and Care Worker Visa holders whose employment ceases are referred for leave cancellation; sponsor licenses can be revoked for non-compliance.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is taken by her Department when a Health and Care Worker Visa holder ceases employment with their sponsoring employer. Answered: The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa. If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence. If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.
AI summaryOutlines routine employment checks during visa tenure, renewal assessment, and enforcement actions including sponsor licence revocation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what processes are in place to verify that holders of Health and Care Worker Visas continue to work in the occupation for which their visas were granted. Answered: The employment and remuneration of those on Health and Care worker visas is routinely checked throughout their visa journey and an assessment is also made when they come to renew their visa. If we identify that a worker is not employed or receiving the correct remuneration, or there are any other compliance concerns, we will consider the appropriate action to take. This may include the revocation of the sponsor’s licence. If a Sponsor notifies us that a worker has ceased employment, they will be referred for the consideration of the cancellation of their leave.
AI summaryReligious Workers must perform religious duties; Charity Workers must undertake unpaid voluntary fieldwork. Both require charitable status.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether additional compliance measures apply to the Religious Worker and Charity Worker routes compared with other temporary work routes. Answered: Each Sponsor’s allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship is subject to an ‘eligible role’ assessment, which includes a consideration of the need and credibility of a particular role against the organisation’s profile. Genuineness checks are also undertaken as part of the worker’s application for permission as per the Immigration Rules which take into account the intentions and ability of an individual to undertake the role and form part of ongoing compliance assessments post-decision.
AI summaryGovernment improved asylum site evaluation using actual costs from Wethersfield; MOD Bicester decision pending.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the value for money of the proposed use of Site A at MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation; and what alternative options were considered as part of that assessment. Answered: No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation. All large sites used for asylum accommodation are part of the Asylum Accommodation Programme which is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) and, as such are required to publish Accounting Officer Advice summaries on Gov.UK, with the most recent having been published in November 2025. We have improved our understanding of project costings by referencing actuals from previous sites such as Wethersfield, enabling more accurate budgeting and financial planning.
AI summaryHome Office will apply lessons from existing sites to future asylum accommodation decisions with strengthened local engagement.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what lessons from the operation of existing large asylum accommodation sites have been applied to the assessment of proposals for the use of Site A at MoD Bicester. Answered: No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation. The Home Office keeps the asylum estate under regular review, including learning from previous proposals and existing accommodation sites, to ensure any future accommodation is suitable. We will draw on lessons learned from previous assessment work and our other more recently successful large site stand ups to ensure a more robust, transparent, and informed approach.
AI summaryGovernment restricted medium-skilled workers from bringing dependants and introduced language requirements for those permitted. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of family migration on levels of net migration beyond the original principal applicant. Answered: The Government's Immigration White Paper, published last year, highlighted the growth in work visas in recent years, particularly in medium-skilled roles, and the associated growth in dependent visas. That is why the Government acted to restrict workers sponsored in medium-skilled roles from bringing dependants and introduced new language requirements for dependants. Those work and study visa holders who are able to bring dependants can only sponsor their partners/spouses and dependent children under age 18, not wider family members.
AI summaryGovernment restricted medium-skilled workers' dependent sponsorship and introduced language requirements for dependants to address chain migration concerns.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Family and Dependent Visa arrangements on incentives for chain migration. Answered: The Government's Immigration White Paper, published last year, highlighted the growth in work visas in recent years, particularly in medium-skilled roles, and the associated growth in dependent visas. That is why the Government acted to restrict workers sponsored in medium-skilled roles from bringing dependants and introduced new language requirements for dependants. Those work and study visa holders who are able to bring dependants can only sponsor their partners/spouses and dependent children under age 18, not wider family members.
AI summaryGovernment clarifies it selectively prosecutes boat arrivals only for cases with aggravating factors, per parliamentary undertakings.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government on what basis people are not charged under section 3(10)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 when entering the United Kingdom by boat without a visa or valid entry clearance. Answered: Individuals entering the United Kingdom without a visa or valid entry clearance may be charged with an offence of entering the UK without a visa or valid entry clearance under Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971. Section 3(10)(a) refers only to a relevant person in respect of the other points covered in Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 and is not, in itself, an offence.
AI summaryGovernment confirms selective prosecution approach for visa-less boat arrivals rather than blanket enforcement.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government on what basis a person might be exempt from any requirements under section 3(10)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 when entering the United Kingdom by boat without a visa or valid entry clearance. Answered: Individuals entering the United Kingdom without a visa or valid entry clearance may be charged with an offence of entering the UK without a visa or valid entry clearance under Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971. Section 3(10)(a) refers only to a relevant person in respect of the other points covered in Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 and is not, in itself, an offence.
AI summaryConsultation on earned settlement model closed Feb 2026 with 200k+ responses; final model pending Home Secretary decision. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government when the Home Secretary intends to bring forward the changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain announced in Restoring Order and Control in November 2025. Answered: The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We received over 200,000 responses from the public and organisations are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model which will be decided by the Home Secretary. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.
AI summaryStudents can complete required work placements even without general work rights; placements must be integral to course.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government whether foreign students who are studying a course which requires them to complete a work placement as a condition of their programme, but confers no right to work, are able to fulfil that obligation. Answered: As set out in paragraph ST26.2. of Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules, Students are permitted to undertake work related to a work placement, which is assessed as an integral part of the course of study which they are following. Limitations apply to the proportion of the total length of course which can be made up by the work placement and to the type of student sponsor permitted to offer courses below degree level which contain work placements.
AI summaryGovernment confirms artists on Standard Visitor permitted paid engagement route are exempt from new right to work checks requiring no conflict waiver.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there is an operational conflict between their new right to work checks and the permitted paid engagement route for artists; and what plans they have to consult the live entertainment sector on any such conflict. Answered: The changes to the Right to Work Scheme from 1 October extend checks beyond traditional employment to specified non-standard working arrangements. They do not alter the Immigration Rules governing visitors. Professional artists, entertainers and musicians, including members of bands and theatre troupes, who enter the UK without a visa and undertake activities permitted under the Standard Visitor route, including a permitted paid engagement where the relevant requirements are met will not be subject to a right to work check solely by virtue of those activities.
AI summaryProfessional artists entering as visitors under Standard Visitor route are exempt from new right to work checks; no waiver needed.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government whether their new right to work checks will apply to (1) artists, (2) bands, and (3) theatre troupes, undertaking short UK tours without visas; and, if so, what plans they have to waive the checks for these groups. Answered: The changes to the Right to Work Scheme from 1 October extend checks beyond traditional employment to specified non-standard working arrangements. They do not alter the Immigration Rules governing visitors. Professional artists, entertainers and musicians, including members of bands and theatre troupes, who enter the UK without a visa and undertake activities permitted under the Standard Visitor route, including a permitted paid engagement where the relevant requirements are met will not be subject to a right to work check solely by virtue of those activities.
AI summaryCampsfield and Haslar expansion will provide 1,000 combined beds; value assessed via competitive procurement on efficiency and innovation criteria.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to publish the assessment on which her Department based it's statement with regards to the expansion of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre that the investment will deliver "value for money for the taxpayer". Answered: The Government is strengthening immigration enforcement and increasing the removal of those with no right to remain in the UK. We will always seek to remove foreign criminals and other immigration offenders at the earliest possible opportunity and investment in Campsfield and Haslar immigration removal centres (IRCs) is essential to provide the capacity and resilience needed to support this work. Campsfield and Haslar IRCs will accommodate adult men, including time-served foreign national offenders and other immigration offenders, while arrangements are made for their removal from the UK.
AI summaryGovernment achieved £1bn asylum spending cuts since 2023-24; targets further £1bn by 2028-29 via hotel phase-out and other initiatives.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential fiscal yield from asylum accommodation cost reductions. Answered: The Government is delivering a more affordable and sustainable asylum system. It has already reduced asylum spending by around £1 billion since 2023-24. It plans to deliver a further £1 billion of savings by 2028-29. These savings are expected to arise from a number of initiatives, including the commitment to end the use of asylum hotels during this Parliament.
AI summaryGovernment considering MAC report recommendations alongside Immigration Bill reforms to family migration financial requirements.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has an update on the timetable for responding to the report by the Migration Advisory Committee entitled 'Family visa financial requirements review', published in June 2025. Answered: There is no set date for when we will publish a response to the Migration Advisory Committee’s report. The recommendations are being considered in detail alongside the work being carried out as a result of the Immigration White Paper which made clear that family migration would be reformed to tackle the overly complex family immigration arrangements, including the financial requirements.
AI summaryUK paid France €62.7m-€206m annually 2021-2026; new deal increases personnel 53% through 2028/29.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been paid to the French government for help in dealing with small boat crossings in each of the last five years. Answered: The UK and France maintain a longstanding relationship on tackling illegal migration at our shared border. Joint work with France has prevented more than 48,000 crossing attempts since the last general election. The UK and France have reached agreement on a deal covering the financial years 2026/27 to 2028/29 ( New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings - GOV.UK ) which aims to increase the number of personnel deployed by 53% and provide a significant increase in technological and intelligence resources to strengthen operations.
AI summaryUK-France partnership shows 61% crossing prevention rate April-August 2026, with performance-based funding structure.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of agreements with France in reducing small boat crossings. Answered: The Government keeps the effectiveness of its cooperation with France under constant review. The UK-France Border Security Partnership agreed in April 2026 significantly increases law enforcement activity, intelligence sharing and maritime disruption to tackle organised immigration crime. Joint action is already delivering results, with French law enforcement having prevented more than 48,000 attempted crossings since the election. French authorities report that 61% of crossing events were prevented between 27 April and 2 August, an increase of 5% on the same period last year.
AI summaryUK-France Returns Treaty has transferred 1,400+ individuals; 40% reduction in small boat arrivals this year.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to seek additional agreements with European countries on the return of people who enter the United Kingdom illegally. Answered: Over 80,000 individuals with no right to remain in the UK, including those working illegally and foreign criminals, have been returned or removed from the UK since the 2024 election. This includes 13,129 enforced returns and 12,446 voluntary returns to European countries. Illegal migration is a shared European challenge that requires a coordinated response. The UK’s cooperation with France has resulted in an over 40% reduction in small boat arrivals this year, and the transfer of over 1400 individuals under our UK-France Returns Treaty.
AI summaryUK-France Returns Treaty has transferred 1,400+ individuals; demonstrates bilateral rather than multilateral safe country agreement approach.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to seek agreements with additional safe countries for the return of people who arrive in the United Kingdom by small boat. Answered: Over 80,000 individuals with no right to remain in the UK, including those working illegally and foreign criminals, have been returned or removed from the UK since the 2024 election. This includes 13,129 enforced returns and 12,446 voluntary returns to European countries. Illegal migration is a shared European challenge that requires a coordinated response. The UK’s cooperation with France has resulted in an over 40% reduction in small boat arrivals this year, and the transfer of over 1400 individuals under our UK-France Returns Treaty.
AI summaryGovernment defines small boats as vessels used for irregular Channel crossings, primarily RHIBs, dinghies, and kayaks.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, within the context of irregular immigration, how she defines what a small boat is. Answered: The definition of a small boat can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days#about-the-data(opens in a new tab) . This reads as follows: Definition of a small boat A ‘small boat’ is one of a number of vessels used by individuals who cross the English Channel, with the aim of gaining entry to the UK without a visa or permission to enter – either directly by landing in the UK or having been intercepted at sea by the authorities and brought ashore.
AI summaryETA enforcement active since 25 Feb 2026; criminal arrival offence provision remains under review, not yet enacted.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2026 to WPQ 26501, when legislative provision will be enacted making it an offence to arrive in the UK without Electronic Travel Authorisation. Answered: We have now begun enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement. Since 25 February 2026 eligible visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot legally travel to the UK. Further enforcement measures, including commencement of the offence of arriving in the UK without an ETA remain under review.
AI summaryMet Office crossing condition forecasts available from Sept 2019; 2026 shows fewer arrivals per red day despite favorable conditions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many “Red” days there were each month between January 2018 and April 2021. Answered: The Met Office provides the Home Office with a daily assessment of the likelihood of at least one small boat crossing attempt which translates into Red, Amber and Green days. This assessment takes multiple factors into account - further detail on the methodology can be found in the previous Home Office publication at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/small-boat-arrivals-and-the-impact-of-crossing-conditions/small-boat-arrivals-and-the-impact-of-crossing-conditions. The Home Office began receiving the Met Office assessment from September 2019, as such some of the data requested is unavailable.
AI summaryRed days exceeded 2022 record but arrivals per red day fell 38% year-on-year, signaling intervention effectiveness.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many “Red” days there have been each month since April 2025. Answered: The Met Office provides the Home Office with a daily assessment of the likelihood of at least one small boat crossing attempt which translates into Red, Amber and Green days. This assessment takes multiple factors into account - further detail on the methodology can be found in the previous Home Office publication at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/small-boat-arrivals-and-the-impact-of-crossing-conditions/small-boat-arrivals-and-the-impact-of-crossing-conditions. The Home Office began receiving the Met Office assessment from September 2019, as such some of the data requested is unavailable.
AI summaryHome Office coordinates with regional partnerships to place displaced healthcare workers with ethical sponsors; engaging DHSC on post-revocation support.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her department is taking to improve communication and cooperation with regional support groups for displaced overseas healthcare workers, such as the South East ASC IR partnership. Answered: Home Office officials already regularly engage with stakeholders supporting displaced sponsored care workers. This includes the Regional Partnerships, funded by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), in England and extends to officials in Devolved Governments. UKVI use this network to provide an enhanced service offer to displaced workers matched to pre-assessed ethical care providers who wish to sponsor them.
AI summaryCollege of Policing guidance on publishing suspect ethnicity/nationality published February 2026; forces must monitor community impacts and public confidence.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the College of Policing's August 2025 guidance that police forces should publish the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in high profile crimes on (a) media coverage of crimes and (b) social media responses to crimes. Answered: The College of Policing published interim guidance on the disclosure of suspects ethnicity and/or nationality on 23 February 2026. The guidance aims to support transparent and consistent recording practices across policing, helping to improve the quality of data available and public understanding of how such information is collected and used. You can find a link to the guidance here: Arrests, charges and judicial outcomes | College of Policing.
AI summaryHome Office developing KPI framework for Large Sites; ceased using Napier Barracks in 2025; no current penalties for hotels.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the potential financial impact of applying the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts service credit regime to (a) hotels, (b) MDP Wethersfield and (c) Napier Barracks. Answered: There is currently no dedicated KPI regime in operation for hotels or the Wethersfield Large Site and performance-related penalties are not being applied. The Home Office ceased to use Napier Barracks in 2025. While hotels do not form part of core contractual KPI regimes, Home Office assurance teams review performance and carry out inspections at properties to ensure appropriate standards are being met. The Department keeps supplier performance under regular review and applies contractual remedies in accordance with the terms of the relevant contracts.
AI summaryUKVI investigates sponsor licence holders linked to modern slavery victims and applies maximum sanctions before formal determinations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the number of employers holding Skilled Worker sponsor licences that have subsequently been linked to cases in which sponsored workers were recognised as victims of modern slavery. Answered: We do not publish data on the number of individuals across individual Immigration routes who have been recognised as victims of modern slavery. An established process exists whereby UKVI are notified of such individuals and promptly review and respond to all concerns identified which includes investigating the Sponsor Licence Holder and applying the maximum sanctions available to us in these cases. Our current safeguarding and harm reduction processes often result in compliance action being resolved against the Sponsor Licence Holder prior to conclusive grounds decisions being made.
AI summaryPrior lawful UK residence will count toward 10-year settlement qualifying period under new earned settlement model.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of allowing time already spent lawfully living and working in the UK to count towards eligibility for indefinite leave to remain where settlement requirements are subsequently changed. Answered: The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The new model will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years. Although not all visa routes lead directly to settlement, under the proposed model, time already spent lawfully in the UK by people in a qualifying route will count towards their qualifying period once the final model is introduced.
AI summaryGovernment conducted impact assessment on ETA fee increase effective April 2026, available online.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the impact of increasing the price of Electronic Travel Authorisations in 2025 on the UK economy. Answered: Where changes to fee legislation are made, Impact Assessments are produced which identify potential impacts resulting from the changes to those fees. The latest assessment, published alongside changes which came into effect in April 2026 and which included the fee for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, is available here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2026/44/pdfs/ukia_20260044_en.pdf
AI summaryGovernment confirms revocation is last resort for serious breaches; establishes dedicated visa support pathway for workers displaced by sponsor licence revocation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of sponsor licence revocations on the sustainability of residential care providers in areas experiencing workforce shortages; and what consideration she has given to the proportionality of revocation decisions where compliance breaches are administrative in nature. Answered: The Government remains extremely concerned about levels of worker exploitation in the adult social care sector and UKVI continue to investigate all allegations of sponsor non-compliance. Revocation is generally a last resort, for example where a sponsor breaches their mandatory duty to pay the worker in accordance with the Immigration Rules and/or national minimum wage regulations. The Home Office continues to work very closely with the 15 Regional Partnerships funded by the Department for Health and Social Care, together with officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
AI summaryData quality issues from CID-to-Atlas system transition prevented age/sex breakdowns since 2021; reinstatement pending quality review.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department has stopped publishing the age of those granted British citizenship since 2021. Answered: Due to data quality issues arising from the transition from the Home Office’s Case Information Database (CID) to the newer Atlas caseworking system, data from 2021 onwards cannot currently be provided at the same level of detail as for earlier years. This includes breakdowns by age and sex. The Home Office continues to review the quality of the underlying administrative data, with a view to reinstating age and sex breakdowns when the data are of sufficient quality to support their publication. More information is available in the Notes and Definitions page of the Citizenship detailed tables.
AI summary46% of Sudanese student visa holders claimed asylum in year-ending September 2025, showing systemic pattern.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of Sudanese nationals who claim asylum following a grant of entry clearance as a student go on to claim asylum support. Answered: A high proportion of Sudanese nationals following a grant of entry clearance as a student go on to claim asylum. In Year-Ending September 2025, asylum claims linked to a student visa as a proportion of all student visa applications were 46% for Sudanese nationals. Currently, asylum seekers in the UK receive a package of support which has become a financial burden on the taxpayer, with annual costs of £4 billion across accommodation and support last year.
AI summaryHome Office reducing North West procurement as targets met, focusing expansion on regions with spare capacity under dispersal model.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to question 22623 of 4 September 2026 on Asylum: North West, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of accommodation providers having concentrated procurement activity in the North West on the availability of asylum accommodation in that region. Answered: The full dispersal model facilitates a more equitable and fairer distribution of asylum accommodation nationally, ensuring that all local authorities play a part in supporting the Home Office meet its legal obligations to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their applications are being considered. Many of the local authorities in the Northwest were previous voluntary dispersal areas, prior to the introduction of Full Dispersal in 2022.
AI summaryFull Dispersal aims equitable distribution; NW targets met so procurement now focuses elsewhere with capacity.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she considers the current number of asylum seekers supported in the North West to constitute a proportionate share of the national asylum accommodation burden. Answered: The full dispersal model facilitates a more equitable and fairer distribution of asylum accommodation nationally, ensuring that all local authorities play a part in supporting the Home Office meet its legal obligations to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their applications are being considered. Many of the local authorities in the Northwest were previous voluntary dispersal areas, prior to the introduction of Full Dispersal in 2022.
AI summaryAsylum accommodation programme received red rating for delivery concerns in January 2026, improved to amber by June after corrective actions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the detailed findings of the Programme Assurance Review for the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme. Answered: The January 2026 Project Assurance Review (PAR) of the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme identified concerns relating to the proposed delivery model, programme complexity, commercial and operational capacity, and governance arrangements. The review concluded that the proposed approach would be difficult to deliver in its original form and issued the programme a red delivery confidence assessment (DCA).
AI summaryGovernment sets £1,200 per bedspace rate for 2026/27 with quarterly uplifts; committed to ending hotel use.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial support and infrastructure funding her Department is providing to local authorities in the East Midlands to manage the ongoing transition out of hotel use for asylum seekers. Answered: The Home Office provides financial support to local authorities, including those in the East Midlands, through the Asylum Dispersal Grant. This funding helps local authorities meet costs associated with accommodating and supporting asylum seekers and responding to local service pressures arising from asylum accommodation. Funding arrangements for local authorities are subject to continuous review.
AI summaryHome Office providing NAAB-prioritized age assessments and bespoke social worker training to increase Bedford's assessment capacity. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact on Bedford Borough Council of requirements to provide accommodation and safeguarding support to individuals at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre who are not deemed “significantly over 18”. Answered: Age assessment is a difficult area of work, with no single assessment technique, or combination of techniques, able to determine age with precision. Where an individual claims to be a child without any credible and clear documentary evidence of age, and where there is reason to doubt their claimed age, immigration officers are required to make an initial age decision to determine whether the individual should be treated as a child or an adult.
AI summaryUK PM offered support to Spain's PM following Ceuta incident; no evidence of new UK migration route created.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions the Government has had with the Government of Spain on recent irregular migration into Ceuta. Answered: The Government keeps all migration risks under constant review. While the operation of the Schengen Area is a matter for the EU and Schengen member countries, the Government continues to monitor the situation closely. We note Spain’s cooperation with Morocco to bring the situation swiftly under control; that over 97% of those who crossed into Ceuta have now returned to Morocco; and that permanent border controls remain in place between Ceuta and mainland Spain. Based on the information currently available, there is no evidence that the events in Ceuta have created a new route to the UK.
AI summaryBorder Security Command seized 1,100+ boats/engines since 2024; coordinated law enforcement disrupting supply chains.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the role of small engine supplies on the number of small boat crossings in the English Channel. Answered: The creation of the Border Security Command (BSC) in 2024 brought together the UK's response to organised immigration crime, strengthening coordination across law enforcement, intelligence and international partners to tackle the criminal networks facilitating illegal migration. Since 2024, the National Crime Agency working with international partners have disrupted the supply chains used by organised immigration crime groups.
AI summaryUK-France returns agreement extended to Autumn; over 1,400 people returned so far; government monitoring impact for further developments.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to seek an expansion of the UK–France returns agreement to increase the number of small boat arrivals returned to France. Answered: The UK-France agreement seeks to undermine the organised crime group business model by returning individuals who arrive in the UK via small boats. This demonstrates both to smuggling gangs and to migrants that the small boats route is not a viable option for those seeking to enter the UK, with more than 1400 people returned through the UK-France agreement so far. The Government continues to monitor implementation closely and assess the agreement's impact as part of our wider strategy to deter dangerous Channel crossings and disrupt organised immigration crime.
AI summary80,000+ returns achieved July 2024-July 2026; government committed to increasing removal levels.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has set a target for the proportion of people arriving by small boat who are liable for removal and subsequently removed from the United Kingdom. Answered: Returns of those with no right to be in the UK have reached the highest levels in nearly a decade, with over 80,000 returns from July 2024 to July 2026. As you would expect, we continuously monitor performance across all areas of the Home Office, including our activity to tackle illegal migration. We are continuously striving for levels of returns to increase, while ensuring that we always treat everyone we encounter with dignity and respect.
AI summaryUK-France returns agreement extended to Autumn; over 1400 people returned so far under the scheme.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the deterrent effect of returning small boat arrivals to France under the UK–France returns agreement. Answered: The UK-France agreement seeks to undermine the organised crime group business model by returning individuals who arrive in the UK via small boats. This demonstrates both to smuggling gangs and to migrants that the small boats route is not a viable option for those seeking to enter the UK, with more than 1400 people returned through the UK-France agreement so far. The Government continues to monitor implementation closely and assess the agreement's impact as part of our wider strategy to deter dangerous Channel crossings and disrupt organised immigration crime.
AI summaryReturns reached highest levels in nearly a decade with 80,000+ from July 2024-2026.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of arrangements for returning people who arrive in the United Kingdom by small boat. Answered: Returns of those with no right to be in the UK have reached the highest levels in nearly a decade, with over 80,000 returns from July 2024 to July 2026. As you would expect, we continuously monitor performance across all areas of the Home Office, including our activity to tackle illegal migration. We are continuously striving for levels of returns to increase, while ensuring that we always treat everyone we encounter with dignity and respect.
AI summary3,896 disruptions of organised immigration crime in Year End June 2026, 48% increase; new endangerment offence deployed with ten pilot convictions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of arrangements for identifying the operators of vessels used for small boat crossings. Answered: The Border Security Command, law enforcement and operational partners work to identify and disrupt those involved in facilitating small boat crossings, including individuals suspected of operating vessels used for these crossings. Supported by stronger legal powers, increased specialist capability, tighter operational coordination and closer international cooperation, we are placing increasing pressure on the criminal networks that facilitate illegal migration and seek to profit from it.
AI summarySmall boat arrivals down 40% year-to-date with lowest summer numbers since 2020; no specific 2026 target disclosed.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has set a target for reducing small boat arrivals during the remainder of 2026. Answered: The Government is committed to reducing dangerous small boat crossings and tackling the criminal gangs that facilitate them. The Border Security Command leads the cross-system response to organised immigration crime and reduce small boat arrivals. We have recently published the Border Security Command annual report which sets out how we are tackling small boat crossings. The number of people arriving on small boats over the summer are at their lowest level since 2020 and year to date are down by over 40%.
AI summarySmall boat crossings down 40% this year with 48,000 crossing attempts prevented and 1,100 boats seized.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the arrival of 752 people by small boat on 29 July 2026 on border security. Answered: The Government has been clear that small boat crossings are dangerous, unnecessary, and unacceptable. Organised crime groups (OCGs) continue to put lives at risk by launching dangerously overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels. We continually assess changes in methods used by OCGs who facilitate these crossings including the use of larger, unsuitable vessels and the increasing number of people carried on individual boats. Overcrowding and poor construction can make vessels unstable and vulnerable to failure, placing both those on board and those responding to incidents at serious risk.
AI summaryGovernment assesses OCGs using larger vessels with more people per boat; reports 40% crossing reduction this year.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of recent trends in the number of people carried aboard individual small boats crossing the English Channel. Answered: The Government has been clear that small boat crossings are dangerous, unnecessary, and unacceptable. Organised crime groups (OCGs) continue to put lives at risk by launching dangerously overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels. We continually assess changes in methods used by OCGs who facilitate these crossings including the use of larger, unsuitable vessels and the increasing number of people carried on individual boats. Overcrowding and poor construction can make vessels unstable and vulnerable to failure, placing both those on board and those responding to incidents at serious risk.
AI summaryApril 2026 three-year UK-France deal expands enforcement with drone surveillance, maritime interception tactics, and intelligence sharing to disrupt smuggling networks.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with her French counterpart to tackle encampments of people whose intention is to cross the channel to gain access to the UK illegally. Answered: The Home Secretary works closely with the French Minister of the Interior to tackle illegal migration and the organised criminal gangs that facilitate it. The three-year funding deal, signed by the Home Secretary and her French counterpart in April, is preventing dangerous small boat crossings, saving lives and tackling organised immigration crime. This deal significantly has significantly boosted law enforcement boots on the ground, who are now supported by enhanced drone surveillance, helicopters and camera systems.
AI summarySentencing Act 2026 expanded FNO deportation scope; Early Removal Scheme removal of minimum custody period effective September 2026.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders subject to active deportation orders are residing in community accommodation; and what timeline her Department has established to enforce their removal from the United Kingdom. Answered: The information you have requested on the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) living in the community subject to a deportation order and the timescales to remove them is not available from published information. Latest published information shows that at the end of Q2 2026 there were 21,294 FNOs living in the community and subject to deportation. We will work tirelessly to clear legal barriers, secure documentation or overcome other impediments to a return. The latest published information can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK .
AI summaryERS expanded to remove 30% minimum sentence requirement; 21,294 FNOs in community; 11,733 returned since July 2024.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign criminals subject to deportation orders were released on bail into community accommodation in 2026; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of early release mechanisms in the Sentencing Act on foreign national offender management. Answered: The information you have requested on the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) living in the community subject to a deportation order and the timescales to remove them is not available from published information. Latest published information shows that at the end of Q2 2026 there were 21,294 FNOs living in the community and subject to deportation. We will work tirelessly to clear legal barriers, secure documentation or overcome other impediments to a return. The latest published information can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK .
AI summaryAsylum Support Accommodation Programme redefines scope to expand Change Management under new Business Transformation Delivery Model emphasizing HO control and transparency.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Asylum Support Accommodation Programme, what the change in project definition was following the endorsement of the revised Business Transformation Delivery Model. Answered: The updated Business Transformation Delivery Model proposed a change in the way contracts will work in the future, improving HO control and transparency and securing better value for money. This model will require additional internal work to support improved contract and supplier management capabilities. As such the ASAP definition includes an expansion to the Change Management elements of the Programme.
AI summaryAsylum Transformation Programme benefits forecast tripled by including appeals projects and faster resolution reducing accommodation costs.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Asylum Transformation Programme, for what reason the benefits increased from £2.75 billion to £13.15 billion at 25/26-Q4. Answered: As noted in the accompanying narrative to the table, the increase from £2.748 billion to £13.153 billion at 2025/26 Q4 was primarily driven by the expansion of programme scope to include Appeals-related projects, which introduced a significant additional forecast benefit The revised benefits forecast also reflected updated modelling of reductions in asylum support and accommodation costs arising from faster appeals resolution and increased use of dispersal accommodation in place of hotels. Together, these factors increased ATP's projected lifetime benefits.
AI summaryAsylum accommodation programme re-baselining delayed pending completion of internal Home Office and Treasury assurance process.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Asylum Support Accommodation Programme, by when will she have competed the re-planning and re-baselining across the programme. Answered: The Asylum Support Accommodation Programme received an improved Amber rating at the June NISTA assurance review, allowing the FACT Outline Business Case to proceed through internal HO and HMT assurance. Once assurance is fully complete the Programme will be formally re-baselined. Work continues to refine requirements in line with HO Strategy, whilst this is underway the plan remains in live development.
AI summaryGovernment produced new cross-government NRPF guidance for local authorities and monitors impacts through NRPF Connect service.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment has been made of whether changes to immigration policy could reduce the financial burden on local authorities arising from support provided to households with no recourse to public funds. Answered: The Government keeps all immigration policies, including the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) policy, under review and works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and local authorities to understand the impacts on local services and public finances. Through regular engagement with local government, including use of the NRPF Connect service and the Home Office’s NRPF Forum, we monitor trends in support provided to households with NRPF and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and consistency.
AI summaryUK distinguishes 'irregular arrivals' from illegal entry in formal Home Office guidance with specific definitions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what terminology the Government uses to describe large-scale unauthorised crossings of international borders by migrants. Answered: There is no single term that applies to all large-scale cross-border movements of migrants. Terminology used by governments and international organisations may vary depending on the legal and operational context. Within the UK immigration system, Home Office guidance distinguishes between 'irregular arrivals' and individuals who have entered the UK illegally by breaching immigration law or evading immigration control.
AI summaryGovernment rejects 'invasion' terminology, uses 'irregular arrivals'; reports 80k removals and reduced Channel crossings.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government uses the term invasion to describe large-scale unauthorised crossings of international borders by migrants. Answered: There is no single term that applies to all large-scale cross-border movements of migrants. Terminology used by governments and international organisations may vary depending on the legal and operational context. Within the UK immigration system, Home Office guidance distinguishes between 'irregular arrivals' and individuals who have entered the UK illegally by breaching immigration law or evading immigration control.
AI summaryFacial age estimation undergoing testing in 2026 with planned 2027 rollout; publication of assessment outcomes not yet decided.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to question 10230 answered on 16 June 2026, whether the a) equalities impacts assessments and b) outcomes resulting from the National Physical Laboratory review of Home Office Facial Age Estimation testing will be published upon completion. Answered: The policy on facial age estimation is still being developed, and the Home Office is currently undertaking rigorous testing and trialling of the technology throughout 2026. Subject to the results of the testing and trials, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. In line with the public sector equality duty, equalities impacts are being fully considered. No decisions have been made regarding publication of documents.
AI summaryHaslar IRC redevelopment on track for 2027 opening; Crown planning application submitted May 2026. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on completing the construction of the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in late 2026. Answered: The Home Office is working at pace to open the redeveloped Haslar immigration removal centre (IRC) in 2027. The Home Office is developing a new IRC at the site of the former Haslar IRC in Gosport, Hampshire. The Government is committed to maintaining a safe, secure and effective immigration detention estate that supports the removal of those with no right to remain in the United Kingdom. The redevelopment of Haslar is a key part of this work, providing additional detention capacity to strengthen enforcement activity and help deliver a more effective returns system.
AI summaryNSA convictions in Hong Kong trigger ETA refusal if 12+ months custodial, but visa applications considered separately.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether criminal convictions given to Hong Kongers in Hong Kong courts under the National Security Act can result in denied Electronic Travel Authorisation to the UK. Answered: An application for an ETA must be refused where the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial or suspended sentence of 12 months or more, or has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas unless more than 12 months have passed since the date of conviction. Applicants whose ETA is refused are still free to apply for a visit visa, which will allow for a more thorough consideration of their circumstances by a decision-maker.
AI summaryThailand introduced July 2026 fines for drug couriers; 60+ UK-bound offenders already caught, signaling enforcement escalation. The same answer was given to 3 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of previous Border Force public awareness campaigns in reducing the number of UK nationals recruited as drug couriers. Answered: The Border Force activity highlighted in the press release formed part of wider operational and safeguarding work to raise awareness of the risks of criminal exploitation by organised crime groups involved in drug smuggling. The activity was delivered using existing Border Force resources, staff and communication channels. Border Force undertakes internal reviews of operational activity to identify lessons learned and inform future safeguarding and prevention work. There are currently no plans to publish internal evaluations produced for operational learning purposes.
AI summaryBorder Force uses operational intelligence, detection trends, media reach, and officer feedback to assess campaign effectiveness; Thai authorities' new fine scheme caught 100+ couriers, 60+ UK-bound.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Border Force press release entitled Border Force: don't let drug smugglers steal your future, published on 17 July 2026, what metrics will be used to assess the effectiveness of the public awareness campaign. Answered: The Border Force activity highlighted in the press release formed part of wider operational and safeguarding work to raise awareness of the risks of criminal exploitation by organised crime groups involved in drug smuggling. The activity was delivered using existing Border Force resources, staff and communication channels. Border Force undertakes internal reviews of operational activity to identify lessons learned and inform future safeguarding and prevention work. There are currently no plans to publish internal evaluations produced for operational learning purposes.
AI summaryBorder Force lacks social media strategy for countering drug smuggling recruitment; Thai penalty scheme catching 60+ UK-bound couriers since July 2026.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Border Force press release entitled Border Force: don't let drug smugglers steal your future, published on 17 July 2026, whether discussions have taken place with social media companies on tackling the recruitment of UK nationals by organised criminal gangs advertising drug smuggling opportunities online. Answered: The Border Force activity highlighted in the press release formed part of wider operational and safeguarding work to raise awareness of the risks of criminal exploitation by organised crime groups involved in drug smuggling. The activity was delivered using existing Border Force resources, staff and communication channels. Border Force undertakes internal reviews of operational activity to identify lessons learned and inform future safeguarding and prevention work. There are currently no plans to publish internal evaluations produced for operational learning purposes.
AI summaryBorder Force lacks data on UK nationals arrested abroad for drug smuggling; Thai authorities introduced new enforcement scheme intercepting couriers bound for UK.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Border Force press release entitled Border Force: don't let drug smugglers steal your future, published on 17 July 2026, what data the Department holds on the number of UK nationals arrested overseas for attempting to smuggle cannabis into the UK in each of the last five years. Answered: The Border Force activity highlighted in the press release formed part of wider operational and safeguarding work to raise awareness of the risks of criminal exploitation by organised crime groups involved in drug smuggling. The activity was delivered using existing Border Force resources, staff and communication channels. Border Force undertakes internal reviews of operational activity to identify lessons learned and inform future safeguarding and prevention work. There are currently no plans to publish internal evaluations produced for operational learning purposes.
AI summaryBorder Force lacks UK national recruitment data; Thai authorities introduced new fines scheme catching 100+ couriers, 60+ UK-bound.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Border Force press release entitled Border Force: don't let drug smugglers steal your future, published on 17 July 2026, what data the Department holds on the number of UK nationals recruited by organised criminal gangs to smuggle controlled drugs into the UK in each of the last five years. Answered: The Border Force activity highlighted in the press release formed part of wider operational and safeguarding work to raise awareness of the risks of criminal exploitation by organised crime groups involved in drug smuggling. The activity was delivered using existing Border Force resources, staff and communication channels. Border Force undertakes internal reviews of operational activity to identify lessons learned and inform future safeguarding and prevention work. There are currently no plans to publish internal evaluations produced for operational learning purposes.
AI summary74 charter flights removed 3,057 people; Albania dominated; total cost £13.8m for Feb 2025-Jan 2026.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, updated on 24 July 2026, what was the breakdown by number of returnees of the 70 charter flights for returns between 1 Feb 2025 and 31 January 2026. Answered: Destination Date Total no. of Removals ALBANIA 06/02/2025 43 ALBANIA 11/02/2025 29 ALBANIA 19/02/2025 48 ALBANIA 27/02/2025 43 ALBANIA 05/03/2025 40 ALBANIA 13/03/2025 43 ALBANIA 20/03/2025 48 INDIA 25/03/2025 45 ALBANIA 27/03/2025 45 ROMANIA 29/03/2025 50 ALBANIA 02/04/2025 45 ALBANIA 10/04/2025 46 ALBANIA 17/04/2025 44 NIGERIA & GHANA 24/04/2025 43 ALBANIA 30/04/2025 35 ALBANIA 08/05/2025 47 ROMANIA 13/05/2025 29 ALBANIA 15/05/2025 38 ALBANIA 22/05/2025 49 PAKISTAN 28/05/2025 35 ALBANIA 05/06/2025 46 POLAND 10/06/2025 8 ALBANIA 11/06/2025 44 ALBANIA 17/06/2025 47 VIETNAM 19/06/2025 34...
AI summaryTotal cost of 74 charter flights for removals Feb 2025-Jan 2026 was £13.79 million.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, updated on 24 July 2026, what was the total cost to the public purse of the 70 charter flights for returns between 1 Feb 2025 and 31 January 2026. Answered: Destination Date Total no. of Removals ALBANIA 06/02/2025 43 ALBANIA 11/02/2025 29 ALBANIA 19/02/2025 48 ALBANIA 27/02/2025 43 ALBANIA 05/03/2025 40 ALBANIA 13/03/2025 43 ALBANIA 20/03/2025 48 INDIA 25/03/2025 45 ALBANIA 27/03/2025 45 ROMANIA 29/03/2025 50 ALBANIA 02/04/2025 45 ALBANIA 10/04/2025 46 ALBANIA 17/04/2025 44 NIGERIA & GHANA 24/04/2025 43 ALBANIA 30/04/2025 35 ALBANIA 08/05/2025 47 ROMANIA 13/05/2025 29 ALBANIA 15/05/2025 38 ALBANIA 22/05/2025 49 PAKISTAN 28/05/2025 35 ALBANIA 05/06/2025 46 POLAND 10/06/2025 8 ALBANIA 11/06/2025 44 ALBANIA 17/06/2025 47 VIETNAM 19/06/2025 34...
AI summary74 charter flights operated Feb 2025-Jan 2026: Albania dominated (42 flights), France (14), Romania (7), others minimal; cost £13.79m.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Returns from the UK between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2026, updated on 24 July 2026, what is the breakdown by destination country of the 70 charter flights for returns between 1 Feb 2025 and 31 January 2026. Answered: Destination Date Total no. of Removals ALBANIA 06/02/2025 43 ALBANIA 11/02/2025 29 ALBANIA 19/02/2025 48 ALBANIA 27/02/2025 43 ALBANIA 05/03/2025 40 ALBANIA 13/03/2025 43 ALBANIA 20/03/2025 48 INDIA 25/03/2025 45 ALBANIA 27/03/2025 45 ROMANIA 29/03/2025 50 ALBANIA 02/04/2025 45 ALBANIA 10/04/2025 46 ALBANIA 17/04/2025 44 NIGERIA & GHANA 24/04/2025 43 ALBANIA 30/04/2025 35 ALBANIA 08/05/2025 47 ROMANIA 13/05/2025 29 ALBANIA 15/05/2025 38 ALBANIA 22/05/2025 49 PAKISTAN 28/05/2025 35 ALBANIA 05/06/2025 46 POLAND 10/06/2025 8 ALBANIA 11/06/2025 44 ALBANIA 17/06/2025 47 VIETNAM 19/06/2025 34...
AI summaryGovernment confirms new sponsorship route will proceed regardless of illegal entry levels, with capped arrivals managed by Home Office.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the new community sponsorship scheme will commence before the number of immigrants entering the country illegally has been reduced to zero. Answered: As set out in the Restoring Order and Control statement, arrivals under the new named sponsorship route will be capped. The number of arrivals will be carefully managed to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees, and the Home Office will retain overall control on numbers. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all refugees will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK. Safe and legal routes offer an alternative to dangerous journeys for refugees genuinely fleeing war and persecution.
AI summarySponsorship route will be capped with numbers managed by Home Office; further details on eligibility to follow.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a cap on the number of people who can apply under the new community sponsorship scheme announced in June 2026. Answered: As set out in the Restoring Order and Control statement, arrivals under the new named sponsorship route will be capped. The number of arrivals will be carefully managed to align with the UK’s capacity to support refugees, and the Home Office will retain overall control on numbers. Refugee status will be determined in partnership with the UNHCR, and all refugees will be subject to appropriate security, identity, and background checks before arrival in the UK. Safe and legal routes offer an alternative to dangerous journeys for refugees genuinely fleeing war and persecution.
AI summaryATP scope expanded to four pillars: caseworking, accommodation, UASC age assessment, and appeals processing.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the full scope of the Asylum Transformation Programme, following the increased programme scope for 2025/26. Answered: The Asylum Transformation Programme (ATP) is a Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) programme established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the UK's asylum system. ATP is transforming the people, processes and technology that underpin asylum caseworking and asylum support and accommodation, with the aim of delivering a more efficient and sustainable end-to-end asylum system.
AI summaryGovernment prioritizes hotel exits using cohort planning, costs, utilization, geography; won't disclose individual timelines for security reasons.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses to determine which hotels accommodating asylum seekers will be closed and (ii) the order in which those hotels will be closed. Answered: Exiting all asylum hotels as soon as possible is one of the Government’s top priorities and must be executed through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work. This plan involves reducing inflow, speeding up caseworking, maximising utilisation of our estate, continuing to increase returns and exploring the use of large sites as suitable alternative accommodation.
AI summaryGovernment adopted MAC methodology excluding dependant fiscal impact calculations for Article 8 claimants.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, what estimate has been made of the average number of dependants assumed for each successful Article 8 claimant in the fiscal modelling. Answered: In the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, the costs and benefits associated with the Article 8 reforms have been quantified for the individuals directly impacted. Table 13 in Appendix A1 states that 81% of in-country family and private life visa grants were main applicants and 19% were dependants. The Impact Assessment sets out a lifetime fiscal cost of -£141,000 per main applicant on the Family and Private Life route.
AI summaryHome Office explicitly did not model household size impacts on Article 8 fiscal effects, following MAC methodology that excludes dependants.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, whether the Department modelled the impact of different household sizes when estimating the fiscal effects of Article 8 appeals; and if so, what assumptions were used. Answered: In the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, the costs and benefits associated with the Article 8 reforms have been quantified for the individuals directly impacted. Table 13 in Appendix A1 states that 81% of in-country family and private life visa grants were main applicants and 19% were dependants. The Impact Assessment sets out a lifetime fiscal cost of -£141,000 per main applicant on the Family and Private Life route.
AI summaryImmigration Asylum Bill 2026 estimates £141,000 lifetime fiscal cost per main applicant on Family/Private Life route; dependant costs not calculated.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, what estimate has been made of the average lifetime fiscal impact of (a) a single asylum claimant, (b) an asylum claimant with a partner and (c) an asylum claimant with a partner and dependent children. Answered: In the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, the costs and benefits associated with the Article 8 reforms have been quantified for the individuals directly impacted. Table 13 in Appendix A1 states that 81% of in-country family and private life visa grants were main applicants and 19% were dependants. The Impact Assessment sets out a lifetime fiscal cost of -£141,000 per main applicant on the Family and Private Life route.
AI summaryGovernment explicitly states it has not calculated lifetime fiscal costs for asylum dependants, following MAC methodology.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, what estimate has been made of the average net fiscal impact on the public purse of each additional dependant associated with an asylum claimant. Answered: In the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, the costs and benefits associated with the Article 8 reforms have been quantified for the individuals directly impacted. Table 13 in Appendix A1 states that 81% of in-country family and private life visa grants were main applicants and 19% were dependants. The Impact Assessment sets out a lifetime fiscal cost of -£141,000 per main applicant on the Family and Private Life route.
AI summaryImpact Assessment uses market-price accommodation costs; fiscal savings detailed in Table 18, opportunity costs in Table 17.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Table 7 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill's Impact Assessment, whether she has any plans to publish the Home Office's Internal Calculations. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryAnswer reveals opportunity costs are quantified in Table 17 and unquantified costs in Section C of Impact Assessment. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, whether the Department plans to publish an assessment of any opportunity costs identified during the preparation of the impact assessment. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryUnmonetised opportunity costs listed in Section C of Impact Assessment; hotel/asylum accommodation costs reflect market prices only.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, what opportunity costs were identified during the preparation of the impact assessment but not monetised. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryImpact assessment accounts for hotel accommodation opportunity costs via market pricing methodology in economic calculations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, whether the impact on the availability of hotel accommodation for other commercial purposes was factored into the calculations underpinning the impact assessment. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryAnswer clarifies that fiscal pressures on NHS are quantified in Table 18, with opportunity costs in Table 17 of Appendix A1.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, whether the opportunity cost of increased demand on NHS services arising from asylum seekers was included in the calculations underpinning the impact assessment. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryImpact Assessment included quantified opportunity costs in Tables 17-18; unquantified costs noted in Section C.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, whether the opportunity cost of increased demand on local authority services arising from asylum seekers was factored into the estimates contained in the impact assessment. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryOpportunity costs of asylum accommodation quantified using market prices; fiscal pressures avoided detailed in appendices.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment, published on 30 June 2026, whether the opportunity cost of asylum accommodation capacity being occupied was included in the calculations for the impact assessment. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026: Impact Assessment was produced in line with guidance set out in the HMT Green Book. The Article 8 policy reforms are estimated to increase the number of refusals from migrants applying on the family and private life visa route. This would therefore lead to an overall reduction in demand on the NHS, education system and local authorities. Fiscal pressures avoided are included in Table 18 in Appendix A1. Table 17 in Appendix A1 sets out the opportunity costs that have been identified and quantified.
AI summaryAsylum backlog cut 56% to 40,168 cases (June 2026); AMLOs deployed; DPT tool shared weekly with councils.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of UK asylum processing backlogs on Scottish local authority public services. Answered: We have restored order to what was a huge backlog of cases, with a streamlined and stable caseload that can be processed quickly and efficiently, ensuring people spend less time awaiting an initial asylum decision. At the end of June 2026 there were 40,168 people (relating to 32,401 cases) awaiting an initial decision, 56% less than at the end of June 2025 and the lowest level since June 2019. The Home Office recognises the importance of a smooth transition for individuals leaving asylum accommodation following a positive asylum decision.
AI summaryNCA officers tackling organised immigration gangs doubled from 376 to 800; Germany criminalised facilitating UK-bound migration with joint enforcement results.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of cross-border intelligence-sharing arrangements in disrupting organised immigration crime. Answered: The Government is committed to tackling organised immigration crime and disrupting the criminal networks that facilitate illegal migration. The recently published Border Security Command Annual Report sets out how the Border Security Command is bringing together intelligence, law enforcement and international cooperation to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks operating across borders.
AI summaryNCA officers tackling immigration gangs doubled from 376 to 800; new German law enabled boat seizures with UK partners.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve the ability of Border Security Command to identify links between organised immigration crime networks operating (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. Answered: The Government is committed to tackling organised immigration crime and disrupting the criminal networks that facilitate illegal migration. The recently published Border Security Command Annual Report sets out how the Border Security Command is bringing together intelligence, law enforcement and international cooperation to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks operating across borders.
AI summaryFACT Tranche 1 OBC submitted June 2026, received Amber rating after January recommendations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026, Tables, Asylum Support Accommodation Programme, by when will she have submitted Outline Business Case 1 for assessment by the Programme Assurance Review team. Answered: The Future Asylum Contracts Transformation (FACT) Tranche 1 Outline Business Case was submitted for assessment as part of the Programme Assessment Review undertaken in June 2026. The review re-assessed the programme following changes made in response to recommendations from the January 2026 review and awarded an Amber Delivery Confidence Assessment.
AI summaryHome Office awarded FAE algorithm contract; trials planned 2026, implementation from 2027 at border and for age assessment bodies.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department uses AI to help verify the age of migrants that arrive in the UK. Answered: The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for a Facial Age Estimation (FAE) algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. Our current intention is to begin using the technology, which harnesses the power of AI, during initial age decisions at the border, and to provide capabilities to the National Age Assessment Board and Local Authorities to access FAE results. The Department is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026.
AI summary200,000+ responses received; transitional arrangements to be decided by Home Secretary after analysis.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any planned reforms to settlement eligibility will apply transitional rules equally to all workers already on a qualifying route, including those working outside social care. Answered: The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We received over 200,000 responses from the public and organisations are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including any transitional arrangements, which will be decided by the Home Secretary. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.
AI summaryEdinburgh Immigration Enforcement team shows significant year-on-year increases in illegal working operations, arrests, and compliance visits with partners.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action has been taken by Immigration Enforcement in Edinburgh since 2024 and how successful this action has been. Answered: Data related specifically to Edinburgh is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
AI summaryConfirms guide was developed through evidence-informed process with stakeholder engagement and lived experience input from asylum seekers.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department consulted (a) asylum seekers, (b) refugee organisations, (c) local authorities, (d) police forces and (e) organisations representing women and victims of domestic and sexual abuse before publishing the guide entitled Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK: a guide for asylum seekers. Answered: The products were developed through an evidence-informed process involving behavioural expertise, stakeholder engagement and lived experience input from asylum seekers. These resources were produced to ensure there was clear and consistent information available to asylum seekers about what is expected of them while they are in the asylum system.
AI summaryHome Office provides additional £5.25-£9.50 weekly to pregnant women/young children in asylum system, aligned with Healthy Start scheme since 2023.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the availability and accessibility of Healthy Start vouchers for people within the immigration and asylum systems. Answered: The Home Office provides support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to asylum seekers and their dependants who would otherwise be destitute in order to comply with its legal obligations. The support package provided usually consists of accommodation and a weekly cash allowance to meet other essential living needs. Additional financial support is also available to pregnant women and children under the age of 4 for the purposes of buying healthy food. Pregnant women and young children aged between 1 and 4 each receive an additional £5.25 per week.
AI summaryFundraising and status requirements for sponsors to be announced later; routes capped and numbers managed by Home Office.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled Mahmood: My reforms will save the asylum system for a generation, published on 30 June 2026, what the fundraising and legal status requirements will be for organisations wishing to become sponsors under the named community sponsorship model. Answered: The new safe and legal routes, announced in the Restoring Order and Control statement, will enable community groups, universities and employers to identify refugees they wish to sponsor, including individuals known to them. Any individual proposed for sponsorship would need to meet the eligibility requirements of the route and be subject to the relevant security and assurance checks before a decision is made. The Home Secretary has stated that the routes will be capped. We anticipate that arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time.
AI summaryFunding for community sponsors to be detailed later; new routes capped with Home Office controlling numbers.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled "Mahmood: My reforms will save the asylum system for a generation", published on 30 June 2026, whether universities, employers or local groups sponsoring refugees under the named community sponsorship model will receive government funding. Answered: The new safe and legal routes, announced in the Restoring Order and Control statement, will enable community groups, universities and employers to identify refugees they wish to sponsor, including individuals known to them. Any individual proposed for sponsorship would need to meet the eligibility requirements of the route and be subject to the relevant security and assurance checks before a decision is made. The Home Secretary has stated that the routes will be capped. We anticipate that arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time.
AI summaryCommunity sponsorship routes will be capped with numbers starting small and building over time, with Home Office retaining overall control.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled "Mahmood: My reforms will save the asylum system for a generation", published on 30 June 2026, whether an annual cap will be placed on the number of arrivals under the named community sponsorship model. Answered: The new safe and legal routes, announced in the Restoring Order and Control statement, will enable community groups, universities and employers to identify refugees they wish to sponsor, including individuals known to them. Any individual proposed for sponsorship would need to meet the eligibility requirements of the route and be subject to the relevant security and assurance checks before a decision is made. The Home Secretary has stated that the routes will be capped. We anticipate that arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time.
AI summaryNew sponsorship routes will allow groups to nominate known individuals; arrivals capped and carefully managed; further details forthcoming.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled "Mahmood: My reforms will save the asylum system for a generation", published on 30 June 2026, whether sponsor groups will be permitted to nominate individuals they already know, including friends or family members, under the named community sponsorship model. Answered: The new safe and legal routes, announced in the Restoring Order and Control statement, will enable community groups, universities and employers to identify refugees they wish to sponsor, including individuals known to them. Any individual proposed for sponsorship would need to meet the eligibility requirements of the route and be subject to the relevant security and assurance checks before a decision is made. The Home Secretary has stated that the routes will be capped. We anticipate that arrivals under the new safe and legal routes will start small and build over time.
AI summaryConfirms zero local authority asylum accommodation contracts; eight private firms hold contracts across regions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026, to Question 7805, on Asylum: Housing, whether any local authorities are currently contracted with the Home Office to provide asylum accommodation services. Answered: No local authorities are currently contracted to provide asylum accommodation services. The Home Office holds eight contracts for the provision of these services and details of them are publicly available: CRH - Wales AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts Finder CRH - South AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder Serco - NW AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts Finder Serco - MEE AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract MEE - Contracts Finder Mears - NEYH AASC - Asylum...
AI summaryAsylum hotel usage has dropped from over 400 to fewer than 190, with commitment to complete closure by end of Parliament.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2026, to Question 6860, on Asylum: Hotels, if she will publish a precise figure for the number of asylum hotels in operation in each month since July 2024, and the number of asylum seekers housed in asylum hotels in each of those months. Answered: The number of hotels in use has reduced from over 400 asylum hotels in summer 2023, there are now fewer than 190 currently in use and we are on track to close all by the end of this Parliament. The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated including numbers accommodated in hotels. These statistics can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending March 2026 .
AI summaryHome Office and DHSC have formal National Partnership Agreement addressing healthcare continuity during asylum dispersal moves through 2028.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving coordination between asylum dispersal decisions and continuity of NHS care. Answered: The Home Office and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) work in partnership on matters relating to the health of the asylum-seeking cohort. The subject of continuity of healthcare is a key topic referenced in the National Partnership Agreement, a document setting our key working principles for 2025-28. Priority 5 details that we are working on continuity of access to health and wellbeing support at the move on stage.
AI summaryRefugee repayment scheme will use defined income threshold rather than individual destitution assessments; details in secondary legislation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 23(5) of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, whether her Department intends to carry out individual destitution tests on all refugees or whether a minimum income threshold will be set. Answered: The Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces the principle that, where a person has received taxpayer-funded asylum support and later becomes financially able to contribute towards those costs, it is right and fair that they should do so. The detailed design of the scheme, including repayment thresholds and rates, will be set out in secondary legislation.
AI summaryNorth West's high asylum seeker numbers reflect historical dispersal participation and established accommodation provider networks in the region.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the North West region being the region with the highest number of asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support by Local Authority. Answered: The Government is committed to the Full Dispersal Model, under which all local authority areas are expected to participate in the asylum accommodation system. The purpose of full dispersal is to ensure that responsibility for supporting asylum seekers is shared more equitably across the United Kingdom and that no individual local authority or region bears a disproportionate share of the burden.
AI summarySkilled workers have 60 days to find alternative sponsorship; transitional arrangements protect those in restricted roles during regularisation period.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restrictions on employment for skilled workers who have submitted an application to remain in the UK on their application following the loss or revocation of their sponsor's licence. Answered: Those holding skilled worker visas who have had their leave cancelled following their sponsor’s licence revocation have 60 days to find an alternative means to remain in the UK. This can be within the Skilled Worker route or via another route for which they are eligible. If they are employed in a role that is no longer permissible for new entrants, they will still benefit from transitional arrangements if they should they apply for a Skilled Worker role, prior to their leave expiring. This means that the restrictions are limited to the period of time they have to regularise their stay.
parliament.uk: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. Changes to Appendix Skilled Worker to support victims of modern slavery The sponsorship system is designed to ensure overseas recruits have a genuine job to come to, will be paid appropriately, and can enjoy their employment rights. However, we have seen instances of Skilled Worker visa holders who entered the UK in good faith, complied with the terms of their visa and have experienced exploitation. This is simply unacceptable. Our crackdown on rogue employers continues and this includes taking action against sponsors who have exploited or enslaved their workers. To date, UKVI have revoked more than 7500 sponsor licenses, including 1800 in the care sector alone.
AI summarySince 26 Feb 2026, dual nationals can use digital certificate of entitlement linked to foreign passport to prove UK rights.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of requirements for dual British nationals resident overseas to travel to the UK using British travel documentation, including the cost to families of obtaining British passports for children; what steps her Department takes to match entry and exit records where a dual national uses different passports to enter and leave the UK; and whether she has considered introducing a digital means for dual... Answered: As part of our commitment to transparent and accountable policy making, the Home Office published an initial impact assessment on the introduction of ETAs. The Full Impact Assessment can be found here: Impact Assessment - ETA (publishing.service.gov.uk) . For passengers travelling to the UK, the Home Office uses information provided as part of permission-to-travel and border processes to verify a passenger's status against Home Office records.
AI summaryUK ended 16-year sheep shearing visa concession June 2026, citing 4,000 domestic trainees and only 16 overseas users.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the temporary visa concession for overseas sheep shearers on the UK agricultural sector; and if she will reconsider allowing experienced overseas sheep shearers, including those from New Zealand, to enter the UK on short-term seasonal work visas. Answered: Concessionary arrangements are exceptional, temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession operated for 16 seasons from 2011 until 2026 and closed for a final time on 30 June this year. During this time, the sector has worked to develop skills and training within the domestic workforce with over 4,000 people trained as a shearer since 2021. This year only 16 overseas shearers used the concession.
AI summaryPre-settled status expires rather than revokes; work/rental/banking rights continue if reapplication made before expiry; 373 cases notified Jan-Jun 2026.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people who have had pre-settled status revoked as granted in error retain their right to (a) work, (b) rent property and (c) access banking services while any appeal is ongoing. Answered: A person’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status will only be considered to have been granted in error where they were granted that status in circumstances where the information or evidence shows that they did not meet the relevant requirements for it under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. This has not changed since the EUSS opened, and every case must be considered based on individual circumstances and the evidence provided.
AI summaryPre-settled status granted in error isn't revoked but expires; 373 cases identified Jan-June 2026; applicants retain status pending appeal.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria caseworkers use to determine that pre-settled status was granted in error, and whether this guidance has changed since the EU Settlement Scheme opened. Answered: A person’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status will only be considered to have been granted in error where they were granted that status in circumstances where the information or evidence shows that they did not meet the relevant requirements for it under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. This has not changed since the EUSS opened, and every case must be considered based on individual circumstances and the evidence provided.
AI summary373 people notified Jan-Jun 2026 pre-settled status granted in error; status expires rather than revoked.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been notified since January 2026 that their pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme was granted in error; and how many of these notifications led to status being revoked. Answered: A person’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status will only be considered to have been granted in error where they were granted that status in circumstances where the information or evidence shows that they did not meet the relevant requirements for it under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. This has not changed since the EUSS opened, and every case must be considered based on individual circumstances and the evidence provided.
AI summaryGovernment will set out new family migration policy covering IHS treatment for family members of British citizens and other migrants.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has evaluated the potential impact of granting Immigration Health Surcharge dependent exemptions based on occupational status while withholding equivalent relief from returning British citizens and their dependants. Answered: Family members joining British citizens are subject to the same Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) framework as other migrants granted time-limited immigration permission. Liability for the IHS is determined by the immigration status of the applicant, not that of their UK-based sponsor. British citizens and those granted indefinite leave to remain are not subject to immigration control and are therefore not required to pay the IHS.
AI summaryGovernment received 200k consultation responses on settlement model; will conduct economic and equality impact assessments before finalizing policy.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain on NHS workforce planning and the retention of internationally educated nurses. Answered: The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. We received over 200,000 responses and are now analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. As no final decisions have been made, I can give no further detail at this time.
AI summaryHome Office engaging NCSC on cyber security, requiring bidder compliance standards, and committing to Ofqual recognition for English Language Test integrity.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what independent assurance her Department has sought from Ofqual, the National Cyber Security Centre or other relevant expert bodies on identity verification, remote proctoring and AI-enabled cheating risks in the Home Office English Language Test. Answered: The Home Office English Language Testing procurement places security and integrity at the heart of the digital-by-default solution. The programme has engaged with the National Cyber Security Centre and the HOELT security schedule is aligned to the National Cyber Security Centre's Cyber Assessment Framework. Bidders are required to demonstrate compliance with data security, cyber security, fraud prevention and accessibility standards before contract award.
AI summaryHome Office engaging cyber security specialists to assess security risks of remote English language and Life in the UK testing.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what experts her Department is engaging on alternative delivery models for the Life in the UK test; and whether those experts have been asked to advise on the security risks of fully remote English language testing for immigration purposes. Answered: The Home Office draws on a range of specialist expertise from across government, including cyber security, digital and commercial specialists, when considering alternative delivery models. This expertise is directly engaged to advise on and assess security risks, including those relating to remote testing models, as part of the Department's approach to designing secure and effective delivery models.
AI summaryHOELT procurement underway with modernized service, enhanced fraud protections, and regulated fees planned.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2026 to Question 12892, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on cost, customer convenience and test security of remote delivery models for the Life in the UK test and the Home Office English Language Test. Answered: As part of any procurement exercise, the Home Office considers a range of factors as options are developed, including customer experience, accessibility, value for money, service integrity and security considerations for all its services. The Department also draws on a range of specialist expertise from across government, including cyber security, digital and commercial specialists as well as engagement with the market to inform its approach.
AI summaryGovernment rejects longer curtailment period for nurses but continues reviewing 60-day policy.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the 60-day visa curtailment period on the retention of internationally recruited registered nurses whose employers have had their sponsor licences revoked; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a longer curtailment period to allow those nurses to obtain a new Certificate of Sponsorship. Answered: Where issues relating to non-compliance are identified, UKVI will invoke the most relevant sanction. In the majority of cases, this involves the revocation of a Sponsor’s licence. The 60-day cancellation period is intended to allow those who have not been complicit in the abuse to regularise their position in the UK, or make arrangements to leave. We currently have no plans to extend this period but continue to keep it under review. Published guidance in this matter can be found at: Employees: if your visa sponsor loses their licence - GOV.UK .
AI summaryFee changes for standard visitors and ETAs took effect April 2026 with published impact assessment available.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of fees charged for a) standard visitors and b) an electronic travel authorisation. Answered: Where changes to fee legislation are made, Impact Assessments are produced which identify potential impacts resulting from the changes to those fees. The latest assessment, published alongside changes which came into effect in April 2026 and which included fees for Standard Visitors and Electronic Travel Authorisations, is available here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2026/44/pdfs/ukia_20260044_en.pdf
AI summaryStudent visa holders can apply for Innovator Founder visa in UK without leaving, if course completed or PhD studied 24+ months. The same answer was given to 2 written questions.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a postgraduate student with a valid Student Visa, who has been asked to leave the UK to apply for an Innovator Founder Visa, would have their Student Visa revoked during the assessment process for an Innovator Founder Visa. Answered: Student visa holders do not need to leave the UK to apply for an Innovator Founder visa, provided they have completed the course they were sponsored to study or, if they are studying for a PhD full-time, they must have been studying for at least 24 months. Applicants must also meet all relevant eligibility requirements to apply for an Innovator Founder visa ( https://www.gov.uk/innovator-founder-visa/eligibility ).
AI summaryGovernment to set out new family migration policy and keeps IHS framework under review.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to review the application of the Immigration Health Surcharge to dependents of returning UK nationals to ensure parity of treatment with other exempt groups. Answered: Family members joining British citizens are subject to the same Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) framework as other migrants granted time-limited immigration permission. Liability for the IHS is determined by the immigration status of the applicant, not that of their UK-based sponsor. Those who cannot afford the IHS may be eligible for a fee waiver on qualifying family and human rights routes. The IHS is a statutory immigration charge with a different legal basis and purpose from Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions.
AI summaryEDI managers eligible for Skilled Worker route as HR managers under SOC code 1136, subject to standard requirements.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether equality, diversity and inclusion managers are included in the Skilled Worker immigration route. Answered: Occupations skilled to RQF 6 (graduate level) are eligible for the Skilled Worker route, providing other requirements (such as sponsorship and salary) are met. These occupations include Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 1136, “Human resource managers and directors”, which could include equality, diversity and inclusion managers.
AI summaryUK rules out regional migration schemes; establishes Labour Market Evidence Group including devolved governments to address regional workforce needs.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of international examples of regional migration schemes, including those operating in Canada and Australia, and their applicability to Scotland. Answered: Regional migration schemes would create internal borders within the UK, which operates on a much smaller geographic scale to Canada or Australia and has fewer barriers to people relocating within it. The Migration Advisory Committee has looked at this issue many times and found the labour market needs of the different UK nations to be broadly similar. Employment is a devolved matter and migration is only a small part of the labour market.
AI summaryUK secured French assurances on Police aux Frontières staffing at juxtaposed controls; Home Secretary engaged with French Interior Minister in July.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on steps to ensure adequate passport control staff at the Eurotunnel and Calais Port. Answered: There has been extensive ministerial and official level engagement between the UK government and France on ensuring border fluidity at the short straits over the summer period, including securing assurances on Police aux Frontières staffing at the juxtaposed controls. This was raised by the Home Secretary most recently in a letter to French Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez on 16 July.
AI summaryGovernment commits to reviewing IHS framework and will set out new family migration policy in due course.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policy rationale underpins classifying returning British citizens and their family members under the same Immigration Health Surcharge framework as overseas visitors without historical UK residence or tax contributions. Answered: Family members joining British citizens are subject to the same Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) framework as other migrants granted time-limited immigration permission. Liability for the IHS is determined by the immigration status of the applicant, not that of their UK-based sponsor. Those who cannot afford the IHS may be eligible for a fee waiver on qualifying family and human rights routes. The IHS is a statutory immigration charge with a different legal basis and purpose from Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions.
AI summaryGovernment will publish new family migration policy covering British citizens, settled persons, work migrants and refugees.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial barriers created by current Immigration Health Surcharge fees for British citizens relocating to the UK with family members. Answered: Family members joining British citizens are subject to the same Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) framework as other migrants granted time-limited immigration permission. Liability for the IHS is determined by the immigration status of the applicant, not that of their UK-based sponsor. Those who cannot afford the IHS may be eligible for a fee waiver on qualifying family and human rights routes. The IHS is a statutory immigration charge with a different legal basis and purpose from Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions.
AI summaryImpact assessments will be published after Home Secretary decides final earned settlement model.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the child impact assessment, economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment relating to the proposed earned settlement model. Answered: The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. Once the Home Secretary has decided the final model, it will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments. These will be published in due course.
AI summaryFrom October 1, private hire operators must conduct right-to-work checks; government cites enforcement gaps and ambiguous accountability under existing licensing model.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the evidential basis is for requiring private hire operators to conduct right to work checks on drivers. Answered: From 1 October, the Government’s changes to the Right to Work Scheme will come into force. Under these, changes organisations that engage individuals to provide work or services under their company name, including operators in the taxi and private hire vehicle sector, will have a clearer, legal responsibility to prevent illegal working. Historically, these labour market models have presented challenges for enforcement because accountability for compliance of the legal requirement to prevent illegal working has not been clearly defined and instance of illegal working have been identified.
AI summaryAsylum applications awaiting decision fell from 118,882 (June 2024) to 48,758 (March 2026), a 59% reduction.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of progress in reducing the number of outstanding visa and asylum applications since July 2024. Answered: We have maintained performance levels since July 2024 and are processing the majority of visa routes within their published customer service standards. The Home Office publishes data on its performance against its service level agreement for visas, including applications awaiting a decision, which can be found on the GOV.UK webpage: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK All family visa and private life applications are carefully considered in line with the published family visa processing times available here: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK .
AI summaryUkraine Permission Extension scheme extended 24 months; government commits to decide on future before August 2028 expirations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to continue the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. Answered: As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability. The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme has been extended, allowing Ukrainians who continue to require sanctuary in the UK to apply for a further 24 months' permission.
parliament.uk: What authorised immigration routes are available to people wanting to come to the UK for humanitarian reasons, how many people use them, and what are the government's plans for new schemes?.
parliament.uk: The crossing of over 70,000 migrants into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta in July 2026 led to concerns being raised about the security of the EU's external borders.
parliament.uk: The Home Office advises British citizens who have dual nationality to use a British passport or apply for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode for travel to the UK.
AI summaryUK-EU Youth Scheme negotiations target completion by next summit; scheme will be capped, visa-required, time-limited.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards agreeing the UK–EU Youth Experience Scheme. Answered: The UK and EU agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced Youth Experience Scheme. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement and time-limited, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing discussions. We are working towards concluding negotiations on the Youth Experience Scheme by the time of the next EU-UK summit.
AI summaryNew framework shifts deportation test from family impact alone to include criminal/immigration history and public interest considerations.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what test will be applied in determining whether the effect of a person’s deportation on their partner or child would be "unduly harsh" under section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Answered: In respect of offenders sentenced to less than four years, the current Article 8 regime allows a deportation decision to be made with consideration to only the impact on the criminal or their family. Clause 20 changes this so that account must be taken of the wider public interest in deportation. The actual test in relation to unduly harsh will reflect current case law requiring the need to demonstrate a significant interference with family life.
AI summaryDefence Committee (Commons). Afghan data breach impacts on resettlement schemes and security of vulnerable refugees and interpreters.
parliament.uk: Shifting heaven and earth? The Afghan data breach and resettlement schemes --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content Shifting heaven and earth? The Afghan data breach and resettlement schemes This is a House of Commons committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond.
AI summaryNew option for protection holders to switch to work/study route, bypass reviews, and accelerate settlement eligibility.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of making refugee protections temporary subject to review every 30 months. Answered: The 30-month review period for those granted protection reflects the Government’s view that protection should be provided for as long as it is needed. As conditions in countries of origin can change over time, it is appropriate to review whether an individual continues to require international protection before further permission is granted. Individuals with an ongoing protection need will have their status renewed, while those who no longer require protection will be expected to leave the UK unless they qualify for leave on another basis.
AI summaryGovernment explicitly aims to limit mental health arguments in asylum cases through legislation aligned with Council of Europe principles.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of mental health concerns as a ground for overturning asylum and immigration decisions; and what steps they have taken, if any, to remove mental health concerns as a criterion for asylum decisions to be overturned. Answered: When asylum and human rights applications are decided, it is necessary to consider the health of applicants, both physical and mental. Over time, we have seen an expansion in the way human rights arguments are relied upon in some asylum and immigration cases, including those involving mental health issues. This can create barriers to the removal of individuals with no right to remain in the United Kingdom.
AI summaryGovernment appointed SCS Quality lead for asylum and introduced refreshed governance structure and quality framework as recommended.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendation of the recent report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to introduce a Senior Civil Servant quality lead to spearhead the re-establishment of the quality agenda in the training and mentorship of asylum caseworkers. Answered: We recognise that achieving a sustainable improvement in quality requires a cultural shift towards a shared, collective responsibility across all those working within the asylum system. We have introduced a refreshed governance structure and have appointed an SCS Quality lead for asylum, supported by thematic leads to bridge operational and assurance functions. Alongside this, a refreshed quality framework has been introduced, with technical staff being upskilled on the tools.
AI summaryImpact and Equality Assessments published 30 June; Equality Assessment addresses child impacts per age characteristic.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the anticipated timeline for the publication of an impact assessment of the draft Immigration and Asylum Bill; and to what extent that assessment will focus on the issues facing children. Answered: An Impact Assessment and an Equality Impact Assessment for the Immigration and Asylum Bill were published on GOV.UK on 30 June. The Equality Impact Assessment sets out an assessment of how the policies in the Bill may impact children in relation to the protected characteristic of age. Careful consideration will continue to be given as to how children will be impacted by the measures within the Immigration and Asylum Bill, in line with Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship, and Immigration Act 2009.
AI summaryGovernment will announce transitional measures once final earned settlement model decided, with impact assessments.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government whether transitional protection will be considered for those affected by the 2022 changes to the long residence policy and current proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain. Answered: The government’s proposals for settlement reform were set out in the Command Paper ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP1448) and were the subject of a public consultation between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The Command Paper proposed there would no longer be a separate long residence route. We received over 200,000 responses from the public and organisations and are now considering all responses received. This will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model.
AI summaryGovernment commits to ensuring Article 3 applied with high threshold, aligned with Chisinau Declaration.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the deportation of illegal immigrants. Answered: Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is an absolute right and cannot be balanced against the public interest. Over time, the interpretation of “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” has been expanded. We have seen that Article 3 can create a barrier to return - including in medical cases, extradition and foreign national offenders excluded from protection.
AI summaryGovernment will conduct targeted stakeholder engagement rather than formal consultation on care leavers' settlement pathway.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement (CP1448), published November 2025, whether they have conducted the separate and targeted consultation for children in care and care leavers; and if so, with whom did they consult. Answered: The Home Secretary set out in the Immigration White Paper published on 12 May 2025 that the Home Office will ensure children who have been in the UK for some time, turn 18 and discover they do not have status, are fully supported and able to regularise their status and settle. This also included a clear pathway for those children in care without status. In light of this commitment, we are considering the specific position of migrant children in care who reach adulthood without having secured immigration status and the support currently available to help them regularise their status.
AI summaryGovernment committed to pathway for children in care without status; developing policy through targeted stakeholder engagement, no formal consultation.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System (CP 1326), published in May 2025, what steps they intend to take to secure the status of children entering adulthood, including care leavers and children who have been in care; and what plans they have to secure those young people’s citizenship rights. Answered: The Home Secretary set out in the Immigration White Paper published on 12 May 2025 that the Home Office will ensure children who have been in the UK for some time, turn 18 and discover they do not have status, are fully supported and able to regularise their status and settle. This also included a clear pathway for those children in care without status. In light of this commitment, we are considering the specific position of migrant children in care who reach adulthood without having secured immigration status and the support currently available to help them regularise their status.
AI summaryGovernment clarifies integration test uses balanced assessment of English ability, financial independence, immigration status, and criminal record; mere presence insufficient.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government what test will be applied in determining whether a person has been “socially and culturally integrated in the United Kingdom” for the purposes of clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Answered: The published guidance states that positive and negative factors will need to be balanced against each other to form an overall assessment of whether a foreign national is socially and culturally integrated in the UK. These factors include the ability to speak English, financial independence, immigration status, and criminal offending. Mere presence in the UK is not an indication of integration.
AI summaryFee for registering as British citizen reduced from £1,214 to £1,000 for under-18s on 8 April 2026.
parliament.uk: Asked: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System (CP 1326), published in May 2025, what steps they intend to take to fulfil their commitment to reduce the financial barriers to young adults securing British citizenship if, during their childhoods in the UK, a citizenship application was not made on their behalf. Answered: The white paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’, published on 12 May 2025, stated that consideration would be given to reducing financial barriers to acquiring British citizenship for young adults who have lived in the UK through their childhood. Reflecting this commitment, the fee for an application to register as a British citizen for individuals under the age of 18 was reduced from £1,214 to £1,000 on 8 April 2026. Fees are kept under review. However, no further announcements have been made at this time.
AI summaryInternational Agreements Committee (Lords). UK-Moldova readmission agreement for returning nationals and third-country nationals
parliament.uk: House of Lords - Scrutiny of International Agreements: UK-Moldova Readmission Agreement - International Agreements Committee Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 4;#Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 4;#Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics International Agreements Committee Scrutiny of International Agreements: UK-Moldova Readmission Agreement 2nd Report of Session 2026-27 - published 24 July 2026 - HL Paper 46 Contents Summary Agreement Reported for Special Attention Introduction The Agreement Context of the Agreement Human Rights Implications Implementation, Financial Implications and Entry...
parliament.uk: Find out how students are assessed for home or international/overseas status when being charged tuition fees or applying for student support.
parliament.uk: Find out how students are assessed for home or international/overseas status when being charged tuition fees or applying for student support.
parliament.uk: Find out how students are assessed for home or international/overseas status when being charged tuition fees or applying for student support.
parliament.uk: Find out how students are assessed for home or international/overseas status when being charged tuition fees or applying for student support.
parliament.uk: Non-EU nationals will soon need an authorisation before they travel to the EU and will have to go through new automated biometric checks at the border.
parliament.uk: Since the UK left the EU, British citizens travelling to the EU have needed to comply with Schengen-area rules on entry and stays for third country nationals.
parliament.uk: Today I can announce that the first Border Security Commander’s Annual Report, for the period 2025 to 2026, is being laid before Parliament. In our manifesto, this Government promised to create a new Border Security Command to tackle the organised criminal gangs behind illegal channel crossings, with the ability to deliver a response befitting the scale and urgency of this challenge. As this report shows, it has had a significant impact since becoming operational in July 2024. In 2025 alone, we have invested an additional £100 million into the system through the BSC, with a commitment to invest an additional £280m per year by 2028. Over the past year, investments across the system have enabled a substantial uplift for National Crime Agency officers tackling OIC, as well as building and enhancing operational capabilities.
parliament.uk: 2nd reading (Commons). A Bill to make provision about the collection and publication of data on immigration status, nationality and country of birth of certain persons, including relating to users of certain public services, claimants of certain benefits, the prison population, and arrests; to require that such data is published at least once per calendar year; to require the Secretary of State to review the quality and consistency of any such data collected and published; and for connected purposes.
parliament.uk: I am today announcing the award of a new £25 million national contract for the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service, which provides specialist support to potential and confirmed child victims of trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation in England and Wales . Following a robust procurement process, the contract has been awarded to Barnardo’s. The service will provide independent advocacy and support to children referred into the National Referral Mechanism, alongside specialist advice and expertise for the professionals working with them. Drawing on expertise in child trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation, ICTGs strengthen multi-agency safeguarding responses, help protect children from further harm, support their recovery, reduce the risk of re-trafficking and ensure that their best interests are central to decisions affecting their care and future.
gov.uk: Madam Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be read a second time. Two years ago, when this Government took office, we inherited an asylum system in chaos. And as a result, between January 2021 and June 2024, 110,000 people arrived here by small boat… While a further 175,000 claimed asylum by other routes. As numbers soared, so did the cost to the taxpayer. In just a single year, spending on asylum support was £4.7bn… Including £9 million spent daily on housing people in 400 asylum hotels. In the last two years, this Government has begun the work of restoring order to our borders. That starts by taking the fight to the criminal gangs. In the last year, arrests of people smugglers were up 55%. Since taking office, we have disrupted organised immigration crime on 3,700 occasions, up by 46%.
parliament.uk: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 would make some changes to asylum and human rights rules as announced in November 2025, as well as amending modern slavery legislation.
parliament.uk: The Government is today laying regulations to strengthen the Right to Work and Right to Rent Schemes, alongside updated statutory codes of practice for employers and landlords. These measures implement provisions in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 and will come into force in October 2026, in line with the common commencement date for businesses. Clamping down on illegal working continues to be a critical part of this government’s work to restore fairness, order and control within the immigration and asylum system. The ability to work illegally is a driver of illegal migration and exploitation. Illegal working undermines honest businesses and exposes vulnerable individuals to exploitation. This Government is clear that such activity will not be tolerated.
parliament.uk: This Government inherited an asylum system under significant strain, with hundreds of hotels in use at considerable cost to the taxpayer. I wish to update the House on the Government’s action to fix the asylum accommodation system, ending the use of asylum hotels and replacing them with alternatives that work. We are scaling up alternative accommodation by expanding the use of large, basic facilities, including former military sites, to replace unsuitable hotels. Three new ex-military sites are now under consideration: MoD Barnham, MoD Bicester and MoD Linton-on-Ouse. Together, these sites could eventually provide accommodation for around 3,750 asylum seekers, subject to feasibility assessments, planning and the necessary approvals. We will also seek to extend the use of Crowborough and expand both the capacity and duration of use at Wethersfield.
parliament.uk: 2nd reading (Commons). A Bill to create offences in respect of persons who have entered the UK illegally or who have remained in the UK without legal authority; and for connected purposes.
AI summaryJustice and Home Affairs Committee (Lords). Settlement, citizenship and integration policies and procedures in the UK.
parliament.uk: House of Lords - Settlement, Citizenship and Integration - Justice and Home Affairs Committee Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 4;#Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 4;#Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics Justice and Home Affairs Committee Settlement, Citizenship and Integration 1st Report of Session 2026-27 - published 23 June 2026 - HL Paper 13 Contents Summary Chapter 1: Introduction About our inquiry Report structure The migration context Visas, ILR and citizenship Table 1: Current common Visa Routes Migration levels Figure 1: Long term net migration, immigration and emigration in the...
parliament.uk: A programme for financially compensating victims of the Windrush scandal has been running for seven years and has paid out £127 million so far.
parliament.uk: Recent examples of people barred from the UK under discretionary immigration powers include Kanye West, Hasan Piker and Valentina Gomez.
parliament.uk: Common reasons the Home Office may refuse a visitor visa application, how applicants can prove they are a genuine visitor, and challenging a refusal.
AI summaryPublic Accounts Committee (Commons). PAC analysis of the UK asylum system's financial and operational efficiency.
parliament.uk: Committee of Public Accounts An analysis of the asylum system First Report of Session 2026–27 HC 89 Committee of Public Accounts The Committee of Public Accounts is appointed by the House of Commons to examine “the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure, and of such other accounts laid before Parliament as the committee may think fit” (Standing Order No.
parliament.uk: My hon Friend the Minister of State for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement: I am pleased to announce that my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Valedictory Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, Francesca Whitelaw KC. The Biometrics Commissioner is appointed under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and provides independent oversight of the retention and use of biometric material by the police and other authorities. This report covers casework data from January 2024 to March 2025 and includes reflections on the Commissioner’s interim tenure from July to October 2025. It provides transparency on the oversight of National Security Determinations and applications made under Section 63G of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and sets out recommendations for operational improvements.
AI summaryEducation Committee (Commons). International student funding and visa implications for UK higher education sector financial viability.
parliament.uk: Higher Education and Funding: Threat of Insolvency and International Students --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content Higher Education and Funding: Threat of Insolvency and International Students This is a House of Commons committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond.
parliament.uk: 2nd reading (Commons). A Bill to make provision about the disapplication of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to immigration law; to make provision about certain immigration statuses; to require the Secretary of State to set an annual limit on the number of people entering the United Kingdom through non-visitor visa routes; to make provision about the removal from the United Kingdom of certain persons including foreign national offenders; to create exemptions from the Data Protection Act 2018 provisions relating to illegal migration; to make provision about age assessments for immigration law purposes; and for connected purposes.
parliament.uk: 2nd reading (Commons). A Bill to amend the Scotland Act 1998 to grant legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament in respect of immigration.
parliament.uk: 2nd reading (Commons). A Bill to require the Secretary of State to deprive a person of citizenship if they have been convicted of an offence relating to national security in the United Kingdom or abroad and have subsequently promoted terrorism or violence in public; and for connected purposes.
parliament.uk: Committee stage (Lords). A Bill to introduce a minimum period of 56 days after an asylum claim is determined before an asylum claim is considered to be determined for the purposes of ending asylum support; to make provision about the serving of documentation relevant to the ending of asylum support following an asylum determination; and connected purposes.
parliament.uk: I have been clear about this Government’s determination to crack down on small boats. No one should be making dangerous journeys, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. We must restore order and control to our borders. That means bearing down on these dangerous crossings and bringing people smugglers to justice. I wish to update the House on our joint work with France on tackling illegal migration. The new multi-step approach delivered under this Government and endorsed at last summer’s UK/France Summit has already had a significant impact: since the election, joint work with the French has prevented over 42,000 small boat crossing attempts through intervention and dispersal. Joint law enforcement operations have also seen 480 migrant traffickers arrested in 2025 alone. We must go further.
parliament.uk: In July 2024, this Government set out the steps we were taking to strengthen readiness for the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and to minimise disruption for journeys via the United Kingdom’s juxtaposed border controls. Since then, the Government has continued to work closely with ports, carriers and international partners, including supporting the delivery of necessary infrastructure and technology at juxtaposed sites. Today, I am updating the House ahead of full implementation on 10 April 2026, setting out the context for its introduction, the preparations undertaken at UK ports, and the practical implications for travellers. The Government has been working to prepare UK citizens, ports and carriers for the introduction of the EU’s new digital border system.
parliament.uk: I would like to correct an error with dates that were provided for the transition period associated with the introduction of a visit visa requirement for Nicaragua and St Lucia in my written statement on 5 March 2026 ( HLWS1382 ). The correct dates are as follows: Nicaraguan and St Lucian nationals must hold an ETA and a confirmed UK travel booking on or before 15:00 GMT on 5 March 2026, with arrival in the UK no later than 15:00 BST on 16 April 2026, in order for the six-week visa-free transition period to apply.
AI summaryHome Affairs Committee (Commons). Government proposals for earned settlement reforms and routes to settlement in the UK.
parliament.uk: Earned Settlement: Examining the Government’s proposed reforms --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content Earned Settlement: Examining the Government’s proposed reforms This is a House of Commons committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond. Sixth Report of Session 2024–26 Author: Home Affairs Committee Related inquiry: Routes to Settlement Date Published: Friday 13 March 2026 Download and Share Download icon Download the Report [PDF, 706KB] Share icon Copy URL Contents Summary Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement, is the right to live and work permanently in the UK, free from restrictions associated with immigration control.
parliament.uk: I am today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. Introduction of the Visa Brake The number of asylum claims from people who arrived in the UK on a visa or other leave have tripled since the year ending June 2022. Nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan present some of the highest proportions of asylum claims to visas issued. In total, as of September 2025, 15,906 of these nationals are in receipt of Home Office support, including 6,412 individuals in hotels. To protect UK border security, we are introducing a visa brake for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. This will come into force on 26 March 2026. This means we will refuse Student visa applications from main applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.
parliament.uk: This country will always provide sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution. But we must also ensure our asylum system is not creating pull factors that draw people on dangerous journeys across the world, fuelling and funding the human traffickers. Genuine refugees will find safety in Britain, but we must also reduce the incentives that draw people here at such scale, including those without a legitimate need for protection. So, once a refugee's home is safe and they are able to return, they will be expected to do so. This is a firm but fair approach, restoring order and control of Britain's borders, while protecting those fleeing war and repression. Last November, as part of the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration since the Second World War, this government announced that refugee protection would become temporary.
parliament.uk: Today, 25 February 2026, marks a significant milestone in the transition to a fully digital immigration system with the UK moving to full enforcement of its digital ‘permission to travel’ requirements. Firstly, everyone (except British and Irish citizens and some other exempted cohorts) wishing to travel to the UK will need a ‘permission to travel’, and this requirement will be enforced. And secondly, from today most visa nationals applying for a visit visa will receive an eVisa only, replacing physical visa vignette stickers. This marks a further step in the move away from paper-based evidence towards secure, digital records linked to the passport used for travel. Carriers, including airlines are required to check that passengers hold permission to travel through automated checks against Home Office records before boarding.
parliament.uk: The Government remains steadfast in its support for the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. From the outset of the conflict, the Government has acted decisively and compassionately, offering sanctuary to over 310,000 Ukrainians through the Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine Scheme, and Ukraine Extension Scheme (the “Ukraine Schemes”). This response reflects not only the generosity and solidarity of the British public in providing sanctuary to those in need, but also the Government’s enduring commitment to international humanitarian principles and to standing with our allies in defence of freedom and democracy - an approach firmly aligned with the UK–Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, which sets out our long-term alliance and shared values across defence, education, and cultural exchange.
parliament.uk: On 16 July 2025, I announced a public Call for Evidence on Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery. The goal of this Call for Evidence was to hear views from stakeholders on the definitions of a victim of modern slavery, identification and decision-making processes, and futureproofing the modern slavery system. Today, I am pleased to publish the report on the Summary of Responses. The Call for Evidence closed on 8 October 2025, and the Home Office received 119 responses from those with an interest and experience in modern slavery, including people with lived experience of modern slavery, NGOs and civil society organisations, local authorities, academics, law enforcement, first responders, parliamentarians, and members of the public.
AI summarySecondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (Lords). Scrutiny of Draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2026 among other statutory instruments.
parliament.uk: House of Lords - Fiftieth Report - Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Committee Publications > All Select Committee Publications > Lords Select Committees > Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee > Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Fiftieth Report 50th Report of Session 2024-26 - published 5 February 2026 - HL Paper 259 Proposed negative instruments laid for sifting under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 Instruments of interest Instruments not drawn to the...
AI summaryHome Affairs Committee (Commons). Government response to Home Affairs Committee inquiry on Home Office asylum accommodation management.
parliament.uk: Home Affairs Committee The Home Office’s management of asylum accommodation: Government Response Third Special Report of Session 2024–26 HC 1642 Home Affairs Committee The Home Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office and its associated public bodies.
parliament.uk: On 12 February 2025, the Government announced the establishment of a non-statutory Inquiry, to investigate and report on the decisions, actions and circumstances which led to the conditions encountered by those detained at the Manston Short-Term Holding Facility between 1 June 2022 and 22 November 2022. A copy of the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry was placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Since then, at the request of the Senior Coroner for Kent and Medway HM Senior Coroner, Patricia Harding, and after consulting the Chair of the Inquiry, Sophie Cartwright KC, the Home Secretary has agreed to expand the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry to expressly include addressing how, and in what circumstances Hussein Haseeb Ahmed came by his death on 19 November 2022.
parliament.uk: Royal Assent (now an Act). A Bill to make provision about border security; to make provision about immigration and asylum; to make provision about sharing customs data and trailer registration data; to make provision about articles for use in serious crime; to make provision about serious crime prevention orders; to make provision about fees paid in connection with the recognition, comparability or assessment of qualifications; and for connected purposes.
parliament.uk: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. Introduction of a Visit Visa requirement for Nauru We are, today, introducing a visa requirement on all visitors from Nauru. This will come into force at 15:00 GMT today. Nationals of Nauru will also be required to obtain a Direct Airside Transit Visa if they intend to transit via the UK having booked travel to another country. Nationals of Nauru will no longer be eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel to the UK. There will be a six-week, visa-free transition period for those who already hold an ETA and have a confirmed booking to the UK obtained on or before 15:00 GMT 9 December 2025, where arrival in the UK is no later than 15:00 GMT 20 January 2026. Arrangements are in place so that nationals of Nauru can apply for visas.
parliament.uk: I am today announcing that Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in Oxfordshire has opened. Detention plays a crucial role in maintaining effective immigration control and securing our borders. It is right that those with no right to remain in the UK are removed if they do not leave voluntarily Campsfield IRC will be operated in line with the statutory framework established by the Immigration Act 1971 and the Detention Centre Rules 2001. The centre will provide safe and secure accommodation for up to 160 men. Healthcare provision has been procured by NHS England, and there will be no impact on primary healthcare services provided within the local community. Further expansion will provide an additional 240 male beds.
gov.uk: Madam Deputy Speaker, with your permission I will make a statement on a fairer pathway to settlement for migrants. The story of migration in this country is woven through my own. My father came here in the early 70s, my mother a little less than a decade later. Both came to seek a better life, and they found one here. In time, while always proud Kashmiris, they became British citizens themselves, Brummies too. And they brought up 4 children just as proud to be a part of this country, and that great city, as them. This is not just my story. This is the story of many of my constituents in Birmingham Ladywood. And it is the story of many millions more across this country. I, and so many others like me, are patriots. Mine is a love of a country that is forever changing while something essential about us always endures.
gov.uk: I will make a statement about how we restore order and control to our borders. I do so as this government publishes the most significant reform to our migration system in modern times. This country will always offer sanctuary to those fleeing danger, but we must also acknowledge that the world has changed and our asylum system has not changed with it. Our world is a more volatile, and more mobile, place. Huge numbers are on the move. While some are refugees, others are economic migrants seeking to use, and abuse, our asylum system. Even genuine refugees are passing through other safe countries searching for the most attractive place to seek refuge. The burden that has fallen on this country has been heavy. 400,000 have sought asylum here in the last 4 years.
AI summaryPublic Accounts Committee (Commons). Public spending and administration of UK's Afghanistan Response Route for resettlement of Afghan refugees and vulnerable persons.
parliament.uk: Afghanistan Response Route --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content Afghanistan Response Route Fifty-Fourth Report of Session 2024–26 Author: Committee of Public Accounts Related inquiry: Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) Date Published: Friday 14 November 2025 Download and Share Download icon Download the Report [PDF, 304 KB] Share icon Copy URL Contents Summary The unauthorised disclosure of personal information by the Ministry of Defence (the Department) on 22 February 2022 put many thousands of Afghans at risk of reprisal from the Taliban. The Department fell below the standards that the public and Parliament should expect in the handling of sensitive personal information.
parliament.uk: My hon Friend the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum (Alex Norris) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement: The Government’s focus is on restoring order, control and fairness to the UK immigration and asylum system, bringing down net migration and promoting economic growth. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill creates a range of new measures to strengthen UK border security. The Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, presented to Parliament in May, sets out the planned reforms to legal migration. A core principle behind our approach is that the rules must be respected and enforced. I am launching a consultation on extending the employers and businesses within scope of the legal requirement to carry out checks on workers and prevent illegal working.
parliament.uk: The Government’s focus is on restoring order, control and fairness to the UK immigration and asylum system, bringing down net migration and promoting economic growth. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill creates a range of new measures to strengthen UK border security. The Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, presented to Parliament in May, sets out the planned reforms to legal migration. A core principle behind our approach is that the rules must be respected and enforced. I am launching a consultation on extending the employers and businesses within scope of the legal requirement to carry out checks on workers and prevent illegal working. A copy of the consultation will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and it will also be available on GOV.UK. It remains a criminal offence for migrants to work illegally in the UK.
parliament.uk: Royal Assent (now an Act). A Bill to Make provision about the effect, during an appeal, of an order under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981.
parliament.uk: Last year, the government committed to resetting its response to the Home Office Windrush scandal, with a renewed focus on ensuring that members of the Windrush generation receive the support they deserve, delivered swiftly, fairly, and with dignity. Since that time, we have taken forward several actions to honour that commitment. We have appointed Reverend Clive Foster MBE. as the first UK Windrush Commissioner on 18 June 2025 fulfilling a manifesto commitment. His crucial role provides independent oversight of the government's ongoing commitment to address the impact of the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice and lasting change.
parliament.uk: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship (Mike Tapp) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement: Last year, the government committed to resetting its response to the Home Office Windrush scandal, with a renewed focus on ensuring that members of the Windrush generation receive the support they deserve, delivered swiftly, fairly, and with dignity. Since that time, we have taken forward several actions to honour that commitment. We have appointed Reverend Clive Foster MBE. as the first UK Windrush Commissioner on 18 June 2025 fulfilling a manifesto commitment. His crucial role provides independent oversight of the government's ongoing commitment to address the impact of the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice and lasting change.
AI summaryHome Affairs Committee (Commons). Home Office's management of asylum accommodation provision and related operational issues.
parliament.uk: The Home Office's management of asylum accommodation --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content The Home Office's management of asylum accommodation Fourth Report of Session 2024–26 Author: Home Affairs Committee Related inquiry: Asylum accommodation Date Published: Monday 27 October 2025 Download and Share Download icon Download the Report [PDF, 2.5MB] Share icon Copy URL Contents Summary Over the past six years, the Home Office has presided over an increasingly expensive asylum accommodation system. The expected cost of the Home Office’s asylum accommodation contracts for the ten years between 2019–29 has more than tripled, from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion.
parliament.uk: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. Introduction of a visit visa requirement for nationals of Botswana We are, today, introducing a visa requirement on all visitors from Botswana. This will come into force at 15:00 BST today. Nationals of Botswana will also be required to obtain a Direct Airside Transit Visa if they intend to transit via the UK having booked travel to another country. Nationals of Botswana will no longer be eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel to the UK. There will be a six-week, visa-free transition period for those who already hold an ETA and have a confirmed booking to the UK obtained on or before 15:00 BST 14 October 2025, where arrival in the UK is no later than 15:00 GMT 25 November 2025.
AI summaryHuman Rights (Joint Committee) (Joint). Government response to Joint Committee's legislative scrutiny of Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
parliament.uk: House of Lords House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Government Response Fourth Special Report of Session 2024–26 HC 1315 Joint Committee on Human Rights The Joint Committee on Human Rights is appointed by the House of Lords and the House of Commons to consider matters relating to human rights in the United Kingdom (but excluding consideration of individual cases); proposals for remedial orders, draft remedial orders and remedial orders. The Joint Committee has a maximum of six Members appointed by each House, of whom the quorum for any formal proceedings is two from each House.
parliament.uk: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. The new rules provide for a temporary suspension of new applications for Refugee Family Reunion, and for refugees to be covered in the meantime by the main family rules that apply for other UK residents and British citizens, with plans for new reformed arrangements to be put in place at a later date. Appendix Family Reunion: suspension of new applications The current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict and persecution, but the way they are being used now has changed. Currently there are limited conditions on family reunion for refugee sponsors unlike those in place if the sponsor is a British citizen or settled in the UK.
gov.uk: Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will update the House on the actions we are taking with France to strengthen our border security and the next steps on our reforms to the asylum system. Now to be aware when we came into the government, we found an asylum and immigration system in chaos. Small boat gangs for 7 years had been allowed to embed their criminal trade along the French coast. The asylum backlog was soaring. Illegal working was being ignored. (Political content redacted) It is little wonder that people right across the country lost confidence in the system and demanded to know why they were paying the price of a system that was so out of control. But that does not mean people rejected the long and proud history of Britain doing our bit to help those fleeing persecution or conflict – including in the past decade families from Ukraine, Syria and Hong Kong.
parliament.uk: In the Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May, we undertook to improve the robustness of the age assessment process, including exploring scientific and technological methods to ensure that adults entering the asylum or immigration system are not wrongly identified as children, or vice versa. I wish to update the House on that work today. Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task, and the Home Office has spent a number of years analysing which scientific and technological methods would best assist the current process, including looking at the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can play. Since coming into office, this Government has commissioned further tests and analysis to determine the most promising methods to pursue further.
parliament.uk: The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the framework used in the UK to formally identify and support victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, in line with the UK’s legal obligations. Effective identification of victims of modern slavery in the UK is critical for ensuring that victims can be protected and provided with appropriate assistance and support towards their recovery from exploitation. The Government is taking steps to improve this identification system, such as by recruiting new staff to reduce lengthy decision-making times, which has reduced the backlog to half the size it was at its peak. The Government has also updated the form used by First Responders to refer potential victims of modern slavery into the NRM to make it easier to upload information and to include more trauma-informed language.
parliament.uk: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office paused all Syrian asylum interviews and decisions as announced to Parliament on 11 December 2024. This pause extended to settlement protection applications from Syrian nationals including those who were brought to the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and have completed their five years of refugee status. During this period, we continued to register all Syrian applications. This was a necessary step while there was no stable, objective information available to make robust assessments of risk on return to Syria. The Home Office has worked to lift the pause as soon as there was sufficient information to make accurate and well-evidenced determinations. Today the government will publish updated country information which will enable decision making to resume.
parliament.uk: Yesterday, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the French Republic announced a first of its kind agreement, which will be operationalised in the coming weeks, between the UK and France to return people who have arrived on small boats as part of a new one for one pilot agreement to prevent small boat crossings. The initiative will help undermine the organised criminal gangs business model. This pilot will enable the readmission of small boat arrivals from the UK to France and, in return, an equal number of people will be able to come to the UK from France through a new legal route. These will need to be fully documented, subject to strict security checks and only those who haven’t attempted illegal entry to the UK will be eligible. This controlled and managed pilot will be reviewed and refined over the course of the pilot.
AI summaryPublic Accounts Committee (Commons). Public spending and administration of the skilled worker visa scheme
parliament.uk: Immigration: Skilled worker visas --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content Immigration: Skilled worker visas Thirty-Seventh Report of Session 2024–25 Author: Committee of Public Accounts Related inquiry: Immigration: Skilled worker visas Date Published: Friday 4 July 2025 Download and Share Download icon Download the Report [PDF, 350 KB] Share icon Copy URL Contents Summary From when the government opened the Skilled Worker visa route in December 2020 up to the end of 2024, 1.18 million people applied to enter the United Kingdom via this route, including, 630,000 as dependants of the main applicant.
parliament.uk: My rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. Changes to the Skilled Worker and other work routes as set out in the Immigration White Paper These changes implement the first phase of reforms to work visas set out in the Immigration White Paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, published on 12 May 2025. The key change is raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas from occupations at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3 and above (approximately A-level skills) to occupations at RQF level 6 and above (mainly graduate professions). Salary requirements for work visas are being raised in line with the latest Office for National Statistics data, ahead of an upcoming thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts) by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
AI summaryHuman Rights (Joint Committee) (Joint). Legislative scrutiny of Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill examining human rights implications and compliance.
parliament.uk: Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill --> Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a 1;#Procedures And Guidance|ff371ca7-c6fe-44b5-885b-2b2af847cc2a Skip to main content Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill This is a Joint Committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond. Fourth Report of Session 2024–25 Author: Joint Committee on Human Rights Related inquiry: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill Date Published: Friday 20 June 2025 Download and Share Download icon Download the Report [PDF, 736KB] Share icon Copy URL Contents Summary We welcome the Government’s intention to deter and disrupt organised immigration crime and to prevent the loss of life at sea.
parliament.uk: The Government has today introduced the Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Bill to the House of Commons. Removing someone’s British citizenship, also known as deprivation of citizenship, is a vital tool that is used to preserve the UK’s national security. It is used against those who obtained citizenship by fraud and against the most dangerous people, such as terrorists, extremists, and serious organised criminals. The power to deprive a person of their British citizenship on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds is used sparingly, complies with the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and always comes with a right to appeal. The Home Secretary decides each case personally. Bill proposals This Bill is extremely narrow in its scope and intent, focusing solely on closing a loophole in the existing deprivation of citizenship process.
parliament.uk: I am delighted to announce Reverend Clive Foster MBE as our new and first Windrush Commissioner. This appointment delivers on a Manifesto commitment and follows on from the Home Secretary’s statement to the House in October last year. It is a pivotal step in resetting the government’s response to the Home Office Windrush scandal and delivering the change that the victims of this scandal want and deserve to see. As Windrush Commissioner, he will play a crucial role, providing independent oversight of the government's ongoing commitment to address the impact of the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure that the voices of those affected remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice.
AI summaryConstitution Committee (Lords). Constitutional scrutiny of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill covering asylum, immigration and border security provisions.
parliament.uk: House of Lords - Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - Select Committee on the Constitution Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 4;#Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 4;#Reporting|0cbaf295-60f4-4526-a82d-c7bff296ee96 Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Committee Publications > All Select Committee Publications > Lords Select Committees > Constitution > Constitution Select Committee on the Constitution Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 10th Report of Session 2024-26 - published 12 June 2025 - HL Paper 139 Border Security, Asylum...
gov.uk: Madam Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I will make a statement on the government’s white paper on Restoring Control over the Immigration System. Five months ago, the figures were published that showed net migration had reached a record high of more than 900,000 under the last government – a figure that had quadrupled in the space of just 4 years. It was the consequence of specific government choices made from 2020 onwards, including introducing what was effectively a free market experiment on immigration – encouraging employers to recruit from abroad, loosening controls in different areas but without any requirement to tackle skills and labour shortages here at home. Choices which undermined the immigration system and the economy too. This government is making very different choices.
Independent oversight of the Home Office: ICIBI border and immigration inspections, and HMIP detention inspections. Each item links out to the original source; we don’t
interpret them.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: Inspection of Tinsley House IRC Inspectors visited this immigration removal centre in June and July 2026. We wanted to find out if things were better, the same or worse for detainees since we last visited in 2023. We did this by: • looking around the centre • asking detainees and staff to fill in a questionnaire • speaking to detainees • speaking to staff and helpers • reading documents. What did we find? Safety: 3 out of 4 • The centre was safe and calm. There was not much violence. • Some people, like children and victims of modern slavery, did not get help quickly enough. • Many detainees were worried and stressed about their immigration cases. Respect: 2 out of 4 • The centre needed lots of repairs. There was a bad smell in the toilets and showers. • Health care was not good enough. • Detainees did not get enough support for their mental health.
AI summaryThis ICIBI inspection examined whether benefits from the Home Office's Future Border and Immigration System (FBIS) programme, such as ETAs, eVisas and associated fee income, have been and will continue to be delivered as the programme closes in March 2027. It found that most benefits linked to Visas, Status and Information Services had been delivered or were progressing well, including fee income and Biometric Residence Permit removal, though vignette decommissioning remained incomplete. The report identified significant uncertainty around the Efficiencies at the Border benefit, including unclear ownership, absorption of a 563 FTE reduction target into wider Spending Review workforce cuts, and immature cultural and organisational transformation within Border Force. Three recommendations were made covering capturing good practice, clarifying ongoing responsibility for benefits, and strengthening the Border Transformation team's role and resourcing.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: Table of contents What we found Print this page All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit: https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to: Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk . This publication is available at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk .
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: Table of contents What we found Print this page All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit: https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to: Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk . This publication is available at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk .
gov.uk: This inspection focused on Border Force’s approach to refusing passengers permission to enter and cancelling permission to enter and stay at the border (at airports, seaports, and juxtaposed controls), including: examining the efficiency, effectiveness, and consistency of current practice considering the Home Office’s assessment of the impact of the Authority to Carry Scheme 2023 reviewing the initial detention process in controlled waiting areas considering the Home Office’s assessment of the impact of the Future Borders programme on Border Force staffs’ ability to identify individuals who should be refused
gov.uk: The inspection examined the quality management of asylum decision making and the factors affecting quality including: retention and recruitment of decision makers the effectiveness of training given to those involved in asylum casework the recruitment process for asylum caseworkers the training and guidance provided to staff involved in asylum casework current decision-making processes day-to-day management and supervision of asylum casework quality assurance and feedback mechanisms used to drive improvements in decision quality current and planned strategies and transformation initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of asylum decision making
gov.uk: This inspection examined the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative review (ARs) in identifying and correcting caseworking errors, and the independence of persons conducting ARs, with particular focus on: whether the Home Office is appropriately resourced to make AR decisions efficiently and effectively the effectiveness of workflow processes to triage and prioritise applications, in order to minimise any delays and backlogs the quality, timeliness, and consistency of AR decision making the quality assurance of AR decisions and feedback loops to the original decision-making unit to drive improvements communication and engagement between Home Office AR teams and applicants and stakeholders/representative groups
gov.uk: This inspection examined how the Home Office manages its contact with migrants who are resident in the UK without valid leave to enter or remain. It considered the effectiveness, efficiency and consistency of the Home Office’s contact management and reporting activity, with a particular focus on: Home Office efforts to maintain contact with those who are without leave to enter or remain Home Office efforts to re-establish contact with those who fall out of contact with the department or who abscond the impact of lost contact both on the business of the Home Office and on migrants
gov.uk: On 11 July 2025, the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IACGI) sought tenders for reviews of selected Home Office country of origin information on Afghanistan and Colombia. The call for tenders invited qualified experts to submit expressions of interest in reviewing selected recent Home Office country policy and information notes, as well as a selection of country of origin information request responses (produced by the Home Office to address specific queries from caseworkers), on conditions in the two countries.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: ACTION PLAN – HMIP INSPECTION OF ESCORT AND REMOVALS TO FRANCE NOVEMBER 2026 Concern Addressed HMIP Key Concerns Home Office Response to HMIP Concern By Including Action Already Taken / Proposed to Address Concern Key Concern: 1 Provision of interpreters for these specific charter flights to France remains very challenging due to the wide range of nationalities being returned. As multiple languages/dialects are spoken, it would Access to interpreting services was limited. There was not enough use of not be operationally or logistically viable to have interpreters present on the aircraft for each interpreters, whether in person, via telephone, or by the use of electronic devices. individual’s language. We provide an Arabic speaking interpreter due of the broad range of countries where this language is spoken as a best endeavour approach to meeting the interpretation needs.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: ACTION PLAN – HMIP INSPECTION OF SHORT-TERM HOLDING IN IMMIGRATION REPORTING CENTRES A Concern HMIP Concern Home Office Response to HMIP Concern Addressed Including Action Already Taken / Proposed to Address Concern By 1 Home Priority concern The Detention Gatekeeper (DGK) is a primary detention safeguard, consistently applying the Detention – Office General Instructions and Adults at Risk in immigration detention policy so that detention only takes place where there is a realistic prospect of return within a reasonable timescale. Where vulnerabilities are In some cases, the Home Office took insufficient or no account of identified, the appropriateness of detention is balanced against any immigration control considerations on a known vulnerabilities in deciding whether to detain an individual case-by-case basis.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: Inspection of Derwentside IRC Inspectors visited this immigration removal centre in September and October 2025. We wanted to find out if things were better, the same or worse for detainees since we last visited in 2022. Inspectors did this by: • looking around the centre • asking detainees and staff to fill in a paper survey • speaking to detainees • speaking to staff and helpers • reading documents. What did we find? Safety: 4 out of 4 • Most women felt safe. • Women could go where they wanted in the centre and were never locked in their rooms. Respect: 4 out of 4 • The centre was clean and tidy. • Staff were helpful, friendly and caring. • Women could cook and eat together. Things to do: 4 out of 4 • Women could go to education, work and the gym. • The library was very good and women could use it when they wanted to. • There was a nice outside area that women could use during the day.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: Inspection of Dungavel House IRC Inspectors visited this immigration removal centre in August and September 2025. We wanted to find out if things were better, the same or worse for detainees since we last visited in 2021. We did this by: • looking around the centre • asking detainees and staff to fill in a questionnaire • speaking to detainees • speaking to staff and helpers • reading documents. What did we find? Safety: 4 out of 4 • Staff were helpful to detainees when they arrived. • There was very little violence, and few detainees harmed themselves. • Some detainees had very long journeys and arrived late at night. Respect: 4 out of 4 • Staff were polite to detainees and got to know them. • The centre was clean and tidy. • The food was good. • Detainees could get good health care. Things to do: 3 out of 4 • Detainees said they got helpful education and training at the centre.
gov.uk: This inspection made nine recommendations about what the Home Office should do, and also recommends that the department should resist taking action in two areas. An inspection of General Maritime (October 2024 – February 2025)
HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspection of immigration detention facilities.
justiceinspectorates.gov.uk: Table of contents What we found Print this page All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit: https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to: Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk . This publication is available at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk .
gov.uk: On 4 September 2024, the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IACGI) sought tenders for reviews of selected Home Office country of origin information (COI) on Turkey and Vietnam. The call for tenders invited qualified experts to submit expressions of interest in reviewing selected recent Home Office country policy and information notes (CPINs), as well as a selection of country of origin information request (COIR) responses (produced by the Home Office to address specific queries from caseworkers), on conditions in the two countries.
Migration Advisory Committee reports, Home Office immigration statistics and transparency data releases, and the quarterly illegal working civil penalty registers. Each item links out to the original source; we don’t
interpret them.
gov.uk: Data on the number of migrants arriving in the UK in small boats and those who were prevented by French authorities from crossing the English Channel.
gov.uk: Quarterly statistics on people coming to the UK (including via illegal routes), extensions of stay, EUSS, citizenship, asylum, detentions, returns and stopping immigration crime.
gov.uk: This release is the sixteenth in an annual series of publications that explore changes in migrants’ visa and leave status within the UK’s immigration system.
gov.uk: Organisations funded by the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund (WCASF) for people who need help when applying to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
gov.uk: This report is the first stage of the Migration Action Committee’s review of the Temporary Shortage List, in response to the previous Home Secretary’s commissioning letter . It provides recommendations for the design of the Temporary Shortage List, as well as a list of occupations for further consideration at stage 2. Temporary Shortage List: Stage 1 report (accessible) HTML Temporary Shortage List: Stage 1 report PDF , 854 KB , 27 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk . Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
gov.uk: This report outlines the methodology used by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to estimate the fiscal impact of migrants in the UK. We are aware of accessibility issues with these publications. We are working to fix these. Read more about our accessible documents policy The fiscal impact of immigration in the UK PDF , 1.53 MB , 64 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk . Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use. The fiscal impact of immigration: original data tables ODS , 320 KB This file is in an OpenDocument format This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
gov.uk: Quarterly statistics on people coming to the UK (including via illegal routes), extensions of stay, EUSS, citizenship, asylum, detentions, returns and stopping immigration crime.
gov.uk: The report explores balancing economic wellbeing with the right to family life. This report is organised into the following chapters: chapter 1 documents the use of the family route over time and provides some international comparisons chapter 2 sets out the definitions of economic wellbeing and family life and considers the trade-off between the two in setting the minimum income requirement ( MIR ) chapter 3 covers the main options for how to calculate the MIR chapter 4 outlines the practicalities of setting a new MIR chapter 5 considers exceptions to the family visa financial requirements, including the adequate maintenance test chapter 6 presents our conclusions and recommendations a glossary of terms Further to the main report, the separate annexes document provides additional methodology and analysis. We are aware that some of these publications may have accessibility issues.
gov.uk: This review was commissioned by the Home Secretary in August 2024. It considers: the types of roles in shortage causes of shortages including training, pay and conditions how the IT, telecommunications and engineering sectors have responded and adapted to these shortages the impact, if any, of being on the immigration salary list policies that could encourage these sectors to recruit from the domestic workforce Professionals in IT and engineering (accessible) HTML Professionals in IT and engineering PDF , 2.41 MB , 101 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk . Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
gov.uk: This release is the fifteenth in an annual series of publications that explore changes in migrants’ visa and leave status within the UK’s immigration system.
gov.uk: MAC housing project is now live For more details on how to apply, go to: Migration Advisory Committee housing project - Contracts Finder Bids will close at 11am on 13 May 2025 and projects will be awarded at the end of June 2025. In the next few weeks, the MAC will seek to procure researchers/research teams to undertake research projects to fill crucial evidence gaps in the MAC’s understanding of the impact of migration on housing in the UK. There are two funding pots for projects. The first is for a literature review, with a ceiling of £15,000, with which we intend to award one project. The second is for a more open project(s) exploring the impact of migration on house prices in the UK, with a ceiling of £60,000, with which we intend to award up to 2 projects. Bidders may bid for projects in one or both pots. Please see attached statement of requirements document for more details.
Check whether an employer or education provider is licensed to sponsor,
and on which routes, or whether it was
listed on any date back to June 2021: former sponsors appear in search
results, and every result links to its full history. This is
the Home Office’s own register, reproduced as it publishes it and
refreshed each working day.
The history features are part of Free Movement membership; the search
of today’s register is free for everyone.
A listing means the organisation appeared on the register as the Home Office
published it on the date shown above. It is not confirmation that a licence is
in force today, and it says nothing about whether the sponsor has a certificate
of sponsorship available, or whether any particular job meets the requirements
of the route.
The register gives no company registration number, so check the town and the
route against what you know of the employer before relying on a match. Two
organisations with the same name in the same town cannot be told apart here.
This is an aid to checking, not advice, and it is not a substitute for the
source, which is linked above.
Newly published immigration judgments, via Free Movement’s
Immigration Law Search:
each with its official headnote or, where there isn’t one, an
AI-generated summary. Each case links to the judgment at its source and
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Courts
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High Court (Administrative Court)[2026] EWHC 2504 (Admin)
AI summaryThe High Court granted urgent interim relief requiring the Secretary of State to secure alternative accommodation for a detainee and to provide medical assistance, pending resolution of the …
AI summaryThe High Court dismissed an application for a return order under the 1980 Hague Convention. The mother had wrongfully removed the child from Ukraine in May 2025. The court found that Article 13(b) …
AI summaryThe Court of Session (Outer House) refused judicial review of the Secretary of State's decision to refuse an extension of leave to remain under the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route. The applicant, an …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State lawfully refused to register the claimant as a British citizen under section 41A of the British Nationality Act 1981 on good character grounds, notwithstanding that he was born …
AI summaryThe court determined costs awards in a multi-claimant judicial review of Home Office decisions on trafficking victim reconsideration rights and modern slavery guidance. The court rejected a global …
AI summaryA return order under the Hague Convention 1980 must be made where the child was wrongfully removed, even though the child holds refugee status in the receiving state, unless the defending parent …
AI summaryPermission to challenge a negative reasonable grounds decision in a modern slavery trafficking case is refused on the ground that the Statutory Guidance and decision annex correctly state the legal …
AI summaryA Hadkinson Order (stay or strike-out of appellate proceedings pending payment of costs) will not be granted in children's proceedings where the appeal concerns the welfare of the child, even if the …
AI summaryA decision by the First-tier Tribunal to treat an asylum appeal as abandoned under section 104(4A) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 is a preliminary decision excluded from the Upper …
AI summaryThe separation of a married couple in immigration detention breached Article 8 family life rights where the Home Office had no actual family accommodation available in the detention estate, despite …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State unlawfully cancelled a skilled worker visa holder's leave to remain for working as a pizza delivery driver without properly considering material evidence that he was employed as …
AI summaryA local authority's age assessment concluding an applicant was over 18 was quashed where the applicant's claimed date of birth (16 October 2007) was supported by credible documentary evidence (Afghan …
AI summaryThe Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against a costs order of no order made in judicial review proceedings concerning an entry clearance application. Although the applicant obtained the substantive …
AI summaryThe European Court of Human Rights held unanimously that there was no violation of Article 8 when the Netherlands refused family reunification with five minor children born of the applicant's …
AI summaryAn age assessment by a local authority based on a Brief Enquiry (physical appearance and demeanour alone) was upheld on judicial review where the applicant's evidence about how he knew his date of …
AI summaryA sponsor licence revocation decision was quashed as procedurally unfair where the Home Office failed to give the sponsor an opportunity to explain a reported breach before deciding to revoke. The …
AI summaryThe Court of Appeal upheld decisions to revoke sponsor licences held by two employers under the Skilled Worker route, applying the principles of procedural fairness established in Balajigari and …
AI summaryArticle 4 of the Convention (prohibition of slavery and forced labour) imposes a positive obligation on States to investigate credible allegations of servitude or forced labour. Latvia fulfilled that …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State's certification of an Albanian trafficking victim's protection claim as clearly unfounded under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 was lawful. MB …
AI summaryThe Court of Appeal upheld a First-tier Tribunal's decision allowing an appeal against deportation of a foreign national criminal sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for conspiracy to defraud, on …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State unlawfully refused a dependant's application for leave to remain under the Graduate route by failing to apply published policy guidance distinguishing between first and …
AI summaryA refusal of entry clearance for a short-term student visa is not procedurally unfair merely because the decision maker expresses doubt about the applicant's credibility or genuineness. Procedural …
AI summaryA petition for judicial review of the Upper Tribunal's refusal of permission to appeal is incompetent under section 11A(4) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 unless the petitioner …
AI summaryThe High Court dismissed two judicial review claims challenging the Home Office's curtailment of a skilled worker visa and its negative reasonable grounds decision on human trafficking. On …
AI summaryOn a balance of probabilities, the applicant was not a child at the date of the local authority's age assessment. The applicant claimed to have been born on 26 August 2008, but his evidence was …
AI summaryA local authority's refusal to reassess a young asylum seeker's age was lawful where the original assessment (based on appearance and demeanour) was accepted as valid and the fresh information …
AI summaryThe Student Loans Company lawfully refused postgraduate student finance where the applicant failed to satisfy the three-year continuous lawful residence requirement. The applicant's earlier …
Official headnoteVersions 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 of the Secretary of State’s guidance entitled ‘EU Settlement Scheme: suitability requirements’ contained a “pause policy”* which required that applications under the scheme …
Official headnote1. Recognised victims of trafficking or modern slavery (VTS) are automatically considered for, or can apply for an extension of, a grant of temporary permission to stay pursuant to section 65 …
Official headnote1. Expert evidence, particularly an expert report which evaluates information publicly available on the internet, of varying accuracy or reliability (so-called ‘Digital Open Source Information’) will …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State had power under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to refuse an airline authority to carry a person to the United Kingdom where a stage 1 deportation notice had been …
AI summaryA High Court judge may disclose a fact-finding judgment from family proceedings to the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and the Home Office where the mother's asylum appeal relies …
Official headnote(1) Profile. There is no typical profile for Albanian male victims of trafficking (‘VOTs’). Certain common themes are encountered amongst those who have been trafficked. Often they tend to: be …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State's decision to introduce a Student Visa Brake rendering nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan ineligible for student entry clearance was lawful. The claimants …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State's refusal to accommodate an asylum-seeking family in larger premises within Oxford, where they had established therapeutic and educational support networks, did not breach …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State for Defence's refusal of Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) applications by two former British Embassy security guards was unlawful due to failure to disclose …
AI summaryThe Supreme Court dismissed the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's appeal by a majority on standing, holding that the Commission lacked power to bring abstract proceedings challenging the …
AI summaryA former Afghan anti-terrorism court judge's application for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy was unlawful because the decision-maker failed to conduct a holistic …
AI summaryA certification under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 that an asylum claim is clearly unfounded is lawful where, taking the applicant's case at its highest, a …
AI summaryPermission to apply for judicial review is refused where a local authority declined to conduct a full age assessment of an asylum seeker, relying on Home Office Guidance and Welsh Government Guidance …
AI summaryThe respondent lawfully refused entry clearance to an 83-year-old Albanian visitor where the applicant had made false representations in a 2019 visa application by denying previous refusals, and the …
AI summaryPermission to apply for judicial review refused where the claimant challenged the Secretary of State's decision not to take further protective steps following a data breach affecting Afghan nationals …
AI summaryA decision denying an Afghan national eligibility for relocation under the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) was not unlawful, notwithstanding procedural secrecy and lack of prior notice, because the …
AI summaryThe Court of Appeal held that the First-tier Tribunal did not err in law in finding that family life had not been established between an Afghan refugee sponsor and his adult relatives seeking entry …
AI summarySIAC has no power to award costs in review proceedings under section 2D of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 absent rules made by the Lord Chancellor under section 5. Although …
AI summaryThe Court of Appeal held that a Palestinian woman resident in Gaza seeking entry clearance as a visitor to receive private medical treatment in the UK did not establish family life with her daughter …
AI summaryAn extended family member of an EU citizen who presented an Italian residence card at UK border control and was allowed through by an immigration officer without formality did not fall within Article …
AI summaryA medium offender's deportation decision must be assessed against the statutory exceptions in section 117C(4)–(6) of the 2002 Act. Where the Home Office decision assumes that a foreign criminal's …
AI summaryThe court ruled on the Home Office's applications to amend its defences in claims arising from TOEIC test fraud allegations. The court held that while the Home Office may defend the reasonableness of …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State's decision to revoke a care provider's skilled worker sponsor licence under Annex C1(aa) of the Sponsor Guidance (failure to pay sponsored workers the salary stated on their …
AI summaryThe power under section 22(3) of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to specify classes of persons for whom authority to carry may be refused is not limited to those posing a terrorism-related …
AI summaryService of a cancellation notice by email to the address provided by the applicant on his visa application is valid notice under section 4(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 and article 8ZA of the …
AI summaryA visitor visa application must not be refused on grounds of lack of genuineness under Immigration Rules Appendix V paragraph 4.2(c) without first giving the applicant fair notice of that allegation …
AI summaryA return order under the Hague Convention was made for a child wrongfully removed to the UK, notwithstanding the child's grant of humanitarian protection. The father removed the child from the UAE …
AI summaryA sentence of 20 months' immediate custody for possession of a prohibited firearm was not manifestly excessive, notwithstanding the applicant's youth (15 at the time of the offence, 18 at sentencing) …
AI summaryA civil penalty notice issued under section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 must specify which limb of section 15(1) the Secretary of State relies on as the basis for the …
AI summaryThe Secretary of State's refusal to exercise discretion under section 3(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 to register two stateless children as British citizens was not Wednesbury unreasonable …
AI summaryA person born outside the United Kingdom who has never resided there and has no family or private life within UK territory cannot establish jurisdiction under Article 1 of the European Convention on …
Official headnote1. Where there are “red flags” that suggest the client is seeking to use the solicitor’s services in furtherance of a fraud, the solicitor cannot continue to act for their client without first making …
AI summaryThe Upper Tribunal did not err in refusing to consider the appellant's relationship with a qualifying child born after the date of the Secretary of State's decision, where that relationship …
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