Written questions by Hayes.

If she will take steps with the police to review procedures to help ensure that serving officers do not face punitive disciplinary proceedings for raising concerns about operational risks

Police officers have a statutory duty to report any wrongdoing under their Standards of Professional Behaviour and it is vital that they are supported in doing so. There are a number of routes, both internal and external, to raise such concerns, including through the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) Reporting Line, which enables police officers and staff to report concerns of wrongdoing that a criminal offence has been committed, or where there is evidence of conduct that would justify disciplinary proceedings.The Code of Ethics, issued by the College of Policing, encourages policing to use the recognised route to report concerns through force confidential reporting lines, and explains that ‘whistleblowers’ will be provided legal protections set out in the Employment Right Act 1996.Crimestoppers have also announced a new phone number to report corruption and abuse within the police, jointly commissioned by the National Police Chiefs Council and the Association of Police Crime Commissioners, which, in addition to the public, is also available for use by serving police officers and staff

How much Fentanyl by (a) volume and (b) value has been seized in the UK in the last 12 months.

The Home Office latest published data on Fentanyl seizures made by the police and Border Force for England and Wales covers the period April 2023-March 2024 and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seizures-of-drugs-in-england-and-wales-financial-year-ending-2024The Home Office does not publish the monetary (£) value of drugs seized. In the year ending March 2024, the latest published statistics show that police forces and Border Force seized:22 Fentanyl seizures, totalling 218 doses and 0.3kg6 Fentanyl analogue seizures, totalling 1 dose and 1.3 kgFentanyl analogues include Carfentanil, Lofentanil, Sufentanil, Alfentanil (Rapifen) and Fentanyl (derivatives of).Border Force also release quarterly transparency data which include Fentanyl seizures. The latest available data are below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-force-transparency-data-q4-2024

Whether her Department plans to increase visible policing in areas in Lincolnshire with high rates of road traffic offences.

On 10 April the Government outlined further details about our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, including by July, every community will have named, and contactable officers dedicated to addressing the issues facing their communities.At the heart of the Guarantee is ensuring communities have a say in neighbourhood policing in their area, including through regular beat meetings, to help set local priorities, such as tackling high rates of road traffic offences.

Whether she has had recent discussions with her international counterparts on the potential cost to the public purse of proposed agreements with third countries to take failed asylum seekers from the UK.

We do not provide a running commentary on discussions with our overseas partners.

Which countries her Department has had discussions with on temporarily taking failed asylum seekers from the UK.

We do not provide a running commentary on discussions with our overseas partners.

If she will take steps to ensure that people on (a) family and (b) student visas do not claim asylum when there has not been a material change in circumstances in their country of origin.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the announcements made in this area in the Immigration White Paper published on 12 May 2025, further details of which will be set out in due course.

Whether the proposed 10-year pathway to settlement will apply retrospectively to migrants already legally residing in the UK.

We will reform our settlement and citizenship rules by expanding the Points-Based System and increasing the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years. Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at the time.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed 10-year pathway to settlement on people nearing their five-year eligibility.

We will reform our settlement and citizenship rules by expanding the Points-Based System and increasing the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years. Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at the time.

Which scientific methods will be used to strengthen the age verification process of asylum applicants.

The Government is committed to strengthening the age assessment process and continues to review all options for improving the accuracy and efficiency of the age assessment system.

What steps she is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in her Department.

We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all government departments to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, The ‘Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship’ (CLA), will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.In addition, in the Home Department we have recently launched a new Apprenticeship Strategy designed to accelerate progress in embedding apprenticeships across the department. This strategy is aimed at significantly expanding access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities across all areas of our workforce, with a ‘think apprenticeship first’ approach.As part of this strategy, we have set an ambitious target: at least 5% of our staff will be undertaking an apprenticeship at any given time. This target reflects our strong commitment to developing talent, supporting career progression, and addressing skills gaps within the Department.

Whether the proposed ten year residence criteria for migrants will include time spent in a third country.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reforms in relation to Family visas, graduate rules, settlement criteria, and a range of other areas.

What her Department's definition is of a graduate level job which students must acquire in order to remain in the UK after their studies.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reforms in relation to Family visas, graduate rules, settlement criteria, and a range of other areas.

Whether the proposed 10 year residence criteria for migrants will include time spent in the person's country of origin on extended leave.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reforms in relation to Family visas, graduate rules, settlement criteria, and a range of other areas.

What is the total value of contracts awarded to Clearsprings Ready Homes in relation to housing asylum seekers since 2019.

The Contract Values for the AASC contracts, awarded by the previous government, to Clearsprings Ready Homes are £334,000,000 (Wales) and £662,000,000 (South).These values and further details are available publicly on Contracts Finder:AASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts FinderAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder

If she will make an annual statement to Parliament on the progress on her plan to reduce immigration.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reforms in relation to Family visas, graduate rules, settlement criteria, and a range of other areas.

If she will take steps to cap the number of family visas annually.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reforms in relation to Family visas, graduate rules, settlement criteria, and a range of other areas.

If she will publish membership of the Labour Market Evidence Group ahead of its establishment.

The Labour Market Evidence (LME) Group will be comprised of:• The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, who are encouraged to focus on domestic recruitment and training;• The Department for Work and Pensions, tasked with reducing economic inactivity and increasing workforce participation;• Skills England and equivalent organisations in the Devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which will target training needs; and• The Migration Advisory Committee which will guide immigration policy.The LME Group will be set up in due course.

When the Labour Market Evidence Group will be set up.

The Labour Market Evidence (LME) Group will be comprised of:• The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, who are encouraged to focus on domestic recruitment and training;• The Department for Work and Pensions, tasked with reducing economic inactivity and increasing workforce participation;• Skills England and equivalent organisations in the Devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which will target training needs; and• The Migration Advisory Committee which will guide immigration policy.The LME Group will be set up in due course.

How much MDMA by (a) volume and (b) value has been seized in the UK over the last 12 months.

The Home Office latest published data on amphetamine, ketamine and MDMA seizures made by the police and Border Force for England and Wales covers the period April 2023-March 2024 and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seizures-of-drugs-in-england-and-wales-financial-year-ending-2024The Home Office does not publish the monetary (£) value of drugs seized. In the year ending March 2024, the latest published statistics show that police forces and Border Force seized:2,337 amphetamine seizures, totalling 285 kg2,252 ketamine seizures, totalling 855 kg1,919 MDMA seizures, totalling 1.6 tonnesBorder Force also publish quarterly transparency data which includes amphetamine, ketamine and MDMA seizures, and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-force-transparency-data-q4-2024Please find below the relevant statistics from the Q4 Border Force transparency data publication. 2023 Q42024 Q12024 Q22024 Q3TotalAmphetamines (KG)13.0913.705.9025.7558.44Ketamine (KG)152.08311.80100.33419.40983.61MDMA (Ecstasy) (Dose 000s)466.80241.33284.16219.451,211.73

How much amphetamine by (a) volume and (b) value has been seized in the UK over the last 12 months.

The Home Office latest published data on amphetamine, ketamine and MDMA seizures made by the police and Border Force for England and Wales covers the period April 2023-March 2024 and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seizures-of-drugs-in-england-and-wales-financial-year-ending-2024The Home Office does not publish the monetary (£) value of drugs seized. In the year ending March 2024, the latest published statistics show that police forces and Border Force seized:2,337 amphetamine seizures, totalling 285 kg2,252 ketamine seizures, totalling 855 kg1,919 MDMA seizures, totalling 1.6 tonnesBorder Force also publish quarterly transparency data which includes amphetamine, ketamine and MDMA seizures, and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-force-transparency-data-q4-2024Please find below the relevant statistics from the Q4 Border Force transparency data publication. 2023 Q42024 Q12024 Q22024 Q3TotalAmphetamines (KG)13.0913.705.9025.7558.44Ketamine (KG)152.08311.80100.33419.40983.61MDMA (Ecstasy) (Dose 000s)466.80241.33284.16219.451,211.73