Every parliamentary written question tabled by John Hayes this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 241–260 of 263 · Home Office
What estimate her Department has made of how many illegal cigarettes were smuggled into the UK in 2023.
The transparency data showing the total amount of illegal cigarettes seized by Border Force in 2023 is available at the following page:Border Force Transparency 2023Qty of Cigarettes (sticks)Q1 156,104,848Q2 197,641,347Q3 259,625,932Q4 210,205,139Total 823,577,266
What is the total amount paid to (a) Serco, (b) Clearsprings and (c) Mears since 2019 for contracts to provide housing for asylum seekers.
Costs are subject to change depending on numbers being accommodated within the asylum system, and details are considered to be commercially confidential. The total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
How many police officers are employed in neighbourhood policing in Lincolnshire.
The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the primary function of police officers, as at 31 March each year, in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.Table F1 of the data tables accompanying the publication provides the number of officers in “Neighbourhood Policing” roles, by Police Force Area, as at 31 March 2024.
Whether her Department has provided funding to Hope Not Hate since 5 July 2024.
I refer the Hon Member to my response to PQ 10945.
What the total (a) amount and (b) value was of Class A drugs coming into the UK that were seized at the borders in the last five years.
The latest transparency data showing the total amount of Class A drugs seized by Border Force across the last five years is available at the following pages:Seizures of drugs in England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Border Force transparency data: Q1 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Border Force transparency data: Q2 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The statistics below are taken from the Q2 2024 transparency data. These cannot be combined into a single figure due to the different units of measurement, so a breakdown of each drug is provided. Class A Drugs by Year2018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24TotalCocaine (KG8,886.733,757.519,475.4917,096.7215,222.726,692.5281,131.67Crack (KG)0.0334.80.060.413.426.4345.15Heroin (KG)428.462,210.621,812.281,117.22659.94327.056555.57LSD (Dose 000s)52.720.76105.8630.4129.554.68243.96MDMA (Dose 000s)1,912.111,390.221,025.98453.811,390.171,227.086,172.29Methadone (Dose 000s)N/AN/A0.181.280.20.392.05Morphine (Dose 000s)0.351.072.520.421.132.938.42Fentanyl (KG)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A0.020.02 Border Force does not estimate, disclose, or publish the value of drugs seized.
What steps she has taken with relevant authorities to reduce shop lifting in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
Shoplifting increased at an unacceptable level under the previous government, and we have seen more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this. Everybody has a right to feel safe on the job.To that end, this Government will end the effective immunity, introduced by the previous Government, granted to low level shoplifting of goods under £200, and introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.
What steps she is taking to reduce levels of drug offences in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
Reducing drug-related crime is a key priority for this Government and is part of our mission to take back our streets and drive down crime and antisocial behaviour.An additional £267 million in drug and alcohol treatment is being invested into services this year to improve quality and capacity, which has the potential to reduce crime and reoffending.As part of the Governments work to reduce drug-related harms and crime, every area in England has a dedicated Combating Drugs Partnership (CDP). In Lincolnshire, the Government has supported the establishment of a Lincolnshire Drug and Alcohol Partnership, to help bring together key local partners to address drug related-crime, drug use and drug deaths, in line with local context and need. Between March 2022 and August 2024 there has been an increase of 248 treatment places in Lincolnshire.Broader work across the county to reduce drug offences included targeting drug treatment referrals at offenders. As well as continuing work with the National Police Chiefs Council to increase police referrals into drug treatment.We are committed to reducing drug offences in supply of illicit drugs. Recent police activity on County Lines has resulted in over 5,100 line drug dealing line closures, over 15,600 arrests and over 8,000 safeguarding referrals. In addition, we are working continuously to disrupt the organised criminal gangs behind the importation and supply of drugs in the UK.
What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of neighbourhood policing in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
As part of the Government’s Safer Streets mission, the Home Secretary has made a clear commitment to strengthen neighbourhood policing through the introduction of a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.This includes getting thousands of neighbourhood police personnel back on the beat, ensuring local people have a named officer who they can turn to when things go wrong, and cracking down on the street crime, shop theft and anti-social behaviour which has made communities feel less safe for far too long.
Whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met the Runnymede Trust charity since July 5 2024.
All relevant meetings attended by ministers, special advisers and senior officials are declared in the normal way in the department’s quarterly transparency releases.
What steps she is taking to tackle county lines operations in Lincolnshire.
County lines is the most violent and exploitative model of drug distribution nationally, and a harmful form of Child Criminal Exploitation. The Government’s manifesto included a commitment to introduce a new offence of criminal exploitation of children, to go after the gangs who are luring young people into violence and crime.While the the majority of lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, and Greater Manchester Police, county lines is a national issue which is why, through the Home Office-funded County Lines Programme, we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to monitor the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response.The County Lines Programme taskforces regularly conduct joint operations with other forces, and we have established a dedicated fund which provides local forces with additional funding to tackle county lines, including Lincolnshire Police.Since the County Lines Programme was launched in 2019, police activity has resulted in over 5,100 line closures, over 15,600 arrests and over 8,000 safeguarding referrals.
Whether her Department has provided funding to the Runnymede Trust in the last ten years.
The Home Office has provided no funding to the Runnymede Trust in the last ten years.
When she plans to publish the findings of the consultation entitled Controls on the use of crossbows on public safety grounds, published on 14 February 2024.
A call for evidence on strengthening controls on crossbows on public safety grounds ran from 14 February to 9 April 2024. It tested ideas for whether there should be some form of licensing regime that would provide further controls on the use, ownership and supply of crossbows.The responses have been reviewed and we are considering whether further controls on crossbows need to be introduced. We will publish the Government’s response to the call for evidence, alongside a summary of the responses received, in due course.
What assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding levels for Lincolnshire Police.
This Government is committed to ensuring that the police have the resources they need to tackle crime effectively.Lincolnshire Police’s funding will be up to £164.3m in 2024-25. This is in addition to £1.4m provided for the 2024-25 pay award which has been allocated outside of the police funding settlement.Funding beyond this year, including for Lincolnshire Police, will be confirmed in due course following the upcoming Spending Review.
If she will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to add consideration of population growth to their ongoing work.
The Migration Advisory Committee are an independent body who advise the Government primarily on the labour market, however they can consider issues linked to population such as housing and public services when providing recommendations.
How many people have been granted visas to work in the United Kingdom in the last three years without passing criminal record checks.
The Home Office undertakes thorough checks to prevent serious criminals from entering the UK. Overseas Criminal Record checks are conducted on all nationals within the Skilled Worker route along with other security checks to ensure that those entering the UK for the purpose of employment are suitable to do so. We are unaware of any cases whereby an individual who has not met our requirements for suitability has been granted leave and subsequently entered the UK.
If she will publish guidance on safe access buffer zones around abortion clinics.
This Government’s priority has been to commence Safe Access Zones as quickly as possible. The College of Policing and the Crown Prosecution Service will produce guidance for the police and prosecutors.
If she will publish guidance on the application of safe access zones around abortion clinics to private property within such zones.
This Government’s priority has been to commence Safe Access Zones as quickly as possible. The College of Policing and the Crown Prosecution Service will produce guidance for the police and prosecutors.
How many and what proportion of asylum claims her Department has processed since 5 July 2024.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims, initial decisions and asylum claims awaiting an initial decision is published in tables Asy_D01, Asy_D02 and Asy_D03 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.The latest data relates to year ending June 2024. Data for July to September 2024 will be published on 28 November 2024.
How many hotels have started housing asylum seekers awaiting a decision on whether they will be granted refugee status since 5 July 2024.
The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. This includes clearing the backlog to reduce demand on our accommodation estate and ending the use of hotels over time.
What assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of farm machinery theft in the last five years.
The Government recognises the importance of tackling rural crime and the impact stolen farm machinery can have on businesses. We are committed to safeguarding rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing, and stronger laws to prevent farm theft and fly-tippers.We will implement the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which aims to prevent the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.