Written questions by Dodds.

What estimate she has made of the number of sponsors of social care visas whose activities have been flagged by (a) local authorities and (b) other bodies as (i) potentially and (ii) actually exploitative by region.

UKVI respond to referrals from a variety of agencies and individuals. The most recent published data (mid-2025) states that over 550 non-compliant care providers from across the UK have had their sponsor licences revoked. As live investigations are ongoing, this number is likely to increase further.Investigations relating to the exploitation and the quality of patient care are regulated by the appropriate body, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the financial capacity of regional organised crime units to investigate modern slavery.

The Government is committed to ensuring that law enforcement has there sources it needs to tackle crime effectively. Regional Organised Crime Units(ROCUs) are collaborations between three or more police forces and help support forces and partners to tackle serious and organised crime (SOC),including modern slavery.The Home Office provides c.30% of funding to supports the ROCUs intackling SOC, with the remaining c.70% coming from Police and Crime Commissioners in 2025-26. To improve the response to modern slavery, the Home Office also provides funding through the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit, for regional coordinators, based in theROCUs that act as a bridge between the ROCU and forces to provide specialist advice and support on investigations. In addition to this, the Home Office-funded Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) Programme is anintelligence capability that is increasing law enforcements capability to respond to organised exploitation, including modern slavery. As the spending review and subsequent allocations process is ongoing, funding for future years cannot be confirmed at this time.

What recent discussions her Department has had with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on combatting the theft of number plates.

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

Whether her Department has had recent discussions with Thames Valley Police on tackling number plate thefts in Oxford East.

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

What recent discussions her Department has had with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) on tackling the theft of number plates.

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

What steps she is taking to tackle number plate theft.

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

How judges are protected if they experience (a) intimidation and (b) harassment.

The Secretary of State regards judicial office holders’ safety with great importance. There are a range of judicial security policies and procedures in place to protect judicial office holders in court, outside of court and online.The Police work jointly with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Judicial Office to deliver appropriate safeguarding arrangements for judicial office holders who are the victim of a crime and/or subject to harassment, intimidation or threat as a result of their judicial role. The agreement between the three agencies which forms the framework for delivery of these safeguarding measures is known as the Judicial Harassment Protocol.The Protocol enables appropriate and proportionate safeguarding measures to be applied where such as:Oversight by an appropriately senior police officerBespoke threat assessmentsHome security assessmentsProvision of personal and online safety advice and supportProvision, where appropriate, of personal safety deviceThe police are working alongside the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS as key members of the Security Taskforce, commissioned by the Lady Chief Justice and chaired by Deputy Senior Presiding Judge Mrs Justice Yip, to consider opportunities for further improvement in this crucial area.

What support do the police provide to judges if they experience (a) intimidation and (b) harassment (i) online and (I) in person.

The Secretary of State regards judicial office holders’ safety with great importance. There are a range of judicial security policies and procedures in place to protect judicial office holders in court, outside of court and online.The Police work jointly with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Judicial Office to deliver appropriate safeguarding arrangements for judicial office holders who are the victim of a crime and/or subject to harassment, intimidation or threat as a result of their judicial role. The agreement between the three agencies which forms the framework for delivery of these safeguarding measures is known as the Judicial Harassment Protocol.The Protocol enables appropriate and proportionate safeguarding measures to be applied where such as:Oversight by an appropriately senior police officerBespoke threat assessmentsHome security assessmentsProvision of personal and online safety advice and supportProvision, where appropriate, of personal safety deviceThe police are working alongside the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS as key members of the Security Taskforce, commissioned by the Lady Chief Justice and chaired by Deputy Senior Presiding Judge Mrs Justice Yip, to consider opportunities for further improvement in this crucial area.

How many children whose parents were deported in each of the last 10 years are British citizens.

The information you have requested is not available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would be a breach of a person’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.The deportation of a foreign national offender is considered on its individual merits, including assessment of a genuine and subsisting relationship with a child and the effect of deportation on the child.In every decision, Home Office staff will have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the best interests of any children in line with our duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.

What information her Department holds on the number and proportion of people subject to Deportation Orders who had children in each of the last 10 years.

The information you have requested is not available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would be a breach of a person’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.The deportation of a foreign national offender is considered on its individual merits, including assessment of a genuine and subsisting relationship with a child and the effect of deportation on the child.In every decision, Home Office staff will have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the best interests of any children in line with our duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.

How many children who remained in the UK without a deported parent were taken into care in each of the last ten years.

The information you have requested is not available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would be a breach of a person’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.The deportation of a foreign national offender is considered on its individual merits, including assessment of a genuine and subsisting relationship with a child and the effect of deportation on the child.In every decision, Home Office staff will have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the best interests of any children in line with our duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.

What estimate she has made of the extent of unwitting employment by UK firms of hoax remote workers who have concealed the fact that they are North Korean.

On Thursday 12th September 2024, The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) published an advisory notice on North Korean Information Technology (IT) workers. OFSI assessed that it is almost certain that UK firms are currently being targeted North Korean IT workers disguised as freelance third-country IT workers to generate revenue for Designated Persons (DPs) operating on behalf of the North Korean regime. DPRK IT workers have skills in areas including, but not limited to, software development, IT support, graphic design, and animation. The advisory identifies six key threats linked to North Korean IT workers’ activity affecting UK firms, lists red flag indicators for UK firms to identify North Korean IT workers, and makes recommendations for mitigation measures for UK firms to better protect themselves against this threat. OFSI continues to work with wider Government and international partners to track the deployment of DPRK IT workers abroad and map the development and evolution of this threat of proliferation financing in light of increased industry awareness. OFSI will take robust, proportionate action in response to breaches of financial sanctions. In the most serious cases, we will not hesitate to impose civil monetary penalties or refer cases for criminal investigation where appropriate.

What discussions her Department has had with (a) businesses and (b) sectors on how businesses can protect themselves from the inadvertent employment of hoax remote workers who conceal their North Korean identity.

On Thursday 12th September 2024, The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) published an advisory notice on North Korean Information Technology (IT) workers. OFSI assessed that it is almost certain that UK firms are currently being targeted North Korean IT workers disguised as freelance third-country IT workers to generate revenue for Designated Persons (DPs) operating on behalf of the North Korean regime. DPRK IT workers have skills in areas including, but not limited to, software development, IT support, graphic design, and animation. The advisory identifies six key threats linked to North Korean IT workers’ activity affecting UK firms, lists red flag indicators for UK firms to identify North Korean IT workers, and makes recommendations for mitigation measures for UK firms to better protect themselves against this threat. OFSI continues to work with wider Government and international partners to track the deployment of DPRK IT workers abroad and map the development and evolution of this threat of proliferation financing in light of increased industry awareness. OFSI will take robust, proportionate action in response to breaches of financial sanctions. In the most serious cases, we will not hesitate to impose civil monetary penalties or refer cases for criminal investigation where appropriate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64542 on Immigration, what steps she is taking to speed up decisions being taken on applications for (a) leave in line and (b) status in line.

The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement to speed up decision making and improve the quality and consistency of our leave in line and status in line applications.

What steps she is taking to reduce decision times for children’s applications under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.

The vast majority of Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme applications are being processed within Service Level Agreements. There may be applications which have varying levels of complexity and we have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, which can cause a delay to an application.Information on visa processing times for applications made outside of the UK can be found here: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK.Information on visa processing times for applications made from within the UK can be found here: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK.

What steps his Department is taking to protect Iranian (a) dissidents, (b) activists, and (c) journalists residing in the UK from (i) harassment, (ii) surveillance (iii) and intimidation by agents of the Iranian regime.

The UK Government will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK and its people against any threats from the Iranian state. Any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated, and will be thoroughly investigated.The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter transnational repression and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats. In March, I announced a package of measures to tackle state threats from Iran. This included our decision to place Iran on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).I also announced new training for all frontline police officers on state threats; further sanctions against Iranian-linked criminal groups; an independent review of the parts of our counter-terrorism framework which could be applied to state threats; continued support to the Jewish community; and strengthened enforcement of our immigration measures to protect the UK from Iranian interference. Finally, the National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies, including Persian language media organisations.In line with recommendations from the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s Transnational Repression Review, new guidance is available on GOV.UK to provide those who believe themselves to be at-risk of TNR with practical advice for their safety both physically and online. Anyone who thinks they might be a victim should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.

When decisions on applications for (a) leave in line and (b) status in line will resume.

The Home Office has not paused decisions for leave in line applications. Children born in the UK to parents with protection status may claim asylum in their own right in accordance with the validity requirements set out in paragraph 327AB of the Immigration Rules. These decisions have also not been paused.

What the average time taken is to decide an in-country application for leave to remain on the basis of private life where (a) minimum income and (b) English language are not required.

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

Whether her Department has reviewed the reasons for Sudanese children forming the largest group of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in 2024-25.

Asylum claims from unaccompanied Sudanese children fell in the year ending March 2025, but they were the largest group of UASC in that period due to a decrease in asylum claims from the previous top UASC nationality of Afghanistan.The Home Office keeps all trends in asylum claims under review, including those from unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).

What discussions the Defending Democracy Taskforce has had with civil society organisations.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce is driving forward a whole of Government response to the full range of threats to our democracy.Meetings of the Taskforce are complemented by private engagement with partners outside central Government and Parliament, including civil society organisations such as the Jo Cox foundation, on subjects relevant to the work of the Taskforce.