Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 421–440 of 919 · Home Office
How many charter flights for deportations were scheduled in the last 12 months; and how many took place.
In the year 5 September 2024 to 4 September 2025 inclusive, 69 returns charter flights were arranged, 64 were operated and five did not take place.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of publishing league tables of deportation compliance by countries.
We continue to use an array of tools, including through diplomatic engagement, to maintain and improve international returns co-operation.
How many deportations have been delayed as a result of challenges under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in the last 12 months.
The information requested, regarding the number of delayed deportations of foreign national offenders (FNOs) as a result of challenges under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and injunctions granted by domestic courts citing the European Convention on Human Rights, is not held centrally and to obtain it would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the backlog in deportation cases.
As committed to in the Immigration White Paper (12 May 2025), the Government will shortly publish a formal Asylum Policy Statement setting out radical reforms to modernise the asylum system and strengthen border security. These proposals will include a new protection offer, accelerated decision-making, fast-track appeals and returns, as well as reforms to family rights and Article 8 claims.Latest published information shows that at the end of Q2 2025 there were 19,390 foreign national offenders (FNOs) living in the community having completed their custodial sentences and subject to deportation.The Home Office faces significant and complex challenges when seeking to return those who have no right to be in the UK to their country of origin or lawful place of return. Despite these barriers, we are fully committed to making our communities safer by deporting those who break our laws.That is why are legislating to introduce a 24-week timeframe, this will speed up the appeals process for foreign criminals subject to ensuring that a fair hearing can take place.This government has already removed 5,179 FNOs in its first year in office, a 14 per cent increase on the previous twelve months, and we will continue to ensure there is no hiding place for foreign criminals in our country.The latest figures on the increase in returns can be found at: Returns from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 - GOV.UK.
How many seats were booked on deportation charter flights in the last year; and how many were used.
In the year 5 September 2024 to 4 September 2025 inclusive, the capacity available for those being returned on the 64 returns charter flights that operated was 3717 seats. Of these, 2972 seats were used across the 64 returns charter flights.
What her Department’s policy is on restricting multiple appeals against deportation.
In most deportation cases, there is no right of appeal unless the person concerned makes a human rights or protection claim, in which case there is a right of appeal against a decision to refuse the claim.As part of efforts to fix the broken asylum system the Government inherited, proposals are being developed to ensure immigration and asylum appeals are heard more quickly, with safeguards to maintain high standards, mechanisms to surge capacity when needed, and processes to accelerate and prioritise cases. These proposals will also include new procedures to tackle repeat applications and last-minute claims that frustrate removal action.Currently, where a person has already brought an appeal on human rights or protection grounds and then makes further submissions, they are subject to a robust test which if not met means their submissions will be rejected without a right of appeal. There is only an appeal where a person raises something that has not previously been considered which, taken together with any previously considered material, creates a realistic prospect of success.Where a person has permission to stay in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, there is a right of appeal against a decision to make a deportation order against them, in compliance with the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU. That right can only be exercised once, unless another deportation decision is made.
Whether she plans to legislate to disapply the Human Rights Act 1998 in deportation cases.
We set out in our Immigration White Paper our intention to bring forward legislation to allow us to more easily remove foreign national offenders.Later this year we will set out more detailed reforms and stronger measures to ensure our laws are upheld, including streamlining and speeding up the removals process. That will include establishing new procedures so that the Home Office can more easily take enforcement and removal action and revoke visas in a much wider range of crimes where noncustodial sentences have been given, not just cases which are sent to prison.The Government is fully committed to complying with international law and the protection of human rights. Work is underway on reviewing the application of Article 3 and Article 8 in immigration cases.
What estimate she has made of the number of foreign nationals living in the UK unlawfully who are liable for deportation.
By its very nature, it is not possible to know the exact size of the illegal population, or the number of people who arrive illegally, and so we do not seek to make any official estimates of the illegal population. In June 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a note on ‘measuring illegal migration’, which can be found here: Measuring illegal migration: our current view - Office for National Statistics.This government has already removed almost 5,200 FNOs in its first year of office, a 14 per cent increase on the previous twelve months (5 July 2024 to 4 July 2025) and we will continue to crack down on any foreign nationals who come to this country and break our rules.
If she will provide an estimate of the total number of Gazans that will enter the asylum system following medical treatment in the UK.
As the Home Secretary said in her statement to the House on 1 September, the Foreign Secretary will set out further details of the planned medical evacuations of children from Gaza in the near future.
If she will publish the number of staff working in her Department, broken down by nationality.
Nationality can be taken upon recruitment and on occasion where it is required for internal procedures.However, these are not in a retrievable format and can only be obtained via disproportionate effort. In any case, due to the low numbers held by the Home Office, this would not be a true representation of the nationalities employed.
What assessment she has has made of the potential impact of the the suspension of refugee family reunion route on number of visa applications.
The suspension of the refugee family reunion route is temporary while the Government undertakes a full review and reform of the current family rules to ensure we have a fair and properly balanced system. In the meantime, those with protection status can use other family routes to sponsor a partner and child to come to the UK. Information relating to these changes are published on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1298-4-september-2025.
What the cost to the public purse was of the (a) evacuation and (b) relocation of Palestinian students from Gaza to the UK in 2025.
There is no published data for the costs of the evacuation and relocation of Palestinian students from Gaza to the UK in 2025.
How many employees in her Department earn (a) £100,000 and (b) £166,000 or more per year.
Please see below for the number of employees with an annual salary of (a) £100,000 or more and (b) £166,000 or more.Remuneration BandsNo of Employees(a) £100,000 or more109Remuneration BandsNo of Employees(b) £166,000 or more6
Whether it is her policy to allow people with pending deportation orders to change their name.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him to Question 58408.
What proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.
The requested information is not held in a reportable format. To provide this information would require a manual review of contract records, which could only be done for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
How many foreign nationals convicted of sexual offences with a signed deportation order have yet to be deported.
This Government pledged to deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 and this target has been surpassed, with a surge in returns activity since the election leading to almost 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK being removed before the end of May.Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 4,436 were of foreign national offenders (FNOs). This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior.The specific information requested is not currently available from published statistics, but work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.
How many foreign nationals with prior convictions for sexual offences were granted (a) asylum, (b) humanitarian protection and (c) leave to remain in each of the last five years.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 19 May in response to Question 51194.
What criteria her Department uses to assess the national security risk posed by migrants from specific countries.
As a matter of longstanding policy, we do not comment on the detail of security and intelligence matters.
How many (a) asylum seekers and (b) recent arrivals were charged with (i) rape and (ii) sexual assault in each of the last five years.
Available data on the age, ethnicity, gender and region of individuals prosecuted and convicted at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Ministry of Justice Outcomes by Offences data tool, can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page, which is available online here:Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UKHowever, this data is not broken down by nationality or immigration status.
What proportion of people arrested for sexual offences were foreign nationals in the last 12 months.
Available data on the age, ethnicity, gender and region of individuals prosecuted and convicted at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Ministry of Justice Outcomes by Offences data tool, can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page, which is available online here:Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UKHowever, this data is not broken down by nationality or immigration status.