The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 4,196 tabled · 3,904 answered

Written questions by McMurdock.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by James McMurdock this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.

Department:All (4,196)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (578)Department of Health and Social Care (526)Home Office (452)Department for Education (432)Department for Work and Pensions (255)Department for Transport (248)Treasury (247)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (221)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (209)Department for Business and Trade (206)Ministry of Justice (203)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (194)

Showing 6180 of 452 · Home Office

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29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

What steps she is taking to provide further protection to Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres following the increase in the national threat level to severe.

Reply

The Government is committed to the safety and security of Jewish communities across the UK and to tackling antisemitism wherever it occurs. Everyone should feel safe to practise their faith and participate in public life free from intimidation or fear.In ...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Home Office’s press release entitled New high street unit set up in nationwide blitz on dodgy shops, published on 19 May 2026, what powers the new High Street Organised Crime Uni

Reply

The Home Office does not hold current data on the number of illegitimate businesses operating in Basildon, Thurrock and Essex. However, the National Crime Agency estimates that at least £1 billion is being laundered through rogue barber shops, vape stores...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Home Office’s press release entitled New high street unit set up in nationwide blitz on dodgy shops, published on 19 May 2026, how many dodgy shops have been closed by her Depart

Reply

The Home Office does not hold current data on the number of illegitimate businesses operating in Basildon, Thurrock and Essex. However, the National Crime Agency estimates that at least £1 billion is being laundered through rogue barber shops, vape stores...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, what assessment she has made of the adeq

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, what assessment she has made of the adeq

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, what estimate she has made of the number

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, what assessment she has made of the (a)

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, what assessment she has made of the scal

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Home Office’s press release entitled New high street unit set up in nationwide blitz on dodgy shops, published on 19 May 2026, what estimate she has made of the amount of crimina

Reply

The National Crime Agency estimates that at least £1 billion is being laundered through rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and nail bars operating on UK high streets.As such, addressing this threat is a priority for the Government, and on 19 May,...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, how many prosecutions for unlawfully pro

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

29 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to the Immigration Advice Authority’s press release entitled Public urged to check immigration advisers are regulated, published on 11 May 2026, how many investigations into unregulated

Reply

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999) specifies that immigration advice and services can only be provided by qualified persons, meaning those registered by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or those who are members of the legal profession (t...

15 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

What assessment she has made of the reasons why victims may not report anti-social behaviour to the police.

Reply

Tacking anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As well as tackling the causes of ASB, we know that more must be done to help its victims. That is why the Government committed in its manife...

13 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to help improve coordination between police forces and local authorities to tackle criminal enterpris

Reply

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskfor...

13 May 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of police resources dedicated to tackling organised crime operating through small retail businesses.

Reply

We are fully committed to tackling criminality on the high street from illegitimate businesses. It is for this reason that the Home Office, working with the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, has established a cross-government Taskfor...

24 Apr 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of previous UK-France agreements since 2023 in reducing illegal crossings; and if she will set out how those assessments informed the terms of the new agreement.

Reply

Illegal small boat crossings are driven by organised criminal gangs and have cost lives. The result is a severe strain on both our asylum system and our wider social contract. Since 2021, over 400,000 people have claimed asylum in the UK. At its peak in 2023, there were 400 asylum hotels across the country, at a daily cost of £9 million, paid for by the taxpayer. This Government’s determination to crack down on small boats is clear. 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. The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the UK with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources.The new multi-year partnership with France represents a necessary step-change. French beaches will see a surge in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down illegal migrants and stop them boarding boats in Northern France. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year.The new agreement reflects sustained ministerial and operational engagement, including the UK-France Leaders Declaration and close working between the Border Security Command, the NCA, and French law enforcement and maritime authorities. Our close engagement with France since the general election has led to improvement of the law enforcement response in northern France, such as the introduction of specialist, dedicated police units. It has also led to an improved understanding of what delivers the most impact.Joint action is already delivering results. Over 42,000 crossing attempts have been prevented since the election. Joint law enforcement operations have also seen 480 migrant traffickers arrested in 2025 alone. However, despite these successes, we must not be complacent. I acknowledge that there is no silver bullet in tackling this crisis. We must go further and faster to tackle this issue together with France, which is why this deal is so important.

24 Apr 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, how much of the funding is contingent on performance-related outcomes.

Reply

The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. The new funding arrangement represents an evolution from previous iterations. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3.This new deal is underpinned by robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure every intervention is evidence-led and responsive to changing circumstances. The innovations in the flexible fund will be reviewed annually. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year. Every pound spent will target results, maximising the effectiveness of UK investment to reduce small boat crossings.We are working with France to develop the right metrics to evaluate success – including measures like arrests and disruptions. This is a partnership – we are working together on a shared problem.

24 Apr 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what targets have been agreed with the French government for (a) interceptions, (b) prevented departures and (c) returns under the new arrangements.

Reply

The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. The new funding arrangement represents an evolution from previous iterations. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3.This new deal is underpinned by robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure every intervention is evidence-led and responsive to changing circumstances. The innovations in the flexible fund will be reviewed annually. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year. Every pound spent will target results, maximising the effectiveness of UK investment to reduce small boat crossings.We are working with France to develop the right metrics to evaluate success – including measures like arrests and disruptions. This is a partnership – we are working together on a shared problem.

24 Apr 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, whether the additional personnel will be (a) directly employed by the French government and (b) contracted through third parties.

Reply

The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. Under the previous funding arrangement, around 750 law enforcement personnel were deployed to French beaches. The actions of these personnel have contributed to 42,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election. French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats and bring people smugglers to justice.The priority of these officers is to stop small boat crossings, and the nature of their deployment will be on the operational need and nature of the threat. It would be incorrect to strictly categorise the officers into coastal patrols, inland enforcement and intelligence-gathering activities.This uplift in resource will be front-loaded. This includes five specialist police units who will be in place this summer, including a permanent riot squad to respond to escalating migrant violence. This deal will also provide enhanced surveillance, expanded French maritime tactics, and new detention capacity to increase removals from France. The new arrangement will increase the number of officers deployed daily up to nearly 1,100 by year 3 of the funding arrangement.The additional personnel will be directly employed by the French government. The Home Office is not in possession of data on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.All of the additional units will be operational on a full-time basis. In addition, the Compagnie de Marche, a specialist unit with elite public order powers, will be surged during the summer months, historically the busiest time for small boat crossings.

24 Apr 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what the planned deployment timetable is for the additional personnel.

Reply

The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. Under the previous funding arrangement, around 750 law enforcement personnel were deployed to French beaches. The actions of these personnel have contributed to 42,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election. French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats and bring people smugglers to justice.The priority of these officers is to stop small boat crossings, and the nature of their deployment will be on the operational need and nature of the threat. It would be incorrect to strictly categorise the officers into coastal patrols, inland enforcement and intelligence-gathering activities.This uplift in resource will be front-loaded. This includes five specialist police units who will be in place this summer, including a permanent riot squad to respond to escalating migrant violence. This deal will also provide enhanced surveillance, expanded French maritime tactics, and new detention capacity to increase removals from France. The new arrangement will increase the number of officers deployed daily up to nearly 1,100 by year 3 of the funding arrangement.The additional personnel will be directly employed by the French government. The Home Office is not in possession of data on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.All of the additional units will be operational on a full-time basis. In addition, the Compagnie de Marche, a specialist unit with elite public order powers, will be surged during the summer months, historically the busiest time for small boat crossings.

24 Apr 2026·Home Office·Answered
Asked

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what data her Department holds on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.

Reply

The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. Under the previous funding arrangement, around 750 law enforcement personnel were deployed to French beaches. The actions of these personnel have contributed to 42,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election. French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats and bring people smugglers to justice.The priority of these officers is to stop small boat crossings, and the nature of their deployment will be on the operational need and nature of the threat. It would be incorrect to strictly categorise the officers into coastal patrols, inland enforcement and intelligence-gathering activities.This uplift in resource will be front-loaded. This includes five specialist police units who will be in place this summer, including a permanent riot squad to respond to escalating migrant violence. This deal will also provide enhanced surveillance, expanded French maritime tactics, and new detention capacity to increase removals from France. The new arrangement will increase the number of officers deployed daily up to nearly 1,100 by year 3 of the funding arrangement.The additional personnel will be directly employed by the French government. The Home Office is not in possession of data on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.All of the additional units will be operational on a full-time basis. In addition, the Compagnie de Marche, a specialist unit with elite public order powers, will be surged during the summer months, historically the busiest time for small boat crossings.

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