Written questions by Lowe.

What the cost was of providing accommodation in hotels and other contingency accommodation to illegal migrants in 2025.

We do not report and hold data at this granularity, including by method of arrival, and would only be obtainable at disproportionate cost.The Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) Requirements below gives a detailed breakdown of all the services to be undertaken by our accommodation providers and to the standards we expect. Full details of this can be found here: http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdf.The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the: Home Office annual report and accounts: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.

What services were contracted and delivered on-site within hotels housing illegal migrants in 2025, including medical services, transport, catering, security, and welfare support.

The Home Office holds nine contracts for the provision of asylum accommodation and support services across the UK. Information related to these contracts, including the services delivered under them, is publicly available at the links below.Hotel accommodation is managed directly by the contracted providers. Services delivered on-site typically include food and catering, laundry, security, and basic welfare support. These services are provided to ensure safe and suitable living conditions for asylum seekers and to help manage pressures on local authorities and public services while individuals await a decision on their claim. SercoAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NW - Contracts FinderAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract MEE - Contracts Finder MearsAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NEYH - Contracts FinderAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Scotland - Contracts FinderAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract NI - Contracts Finder CRHAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract Wales - Contracts FinderAASC - Asylum Accommodation & Support Services Contract South - Contracts Finder CTMCCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract - Contracts FinderContract for the Provision of Asylum Accommodation and Travel Services - Contracts Finder

What the per-person, per-night cost was for hotel accommodation used for illegal migrants in 2025 by region and supplier.

We do not report and hold data at this granularity and would only be obtainable at disproportionate cost.The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office annual report and accounts: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK

How much her Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) other support services for migrants who arrived in the UK illegally who are in accommodation by contract in 2025.

The Home Office does not hold the requested data on the provision of legal advice. Asylum seekers may be eligible for legal aid, which is administered by the Legal Aid Agency in the Ministry of Justice.Regarding other services, the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract (AASC) Statement of Requirements provides a detailed breakdown of all services that accommodation providers must deliver, along with the standards expected of them. The full document is available here:http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1112/AASC_-_Schedule_2_-_Statement_of_Requirements.pdfThe Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure, including services such as AASC and AIRE, within its Annual Report and Accounts. These can be found on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accounts

What the average cost per trip was for taxi journeys commissioned under asylum accommodation contracts in 2025 by purpose of journey.

The Home Secretary took immediate action to ensure public money is spent efficiently and fairly by ordering a review into the use of taxis for asylum seekers.Home Office officials are working to implement a new approach that assumes public transport as the default mode for all funded transport for medical and other defined ad hoc appointments, with taxi or private hire vehicles permitted only in exceptional, clearly defined circumstances.Contracted Accommodation Providers are yet to finalise the submission of invoices in respect of 2025 transport costs and these will require reconciliation and validation before payment is made and averages can be calculated.

What the spend was on taxis and private transport services provided to illegal migrants in 2025 by region and supplier.

The Home Secretary took immediate action to ensure public money is spent efficiently and fairly by ordering a review into the use of taxis for asylum seekers.Home Office officials are working to implement a new approach that assumes public transport as the default mode for all funded transport for medical and other defined ad hoc appointments, with taxi or private hire vehicles permitted only in exceptional, clearly defined circumstances.Contracted Accommodation Providers are yet to finalise the submission of invoices in respect of 2025 transport costs and these will require reconciliation and validation before payment is made and averages can be calculated.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

There are no roles in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero primarily focussed on transgender policy. The Department has fewer than five staff in roles primarily focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. The total annual salary cost is in the range of £163,800 - £183,500.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

The Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold information on how many civil servants are employed to work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.It is estimated that locating and extracting this information would result in disproportionate costs.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not employ any civil servants whose roles are primarily focused on transgender policy, diversity, equity or inclusion.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 13 November in response to Question 88798.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

There are currently fewer than 5 members of HM Treasury staff who work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion. We do not hold this information for previous years.Where the number of individuals is fewer than five, as is the case here, to provide an exact figure and the additional details requested would constitute the disclosure of personal data.The first data protection principle requires the disclosure of third-party personal data to be lawful, fair and transparent. Releasing the information would breach the first data protection principle, since it would be unlawful and unfair to release the information.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

The AGO does not employ any Civil Servants whose role primarily focusses on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion.

For the total number of people to enter the UK through the Afghanistan Response Route to date.

The information you have requested is published in the Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK. Data on the Afghan Response Route (ARR) are published in table Res_01 of the Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes to the UK summary tables, which provides a specific breakdown of ARR arrivals. The latest data is available up to the end of September 2025. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.

Media and Sport, how many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

We cannot provide the number and salary of staff who are employed in roles primarily focussed on a combination of diversity, equity and inclusion. Doing so would breach the Data Protection Act and risk identifying individual members of staff because the data is concerning five or less employees, and the information relates to someone other than the data subjects.

What the total cost to the public purse is of the Afghanistan Response Route to date.

As set out previously, as of July 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) assessed the total cost of the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) to be approximately £400 million. The Department anticipates a further £450 million in forecasted expenditure related to ARR resettlement activity, bringing the projected overall cost of the ARR scheme to £850 million.

Communities and Local Government, how many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

The department has 5 or less roles that are primarily focused on Equality, diversity and inclusion. The combined annual salary of these roles is £135,153.

Innovation and Technology, how many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

In DSIT we have no colleagues in roles which are primarily focused on transgender policy. We have one colleague who is our Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion they are a Grade 7.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

The Cabinet Office has less than 5 civil servants who work in roles primarily focused on those areas internally in the department. We cannot provide annual salary cost details in such cases as that disclosure of the information would contravene principle A under article 5(1)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

There are no roles primarily focused on transgender policy.Within central HR there are 18 roles primarily focused on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) - a total of 16.06 FTE.The total aggregate annual salary cost based on the latest reporting period for Jan 25/26 is: £918,348.60.

How many civil servants employed by their Department work in roles primarily focused on (a) transgender policy, (b) diversity, (c) equity and (d) inclusion; and at what annual salary cost.

The department currently employs three civil servants in roles focused on diversity,equity and inclusion. Following a review of all job titles across the department, we can confirm that there are no roles whose primary focus is transgender policy.Within the central human resources diversity and inclusion team, staffing aligns with standard departmental grading structures for the 2025/26 financial year. The team includes:One fifth of a Grade 6 role (0.2 FTE). This role is included for transparency, as it carries senior oversight of the team’s work alongside wider responsibilities. The salary range for this grade is £74,528 to £82,869.Half of a Grade 7 role (0.5 FTE). The salary range for this grade is £58,185 to £67,219.One Senior Executive Officer role (1 FTE). The salary range for this grade is £46,971 to £51,973.Information on roles and salaries for members of the department and its arm's length bodiesis available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disclosure-of-scs-posts-and-salary-information.