Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 74064 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, what is the end date of the pilot.

As set out in Article 22 (1) of the UK-France treaty, the end date of the pilot is 11 June 2026. Both the UK and France have committed to continually review and improve the process and effectiveness of the pilot, pending decisions on the long-term future of the arrangements after June 2026. Further information on the UK-France treaty can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukfrance-agreement-on-the-prevention-of-dangerous-journeys-cs-france-no22025.

What progress she has made on apprehending Kevin Thomas Parle.

Kevin Thomas Parle features on the NCA’s Most Wanted List. As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Whether the Afghan Response Route was included within data published on the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

Data on arrivals through the Afghan Resettlement Programme is published in the quarterly Immigration System Statistics. The first arrivals under the Afghan Response Route (ARR) came to the UK in July 2024. Data on the ARR was previously included as a subset of the ARAP data in the publication. As of the August 2025 release, the publication has included a separate breakdown for ARR arrivals, in table Hum_01 of the ‘Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes summary tables’. The latest data relate to June 2025. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the use of military sites to house asylum seekers.

We are actively exploring all viable options so we can reduce reliance on hotels, including using modular buildings on industrial sites and ex-military sites, that deliver value for money and meet operational needs.We continue to work closely cross-government, with local authorities, and property partners to assess feasibility of options and accelerate delivery where possible, ensuring any development is safe, appropriate and compliant.Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with local authorities and in compliance with published policy.

With reference to her Department's announcement entitled Investment for Border Security Command to tackle people smuggling gangs of 3 August 2025, what the responsibilities of the 300 additional National Crime Agency officers will be.

The additional National Crime Agency officers will play a vital role in strengthening the NCA’s response to organised immigration crime (OIC).This uplift in resource reflects the Agency’s commitment to tackling the OIC threat with greater intensity than ever before.

Which military sites her Department has assessed for housing asylum seekers.

We are actively exploring all viable options so we can reduce reliance on hotels, including using modular buildings on industrial sites and ex-military sites, that deliver value for money and meet operational needs.We continue to work closely cross-government, with local authorities, and property partners to assess feasibility of options and accelerate delivery where possible, ensuring any development is safe, appropriate and compliant.Decisions on the use of alternative asylum accommodation sites will be made on a site-by-site basis, and we will continue to work closely with local authorities and in compliance with published policy.

With reference to the UK-France one-in, one-out pilot scheme signed on 4 August 2025, what (a) security checks and (b) acceptance criteria are applied to asylum seekers accepted to the UK under the terms of the deal.

Applicants are required to meet eligibility criteria set out in published Immigration Rules and guidance and are subject to identity and security checks consistent with existing UK immigration processes.

What assessment she has made of what the pull-factors are that are encouraging illegal immigration to the UK.

There is no single, universal ‘pull’ factor independently driving irregular migration to the UK. In many cases, asylum seekers are directed or even coerced by organised criminal networks.The Government’s Plan for Change sets out our ambition to secure borders and control immigration. We are committed to tackling illegal migration and the criminal networks behind it. We have launched campaigns directed at misinformation on pull factors and are taking tougher action on illegal working, with major increases in enforcement visits and arrests. We are continuing work to streamline and improve the asylum system so that it deals with cases more quickly and better enables us to remove failed asylum seekers - we intend to announce further reforms to the asylum system later this year.

What the size was of the asylum application decision appeals backlog on 1 August 2025.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims awaiting an initial decision, is published in table Asy_D03 of the asylum detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.Data on the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) open caseload by case type is published in table FIA_4 of the ‘Tribunal Statistics’ by the Ministry of Justice. The latest data relates to 2024/25 Q4.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns is published annually, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The next update will be for the year ending 31st March 2025

What the size was of the initial asylum application decision backlog on 1 August 2025.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims awaiting an initial decision, is published in table Asy_D03 of the asylum detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.Data on the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) open caseload by case type is published in table FIA_4 of the ‘Tribunal Statistics’ by the Ministry of Justice. The latest data relates to 2024/25 Q4.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled UK-France treaty targeting illegal crossings comes into force, published on 7 August 2025, whether there is a minimum number of returns that would determine the pilot to have been successful.

The UK-France Treaty sets out the lawful basis for the reciprocal exchange of individuals on a one-to-one basis. We will continuously monitor and evaluate the pilot as it progresses, with a full evaluation to be completed at the end of the pilot period.

How many of the demonstrators arrested in central London on 9 August 2025 were (a) arrested for supporting Palestine Action and (b) subsequently charged for the same offence.

The Metropolitan Police has provided several public updates on the progression of the cases arising from the protest of 9 August on its website, with the most recent update on 1 September: https://news.met.police.uk/news/more-people-charged-with-terrorism-act-offences-linked-to-palestine-action-support-500541.The Metropolitan Police have also released statistics on the arrests made at the central London protests on 9 August 2025. A total of 532 individuals were arrested. 522 of those were arrested for an offence contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT). Section 13 of TACT makes it an offence to wear clothing or display an article in a public place in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation. Further information on the arrests on 9 August can be found here: https://news.met.police.uk/news/update-532-arrested-during-protest-policing-operation-499897.The investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, including determining whether an offence has been committed or not, is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who are operationally independent.

How many (a) asylum hotels, (b) houses in multiple occupation used to house asylum seekers, (c) other properties used to house asylum seekers and (d) asylum seekers there were in Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley constituency as of 1 September 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 4 September to Question 71421.

With reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress she has made in rolling out a series of new measures to strengthen our borders.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on the 1st September.

How many specialist officers have been recruited for the Border Security Command since 1 September 2024.

The Border Security Command (BSC) has been appropriately resourced with staff in policy, diplomatic and intelligence roles to ensure it can provide strategic leadership across government, with operational partners and in the UK and overseas. The department's staffing detail is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts.

What is the total cost of the 4.2% police pay rise for Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

The Home Office does not hold paybill information for each police force. It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office will provide £120m of additional funding in 2025/26 to police forces to help with the cost of the 2025 police pay award.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on amending The Air Navigation Order 2016 to allow greater use of drones by police forces.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for ensuring that all UK aircraft operators must comply with the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016.In the use and deployment of drones, police forces must have due regard to the ANO which specifies the requirements and conduct drone operators must abide by to use drones in a manner which is both safe and does not unduly endanger or negatively impact members of the public.To support policing in developing a national drone capability which is both effective and safe, in FY2025/26, the Home Office has allocated £3.9m to national police-led programmes of work to drive standardisation and improve coordination in police drone operations to support public safety outcomes.Furthermore, to support development of these programmes and improve the safe and legal use of drones by policing, the Home Office and policing are currently working closely with the Department of Transport (DFT) and CAA. This is to ensure both compliance with the ANO whilst continuing to create an enabling environment that allows policing to increasingly use drones both innovatively and dynamically in the operational response to incidents.

What percentage increase in police pay did Cambridgeshire Constabulary budget for against the 4.2% pay increase awarded.

The Home Office does not hold paybill information for each police force. It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office will provide £120m of additional funding in 2025/26 to police forces to help with the cost of the 2025 police pay award.

What the process is for risk assessing the pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

There is no prohibition on undertaking a pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.Decisions on when to initiate a pursuit involving a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet are operational matters for the police, taking into account each particular set of circumstances. When deciding whether or not to undertake or continue a pursuit, an officer should take into account the guidance offered in the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Roads Policing Police Pursuits.The APP makes clear that the key consideration is whether the pursuit is necessary, proportionate and balanced against the threat, risk and harm of pursuit to the person being pursued, the officers and others who may be affected and sets out the authorisation requirements for the pursuit.