Written questions by Lowe.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of deploying naval assets to the English Channel to help tackle small boats crossing.

The Home Office is the lead Government Department responsible for border security and migration. It has recently established the Border Security Command to strengthen global partnerships and enhance the UK’s efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute people smugglers profiting from the dangerous movement of people across the channel. Defence assets are procured for Defence tasks and are therefore not optimised for the issue the hon. Member raises. These assets play a critical part in preserving UK maritime security through shadowing and monitoring warships transiting the UK Exclusive Economic Zone or territorial waters. In 2024 alone, Royal Navy assets have responded to over 25 such transits.

What the cost to the public purse was of the provision of taxis for irregular migrants in each year since 2018.

Transport services for asylum seekers are provided through our Asylum Accommodation & Support Contracts. We pay a fixed rate for transportation services which is set out in the contracts. Our suppliers must deliver transportation requirements in line with contractual standards and the fixed rate – with the type of transportation determined by our suppliers within this framework. Information on spend by specific transportation types is therefore not readily available.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the use of Bovaer.

The Food Standards Agency has advised milk from cows given Bovaer, an authorised feed additive used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone a rigorous safety assessment and is approved for use in Great Britain.

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on minister’s overseas travel and on senior civil servant’s business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here:Ministers - DBT: ministerial gifts, hospitality, overseas travel and meetings - GOV.UK Senior Officials - DBT: senior officials’ business expenses, hospitality, and meetings - GOV.UK

How many vaccines have been administered to irregular migrants in each of the last five years.

Primary care services, such as vaccinations, are available and free to all, including people who arrive in the United Kingdom through irregular routes. New arrivals are encouraged to receive a patient health check when they register in primary care, including previous vaccination history.Vaccination data pertaining to migration status is not collected or published by the Government.

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on minister’s overseas travel and on senior civil servant’s business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: DWP ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings - GOV.UK and here: DWP senior officials’ business expenses, hospitality and meetings - GOV.UK

Communities and Local Government, how many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on minister’s overseas travel and on senior civil servant’s business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: DLUHC: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, April to June 2024 - GOV.UK, DLUHC: senior officials’ business expenses and hospitality, April to June 2024 - GOV.UK.

How many ambulance visits there were to (a) hotels and (b) other accommodation housing irregular migrants in the most recent year for which information is available.

The Department does not hold the information requested.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of training to raise awareness of the role of interpreting within the NHS.

The provision of interpretation services is the responsibility of the service provider. There is no national programme for training to raise awareness of interpreting within the National Health Service.

How many optician appointments for irregular migrants there were at what cost to the public purse in each of the last five years.

The Department and NHS England do not hold the information requested. The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need. All asylum seeker accommodation providers have a duty and requirement to assist people who need it to access the healthcare systems in their local area. The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold information on the services commissioned by the Home Office.As for any NHS patient, care may be delivered by independent providers as part of the public healthcare system. This does not mean asylum seekers are in receipt of private healthcare.

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Information about use of international flights for official overseas Ministerial and senior officials travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.Data from 5 July 2024 will be published in due course.

Media and Sport, how many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on Ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-hospitality-gifts-meetings-overseas-travel

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. The latest publications can be found here:Home Office: senior officials' business expenses, January 2024 to March 2024 - GOV.UKHome Office's ministerial travel, April to June 2024 - GOV.UK

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nio-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-april-to-june-2024.Information for the period July to October is due for publication shortly and will be available at: https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?organisations[]=northern-ireland-office&parent=northern-ireland-office.

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on minister’s overseas travel and on senior civil servant’s business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here:DfT: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings - GOV.UKDfT: senior officials’ business expenses and meetings, April to June 2024 - GOV.UKInformation for the period July to October is due for publication shortly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on ministers' overseas travel and on senior civil servants' business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here and here.

How many visits there were by NHS staff to (a) hotels and (b) other accommodation housing irregular migrants in each of the last five years.

The Department and NHS England do not hold the information requested. The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need. All asylum seeker accommodation providers have a duty and requirement to assist people who need it to access the healthcare systems in their local area. The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold information on the services commissioned by the Home Office.As for any NHS patient, care may be delivered by independent providers as part of the public healthcare system. This does not mean asylum seekers are in receipt of private healthcare.

Innovation and Technology, how many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on minister’s overseas travel and on senior civil servant’s business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dsit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-meetings-april-to-june-2024

How many international (a) air miles and (b) flights have been completed by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in their Department since 5 July 2024.

Data on Ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-business-expenses-and-hospitality-for-senior-officials.