Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions 2026-07-13

Monday 13 July 2026 · 24 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

At a glance

Answered 10 Partly answered 12 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Home Secretary thanked Suffolk police and Counter Terrorism Policing for swift response to a credible threat, leading to the arrest of twelve individuals.
  • Government policy remains that the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will rise from five years to ten years, with transitional arrangements under consultation.
  • Crime and Policing Act 2026 delivers new powers against antisocial behavior, including respect orders, and every police force has a dedicated antisocial behavior lead and local action plan.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Context

An event in Suffolk faced a credible threat, leading to arrests for extreme right-wing terrorism.

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The incident involved over 10,000 Muslims and the arrests of twelve individuals.

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

The Home Secretary thanked Suffolk police, Counter Terrorism Policing, and organisers for their swift response to a credible threat. Twelve individuals have been arrested in an ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing.

Answered
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Context

Press reports suggest a U-turn on the indefinite leave to remain policy.

Question

Given press reports of another government U-turn, does the Home Secretary still believe that the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain should be increased from five years to 10 years?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

It has been settled Government policy since last summer that the qualifying period will rise from five years to 10 years. The Government are consulting on transitional arrangements and will come forward with a final decision later this year.

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Context

Residents of the Sherborne estate in Crewe reported persistent antisocial behaviour.

Question

During a coffee morning, residents described distressing levels of antisocial behaviour including egg-throwing. Can the Minister set out what steps are being taken to ensure robust handling of antisocial behaviour on estates like Sherborne?

Answer from Sarah Jones

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 delivers new powers against ASB, including respect orders. Every police force in England and Wales has a dedicated ASB lead and local action plan.

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Q4 Chris Philp Con Croydon South
Context

Reports suggest the Home Secretary and new Prime Minister may change their position on indefinite leave to remain.

Question

Will the Home Secretary repeat her pledge that changes will apply to those already in country, or is there a U-turn before entering Downing Street?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

The position remains as set out in the consultation: the qualifying period will rise from five to 10 years. Implementation details are being consulted on, and settled policy is expected later this year.

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Context

Survivors are terrified at the prospect of early release for perpetrators.

Question

First, will the Home Secretary bring forward emergency legislation to ensure Shabir Ahmed can be deported? Secondly, will she urgently make changes to prevent eligible rapists from being released early?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

Legal issues surrounding deportation are ongoing. The previous Government allowed the situation in prisons to deteriorate, but this one will never run out of prison places again.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Emergency legislation and urgent changes

How: Deflecting Responsibility Onto Previous Government

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Context

An attempted phone snatch outside a station was raised at a community forum.

Question

Will my hon. Friend outline what progress is being made against tackling phone theft? Does she agree that phone companies should do more to ensure criminals cannot profit from phone snatching?

Answer from Sarah Jones

Operation Reckoning is delivering the Met's largest enforcement response. Phone theft in London fell by 18% in the year to May, halving in the west end. If trends don't continue to improve, further action will be taken.

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Context

The Culture Secretary has quit X, citing its descent into misinformation.

Question

Does the Home Secretary agree with her decision? What is the Home Office doing about abuse and misinformation on X? Will the Home Office be leaving too?

Answer from Sarah Jones

Everyone in this place is concerned about online hate. The Government, led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, are looking at how to crack down on it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions against X platform

How: Broad Statements

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Context

Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership provides non-judgmental, trauma-informed support for victims of domestic abuse in many areas.

Question

Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership is a strong example of non-judgmental, trauma-informed support for victims of domestic abuse. For many women, it is the first point of contact; however, for others, the emergency services are the first to respond. Will the Minister clarify what steps can be taken to ensure that this non-judgmental, victim-centred approach is consistently reflected in the police's engagement with victims?

Answer from Sarah Jones

My hon. Friend is right: a non-judgmental, victim-led approach is exactly what we need and that is what we are trying to drive through our response. We have established the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls to improve the police response to violence against women and girls, and the new trauma-informed first-line public protection programme is piloting in five forces this summer, equipping frontline officers with the skills to manage investigations and support victims.

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Context

Government is reducing the number of asylum seekers in hotels and moving them into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), but has not released specific figures.

Question

The Home Secretary is boasting about the fact that hotel asylum seekers' numbers are being reduced, but of course, they are being moved into houses in multiple occupation and the Government will not produce the figures of how many are going into HMOs. This means that places such as Hinckley and Bosworth are getting more HMOs. Will the Government commit to producing the data to show exactly where people are being moved from and to, so that we can see what is happening specifically around HMOs? That has not been released in the quarterly data.

Answer from Alex Norris

I am slightly saddened by the hon. Gentleman's question. He and I had a very good conversation about the nature of the supported population in his constituency, and he knows that we work very closely, under the policy of successive Governments, for full dispersal so that the challenge of supporting the supported population is shared more fairly. Where there have been local disproportionate issues, as in postcodes like his own, we have been able to make positive changes, and I would have hoped he would recognise that. On his original point about data, the May stats release shows a reduction in the hotel population of 35% and an increase—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman can do the questions, but he cannot do the answers as well.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to producing detailed data on HMOs; deflected by mentioning previous conversations

How: Deflection, Attack

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Context

Members of Barnham parish council and the headteacher of a primary school are concerned about proposed accommodation for large numbers of asylum seekers at RAF Barnham.

Question

On Friday I met members of Barnham parish council in my constituency and the headteacher of the adjacent primary school, Amy. They raised concerns about the proposed accommodation of large numbers of asylum seekers at RAF Barnham. They worry about community cohesion, particularly if large numbers of young men are to be transported into neighbouring towns and villages without access to supervised constructive activity. Will the Minister outline what material steps will be taken to address this problem?

Answer from Alex Norris

I would stress that, as my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has said, no decision has been taken in respect of that site, and suitability assessments continue. We are engaging with the relevant local authorities, health partners, police forces and other partners to minimise the impact on local services and communities in exactly the way that my hon. Friend says.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not outline specific measures; deflected by mentioning ongoing assessments

How: Deflection

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Context

Concerns raised about illegal working, groups of young men drinking on the street, and smuggling of alcohol into a site housing asylum seekers.

Question

I want to begin by thanking Madam Deputy Speaker, my hon. Friend the Member for Sussex Weald (Ms Ghani), for securing a meeting with the Minister, local MPs, councillors and residents of Crowborough, where the Minister heard for himself reports of illegal working, groups of young men drinking on the street and the smuggling of alcohol on to the site. If the Government are to force this camp on people, the very least they can do is ensure that people there play by the rules. Can the Minister introduce breath testing and make it clear to anyone drinking on the site that if they are found to fail those tests, their asylum claim will be immediately thrown out?

Answer from Alex Norris

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question and his time, to Madam Deputy Speaker for her time and advocacy and indeed to the local councillors for their time. I was very concerned to hear the reports about those drinking off site. We are looking closely, as I have said to the hon. Gentleman, at ensuring that that does not happen. We already block merchant codes on Aspen cards to prevent it. We are talking about a relatively small amount of money—£9.95 each week—but we do not want to see that spent on alcohol. The sites themselves are alcohol-free. I am not quite sure that breath testing is the way that we need to enforce this, but I nevertheless share his vigour to stop it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to introducing breath tests; deflected by mentioning current measures

How: Deflection

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Context

Introduction of the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, aimed at protecting the country from hostile state-linked organisations and threats.

Question

I warmly welcome the Government's swift introduction of the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, which received Royal Assent last week. The activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have caused huge concern across the country and in particular to my Iranian and Jewish communities. Can the Home Secretary update the House on when these new powers will begin to be used to protect our country from hostile, state-linked organisations and threats?

Answer from Angela Eagle

Today, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has laid statutory instruments to designate three bodies engaged in foreign power threat activity under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026. They are the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, who have publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities, and Persian language media; and Iran's IRGC; and Russia's GRU Volunteer Corps. Designation will make it an offence to support, assist or obtain benefits from any of these organisations.

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Context

Government does not routinely publish figures on the number of small boat arrivals who abscond or whose whereabouts become unknown.

Question

As the House will know, the Home Office does not routinely publish figures on the number of small boat arrivals who abscond or whose whereabouts subsequently becomes unknown. Given that the Department holds case records that would allow that to be calculated, will the Home Secretary commit to publishing that information periodically so that the House can properly scrutinise the scale of the problem?

Answer from Alex Norris

The hon. Gentleman will know that 70,000 people have been removed by this Government—41% up on the figure under our predecessors. He makes a good point about data, which has been the subject of our response to a recent report by the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration. We are looking at the issue closely because we want colleagues in this House and the public at large to have the best possible data to work from, so that we can have the most informed conversation possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to publishing periodic data; deflected by mentioning previous removal figures

How: Deflection

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Context

The Police Federation chief executive has received a £1.4 million salary over two years, causing concern among frontline officers who have lost confidence in the national leadership.

Question

Frontline police officers have lost confidence in the national leadership of the Police Federation due to high salaries and lack of change. Should they be allowed to set up an alternative?

Answer from Sarah Jones

We agree that change is needed and will bring forward reforms necessary for effective representation of rank-and-file officers. We recognize good work by members but need to tread carefully on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether frontline police should be allowed to set up an alternative association.

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Context

The Home Office analysis shows that the ECHR has been abused, costing around £4.9 billion.

Question

The ECHR has been subject to significant abuse, costing over £4.9 billion annually. If reforms do not succeed, should Britain leave the ECHR and forge its own path on human rights law?

Answer from Alex Norris

We agree that reform of article 8 is necessary. The Home Office has been clear about restoring order and control in this area, but specifics on leaving ECHR were not provided.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the question of whether Britain should leave the ECHR if reform efforts fail.

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Q16 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Context

The family visa regime allows for familial applications that accompany the arrival of a single worker.

Question

Is it the perspective of the Secretary of State that the current family visa regime is working as intended, or does she think it needs reform?

Answer from Alex Norris

We agree that reform is overdue and will introduce a new policy for a fairer and more consistent framework.

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Context

A British constituent died on holiday, and there is concern over the lack of information regarding a mutual legal assistance request.

Question

The tragic death of Hannah Byrne has left her family seeking answers. Will the Minister meet to discuss this matter and provide closure?

Answer from Angela Eagle

I extend my condolences and am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman, as it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

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Context

The hon. Member's constituent was a victim of burglary, and there are concerns over the increasing frequency of such crimes.

Question

North Northumberland has seen an increase in rural crime. What reassurance can the Minister provide regarding this issue?

Answer from Sarah Jones

We are funding the rural crime unit, putting neighbourhood police back into every area, and introducing legislation to combat rural crime.

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Q19 Pete Wishart SNP Perth and North Perthshire
Context

Inflammatory actions against asylum seekers have led to harassment, abuse, and road blockades.

Question

When will the Government address the spread of misinformation and the threat posed by right-wing groups exploiting situations?

Answer from Alex Norris

We recognise the threat, monitor hundreds of protests annually, and first aim to fix the system. Harassment and intimidation will not be accepted.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specifics on when action would take place or how misinformation would be addressed.

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Context

The Metropole hotel has been an eyesore and residents want it refurbished.

Question

Will the Minister join in calls for Britannia to refurbish the Metropole hotel, which is a major part of Blackpool's golden mile?

Answer from Alex Norris

I have fond memories of Blackpool and want the Metropole back in its proper purpose. I am not sure if it is within my ministerial remit but will come with him to help promote local economy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly confirm his support for refurbishing the hotel.

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Q21 Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Context

The Home Secretary has recently proscribed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This decision came after years of campaigning by various MPs and organisations. The question addresses how enforcement will be carried out.

Question

I thank the Home Secretary and welcome the Government's decision to proscribe the IRGC. Many of us campaigned for this and, in fact, were sanctioned by Iran for doing so. Far too many of our previous Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries bought the fallacious argument that doing so would prevent diplomatic relations with Iran. Now that the Home Secretary has chosen to do this, how will she enforce it so that we quickly stamp out all the activities of this terrible organisation from our country and ensure that it never takes root again?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his contribution. The Government have passed new legislation to allow for the designation of organisations like the IRGC, and that includes bringing it within the context of the National Security Act 023. When our laws are broken, prosecutions will follow.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific enforcement mechanisms or timelines.

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Context

The scampi catching sector in Northern Ireland relies heavily on foreign seasonal workers, requiring approximately 66 visas per year. The question asks if the Minister will extend the seasonal worker visa route to support this industry.

Question

The scampi catching sector in Northern Ireland is currently reliant on foreign seasonal workers. To stay afloat, the sector needs about 66 visas to be valid for just seven months of the year. Will the Minister consider extending the seasonal worker visa route to the nephrops industry to give the catching sector the certainty it needs and protect processing jobs at Whitby Seafoods in my constituency?

Answer from Mike Tapp

I thank my hon. Friend for her important question. I work closely with DEFRA and many sectors in agriculture to ensure they can operate if they need access to foreign workers. We are looking to reduce the need for that, but I am happy to meet afterwards to talk more about the specific issue of scampi.

Not addressed: Did not confirm or deny extension of visa route.

How: Will Meet Later

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Q23 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Context

Previously proposed asylum dispersal plans for Stoke Heath in the questioner's constituency have been scrapped. The question asks if there are any plans to use Clive barracks at Tern Hill as an alternative site.

Question

I thank the Asylum Minister for his professional courtesy in calling me on Friday to say that the asylum dispersal plans for Stoke Heath in my constituency have now been scrapped. I am grateful for that, and it is a great relief to many residents—it was a completely inappropriate location from the get-go. However, can I ask him to put on the record whether the Government have any plans to put asylum seekers into Clive barracks at Tern Hill in Shropshire, which is currently home to the Royal Irish Regiment?

Answer from Alex Norris

I am grateful for that question and the spirit in which the right hon. Gentleman asked it. We have proposed three new sites and the extension of time at two others, but those decisions have not finally been made.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address Clive barracks.

How: Proposed Other Sites

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Context

The Minister previously stated his intent to close the Conservatives' opened Cladhan hotel. The question asks if those being moved out will have accommodation needs met within existing capacity.

Question

I welcome the Minister's explicit statement last month that he wants to see the Cladhan hotel, which was opened by the Conservatives, closed. When any hotel closes, will he confirm that the vast majority of those being moved out will have their accommodation needs met within existing capacity?

Answer from Alex Norris

I think and talk about the Cladhan hotel a lot because we are resolute about closing that hotel, but I appreciate my hon. Friend's constituents would not feel much better if they thought those bed spaces were just being provided in the immediate area instead.

Not addressed: Did not confirm accommodation needs within existing capacity.

How: Addressed Concerns But Did Not Provide Direct Answer

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