Written questions by Lowe.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the funding criteria for coastal defences in Hemsby, and if he will visit Hemsby.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is the responsible risk management authority for coastal erosion at Hemsby. The shoreline management approach for Hemsby’s coastline is managed realignment, as outlined in the Shoreline Management Plan which has been developed locally by the East Anglia Coastal Group and included consultation with the community. We must also be mindful of the negative impacts of defence solutions on neighbouring coastal communities where erosion can be exacerbated. This was highlighted in the Shoreline Management Plan for the area where this is a major driver for the longer-term managed realignment policy. Under the inherited approach to investing in flood schemes, Grant in Aid investment at Hemsby is challenging due to high costs associated with the technical aspects of providing protection to an actively eroding sand dune. This means that the benefit cost ratio for investment is likely to be marginal and most typical engineering options, with assured benefits, are likely to be uneconomic to deliver. In opposition, we said we would look at the funding formula for flood schemes. It remains our intention to do this, to ensure flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face both now and in the future. We are examining all use of flood defence resources to ensure that the Government maximises safety from potential flooding within the difficulty financial legacy the country was left by the previous government. I regret Ministers currently have no availability to visit the Honourable Member's constituency at this time but will keep his invitation in mind.

If she will publish a constituency level breakdown of where all irregular migrants are being housed including accommodation type.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, by local authority and accommodation type, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent stats release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. This includes identifying a range of options to reduce the use of hotels over time and ensuring efficiency and value for money across all accommodation arrangements.

How many irregular migrants that have arrived by small boat have been granted asylum in each of the last five years.

The Home Office publishes statistics on detected small boat arrivals to the UK in the ‘Irregular migration to the UK statistics’ release. Data on initial decisions on asylum applications from small boat arrivals, including the number granted, is published in table Irr_D03 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’ with the latest data up to the end of June 2024. Data for July to September 2024 will be published in November 2024.

How many foreign nationals were convicted of offences in each of the last five years; and if she will provide a breakdown of those offences by class of crime.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of defendants convicted for offences in each of the last five years in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2023.However, it is not possible to identify an offender’s nationality from the centrally collated convictions data. This information may be held on court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

How many and what proportion of foreign nationals sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months have been deported in each of the last five years; and what mitigating factors the Foreign National Offenders Returns Command considers when determining whether deportation based on criminality is appropriate.

The Home Office publishes statistics on the returns of foreign national offenders by nationality and year. These returns are published in the Returns Detailed Datasets, Year Ending June 2024; which are available at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would breach a person’s ECHR rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 provides an exemption from deportation for Commonwealth citizens who were ordinarily resident in the UK on 1 January 1973 and ordinarily resident in the five-year period before the decision to make a deportation order. Those who can establish that they meet this exemption will not be liable to deportation and so will not be deported.A foreign national offender is given the opportunity to make submissions as to why they should not be deported and all claims raised are fully considered and decided upon before deportation, including, where applicable, via the Courts.

How many people have been deported by country of destination on each day this year.

The Home Office publishes data on individuals who are returned from the UK as a part of the “Immigrations Systems Statistics Quarterly Release”. The total number of enforced returns of individuals by destination can be found in table Ret_D02 of the “returns detailed datasets”. The Home Office publishes this data quarterly, with the latest data up to the end of June 2024. Data for July to September 2024 will be published in November 2024. The Home Office does not publish daily returns of individuals.Deportations are a specific subset of enforced returns which are enforced either following a criminal conviction or when it is judged that a person’s removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. The deportation order prohibits the person returning to the UK until such time as it may be revoked. The Home office publishes data on enforced returns but not deportations.

If she will meet the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth to discuss (a) safety concerns about and (b) dualling of the Acle Straight on the A47.

In the first instance, I would encourage the honourable member to meet with colleagues from National Highways to discuss their work to improve safety on the Acle Straight section of the A47 in Suffolk. There are currently no plans to dual the Acle Straight.

How many people of what nationality claiming an out of work benefit are not UK citizens; and what the cost to the public purse is of such benefits.

The Department does not hold data on the current nationality of all those claiming benefits. DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing a customer’s eligibility to claim benefits. For non-UK / Irish citizens, an individual’s specific nationality does not play a role in this and the Department therefore does not consistently collect nationality information at the point of benefit claim.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Leader of the House on a holding a debate on the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The agreement announced by the UK and Mauritius on 3 October concerning the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago is subject to the finalisation of a treaty. Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the detail of the Treaty prior to ratification, in the usual way.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3443 on National Security Online Information Team, what (a) topics and (b) events are being monitored by the National Security Online Information Team.

NSOIT leads the operational response to information risks to UK audiences. Its ministerially agreed remit is to focus on public safety and national security risks. This includes mis- and disinformation arising from events such as the public unrest which occurred over the summer as well as ongoing risks to the UK’s core values and democratic processes from foreign states’ interference.

What the annual cost is of foreign national prisoners in each of the last three years; and how many foreign national prisoners there are.

There were 10,435 foreign national prisoners held in custody on 30 June 2024; representing 12% of the total prison population. We do not hold annual running cost data for foreign national prisoners. We publish costs per prison place via Prison and Probati...

What the (a) nationality and (b) class of crime is of foreign national offenders (i) in prison and (ii) deported this year.

There were 10,435 foreign national prisoners held in custody on 30 June 2024; representing 12% of the total prison population. We do not hold annual running cost data for foreign national prisoners. We publish costs per prison place via Prison and Probati...

What costs from the treatment of chargeable overseas visitors (a) are outstanding and (b) have been written off.

The Department publishes data on the income identified from chargeable overseas visitors in England as part of its annual report and accounts. The cash payments received, and amounts written off in-year by the National Health Service from chargeable overseas visitors, are also published annually in the consolidated NHS provider accounts.The following table shows the aggregate income identified, cash payments received, and amounts written off in-year by the NHS in England, from overseas visitors, over the last three years: 2020/212021/222022/23Aggregate income identified£61,000,000£67,000,000£100,000,000 Cash payments received in-year£21,000,000£25,000,000£32,000,000 Amounts written off in-year£46,000,000£36,000,000£37,000,000 Source: DHSC Annual Report and Accounts and Consolidated NHS provider accounts.NHS charges can be recovered up to six years from the date of invoice, and therefore the amount recovered in a year does not necessarily mean it was identified that financial year.

Whether a decision has taken on the rebuild of the James Paget Hospital; and if he will meet the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth to discuss the rebuild.

We are reviewing the New Hospital Programme (NHP) to put it on a sustainable footing, including a realistic timetable for delivery and clarity on the funding required.As set out in the Terms of Reference for the review, along with the six other hospitals that were constructed primarily using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), the new hospital scheme for James Paget Hospital is out of scope of the review into the NHP. The Terms of Reference are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-terms-of-reference/new-hospital-programme-review-terms-of-referenceWork on this scheme will continue at pace due to the critical need to replace James Paget Hospital to protect patient and staff safety.We will engage with those hon. Members with RAAC hospital schemes in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the interest rate system for student loans; and if she will meet the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth to discuss that system.

The government is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students. The department is considering the system and will continue to engage with stakeholders on this. The department believes that every young person, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to attend university. That is why the department is dedicated to creating a sustainable HE funding system that supports students, expands opportunities, and upholds the excellence of our world-leading universities.

How many positions in his Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not routinely collate information on specific words and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost. Information on spending and staffing can be found in the Department's annual report and accounts.

How many positions in her Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.

No positions in my Department had diversity, inclusion, equity, or equality in their job titles in the last five years, as such there were no related salary costs.

Media and Sport, how many positions in her Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not routinely collate information on specific words and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost.Information on spending and staffing can be found in the department’s annual report & accounts.

How many positions in her Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.

The Ministry of Justice does not routinely collate information on specific words and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost.Information on spending and staffing can be found in the Department’s annual report and accounts.

How many positions in her Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.