Written questions by Timothy.

What plans she has to improve the firearms licensing service.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

Whether the revenues from increased firearms licensing fees will be hypothecated to improve the firearms licensing service.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

With reference to her oral contribution of 2 September 2024 in response to the question from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich, Official Report, column 70, on what evidential basis she said that two-tier policing does not occur in England and Wales.

Schedule 4 of the Police Act 1996 requires all police constables to make a declaration that they will carry out their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality. This means that the police must, and do, enforce the law without fear or favour.The use of police powers to maintain public order is an operational decision for the relevant force and how they choose to exercise those powers will depend on the circumstances of a particular incident.The previous Home Secretary (the Rt Hon Member for Fareham and Waterlooville) was rightly dismissed from her position for suggesting otherwise.

What service level agreements exist for firearms licensing.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role the Government has (a) in policing and (b) tackling crime within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone; and whether Westminster Bridge is in the Government Secure Zone.

Departmental responsibility for tackling crime, whether on Westminster Bridge, or in the Hon Member’s own constituency of West Suffolk is a matter for the relevant local police force.

Whether the Homeland Security Group has assessed social media posts written by Elon Musk as part of its disinformation work.

The Homeland Security Group (HSG) in the Home Office routinely conducts open source monitoring to help keep British citizens safe, including on social media platforms in compliance with the relevant legislation governing such activity.As per convention, specific details of this work cannot be provided publicly as this would jeopardise its effectiveness.

Whether her Department provides funding for each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors, and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

If she will publish (a) terms and (b) guidance for pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Which areas are covered by the pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

How many asylum seekers are covered by the pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities by (i) number of family units and (ii) average number of children.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

What the cost is of each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Which Minister is responsible for the (a) implementation and (b) assessment of pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

How many social houses are being used by each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

When she was made aware that Axel Rudakubana had (a) sought to manufacture ricin and (b) possessed an Al-Qaeda training manual.

I refer the Hon. Member to the statements made on those and other issues by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, on 21 January.

When the Prime Minister was made aware that Axel Rudakubana had (a) sought to manufacture ricin and (b) possessed an Al-Qaeda training manual.

I refer the Hon. Member to the statements made on those and other issues by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, on 21 January.

With reference to her Department's transparency data entitled Breakdown of Home Office costs associated with the MEDP with Rwanda and the Illegal Migration Act 2023, Table 1: Home Office spend on the MEDP and the IMA, published on 2 December 2024, if she will provide a breakdown of the Other fixed costs referenced in that table.

In reference to this published document Breakdown of Home Office costs associated with the MEDP with Rwanda and the Illegal Migration Act 2023, a further breakdown of row 4 of Table 1 ‘other fixed costs’ is as follows: Other Fixed Costs (£m)* 2022/23 2023/24 24/25 (to June 24) Total Costs incurred to design and develop the digital, IT and data systems required to operationalise the MEDP and IMA012212134Programme and legal costs050757Cost of staff working directly on MEDP & IMA policies0612687Total 0 233 45 278 * Figures are to the nearest £1 million Please note the figures in Table 1 of the referenced publication on gov.uk were rounded to the nearest £5 million either way for technical reasons.

If she will make it her policy to reduce the legal age for tattoos to 16 under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969.

The Home Office keeps all such matters under review.

If she will hold discussions with responsible authorities on taking steps to tackle (a) unlawful gambling, (b) unlawful street vendors, (c) unlawful parking and (d) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge; and who the responsible authorities are.

The Home Office is unable to provide the information requested. You may wish to direct your query to; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding unlawful gambling, the Department for Transport and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding unlawful parking and the Department for Transport regarding unlicenced pedicabs.The Home Office has no plans to hold talks as this is not a matter for the Home Office.

What steps she is taking to implement the provisions on foreign interference in the National Security Act 2023 that have yet to be commenced.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 17 December to Question UIN 18703.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 19469 on Home Office: Equality and with reference to the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance, published on 14 May 2024, if she will remove all stand-alone equality, diversity and inclusion roles.

There are no standalone roles related to equality, diversity and inclusion outside of the Home Office HR Function, and those that do function are focused on discharging the Departments statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010. This is in line with the stipulations in Paragraph 18c of the guidance to which the Hon member’s question refers.