Commons Confronts Borders, Security and Global Crises

High-Level Summary

The Commons began with a tribute to Sir Patrick Duffy. Home Office questions covered exploitation of migrant care workers, plans to end the use of asylum hotels, rural crime and policing, safe and legal routes, and support for Ukrainians. Ministers then answered urgent questions on agricultural and business property relief reforms, abscondments from HMP Leyhill, and the Troubles Bill’s implications for the armed forces. The Foreign Secretary made a statement on Venezuela—confirming no UK role, stressing international law and a democratic transition—and reiterated UK support for Greenland/Denmark’s sovereignty, while a later statement updated the House on the Middle East and North Africa, including Gaza, Iran, Yemen, Syria, and an FCDO due‑diligence review following the Alaa Abd el‑Fattah case. The day concluded with an adjournment debate on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Detailed Summary

Speaker’s Statement: Sir Patrick Duffy

The Speaker marked the death of former MP Sir Patrick Duffy, noting he “died aged 105 during the Christmas recess” and was “A Labour MP for Sheffield Attercliffe from 1970 to 1992” [ref: a1.1/1]. He was remembered for his wartime service, ministerial work and cross‑party respect. No decisions were required.

Home Office Questions: Exploitation of Migrant Care Workers

Ministers said overseas recruitment for social care visas ended in July 2025 due to exploitation and that a fair work agency is being established: “overseas recruitment for social care visas closed in July 2025… The Government are establishing the fair work agency” [ref: a1.7/1]. Proposals for a sector‑wide sponsorship scheme were rejected: “There are no current plans to replace the current sponsorship arrangement for care workers” [ref: a1.9/1]. A consultation on delivery mechanisms runs until 12 February: “the mechanism of delivery is currently at consultation, and that closes on 12 February” [ref: a1.11/1]. On visa expiry, the Minister said, “When visas end, people should leave the country” [ref: a3.3/1]. Outcome: no new sponsorship scheme; consultation ongoing; continued enforcement against exploitative employers.

Home Office Questions: Asylum Hotels and Accommodation

The Government reiterated its intention to end hotel use: “This Government will close every asylum hotel” [ref: a3.6/1] and “We will close those hotels within this Parliament” [ref: a3.8/1]. Ministers highlighted a pivot to using ex‑military sites to reduce impact on communities, saying feasibility assessments are underway: “we are looking at ex-military sites… we are doing all the feasibility assessments… pivoting to larger military sites is clearly a better option” [ref: a4.1/1]. Further updates were signalled as imminent: “They may not have to wait too much longer” [ref: a4.5/1]; “It may not be too much longer” [ref: a5.2/1]. Responding to proposals to leave the ECHR, the Minister said the Government would instead build deterrence under the new Act and that re‑entering returns agreements if leaving international agreements would be “for the birds” [ref: a6.4/1]. Decisions: commitment to close hotels and consider larger sites; specific closure dates not stated.

Home Office Questions: Rural Crime, Community Policing and Hate Crime

Measures announced included tougher powers against equipment theft and fly‑tipping via the Crime and Policing Bill and support for specialist rural/wildlife units: “new provisions in the Crime and Policing Bill will introduce powers… and we will implement the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023” [ref: a7.4/1]; “backed by over £800,000 of funding for the specialist national rural and wildlife crime policing units” [ref: a7.2/1]. A “new five-year prison term for waste cowboys” was flagged [ref: a7.6/1]. Ministers highlighted the neighbourhood policing guarantee and a forthcoming policing White Paper [ref: a14.6/1; a13.0/1]. On hate crime, an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation has been commissioned, and decisions on misogyny await that review: “The Home Secretary has also commissioned an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation” [ref: a16.0/1]; “we want to wait for that… before the Home Secretary makes decisions” [ref: a16.2/1].

Home Office Questions: Safe and Legal Routes; Ukrainian Support

The Home Secretary said new safe and legal routes for refugees/displaced people are being developed, with an annual cap set in Parliament [ref: a9.4/1], stressing the balance of border control and safe routes: “the public rightly expect a system that is fair and that restores control… alongside developing safe and legal routes” [ref: a9.6/1]. On disrupting criminal gangs: “There have been 4,000 disruptions of organised crime group operations and 22,000 illegal crossings have been prevented” [ref: a11.1/1]. On Ukraine, “More than 300,000 Ukrainians have been offered temporary sanctuary… and Ukrainians can still apply to the Homes for Ukraine scheme” [ref: a12.2/1], with an additional three‑and‑a‑half‑year extension for certainty [ref: a12.4/1]. Settlement reform delivery is under consultation until 12 February [ref: a10.0/1].

Home Office Questions: Police Efficiency and Funding

The Government said the police efficiency programme “will save £354 million and free up millions of officer hours by 2029” and that a policing White Paper will be set out “in the coming weeks” [ref: a13.0/1]. On funding and numbers, Ministers pointed to the neighbourhood policing guarantee and confirmed that the funding settlement details would be clarified by the end of the month [ref: a13.4/1; a13.7/1].

Topical Home Office Questions: New Act in Force and Operational Updates

The Home Secretary announced that “Today the powers in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 come into force… From today, we will be seizing mobile phones at Manston” and tougher penalties for facilitators: “Those who plan small boat crossings face up to five years… those who supply equipment… 16 years” [ref: a17.2/1]. She reported operational progress—“disruptions were up by 33%, and… removals… more than a fifth higher” since taking office [ref: a17.2/2]—reiterated that deprivation of citizenship will continue on the established basis [ref: a17.7/1], and confirmed the Government will defend the Begum case position before the ECHR [ref: a18.1/1]. A consultation on settlement reforms remains open until 12 February [ref: a18.3/1].

Urgent Question: Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR)

The Treasury Minister confirmed reforms announced in December to raise the allowance for the 100% rate of relief from £1 million to £2.5 million from April, so “a couple will now be able to pass on up to £5 million of agricultural or business assets tax-free” [ref: a27.2/3]. He said the number of affected estates is expected to halve “from what would have been 375 estates to just 185 estates” and that the changes are still expected to raise “around £300 million in 2029-30” [ref: a27.2/4; a27.2/5]. He framed this as listening to farmers and family businesses while maintaining revenue, and confirmed legislation via the Finance Bill; proposals for a clawback were rejected [ref: a28.0/1; a36.0/1; a33.2/1].

Urgent Question: HMP Leyhill Abscondments

The Justice Minister said that on 1 January three prisoners absconded from HMP Leyhill; one has since been arrested. A rapid review will be completed within 20 days [ref: a53.3/2]. Transfers to open conditions followed independent Parole Board recommendations, and the Minister said absconds are down—“57 absconds in the year ending March 2025… from 143 in the 12 months to March 2020” [ref: a56.0/2]. Protocols include immediate police notification and close liaison: “the prison must notify the police immediately” and appeals to the public [ref: a59.1/1]. No policy change was announced.

Urgent Question: Troubles Bill and Armed Forces Recruitment/Retention

The Armed Forces Minister reported recruitment and retention improvements—“inflow… up 13%… and an 8% reduction in outflow” year‑on‑year [ref: a61.3/2]. He defended the Troubles Bill as tackling legacy while protecting veterans, telling serving personnel “we have your back” [ref: a61.3/4], and outlined veteran protections (e.g., legal duty to consider welfare and the ability to give evidence remotely), developed in consultation with veterans [ref: a63.2/1]. He said there is no evidence the Bill is harming recruitment.

Foreign Secretary’s Statement: Venezuela and Greenland

The Foreign Secretary confirmed no UK involvement in US operations in Venezuela and restated the UK’s position: press for a peaceful transition to democracy, support regional stability, and uphold international law [ref: a74.1/2; a74.1/13]. She added, “we can shed no tears for the end of Maduro’s rule” [ref: a74.1/9], and said she had spoken with the US Secretary of State and with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado about next steps [ref: a74.1/17]. On Greenland, she was unequivocal: “Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark… The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes, and no one else” [ref: a74.1/18]. She noted it is for the US to set out the legal basis for its actions; the UK has raised international law concerns with Washington [ref: a74.1/14].

Statement: Middle East and North Africa (Gaza, Iran, Yemen, Syria) and Alaa Abd el‑Fattah

The Minister warned Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains desperate and condemned Israel’s deregistration of 37 NGOs as unacceptable: “this is not acceptable” [ref: a110.1/2]. He highlighted perverse access rules—“it is currently easier to get cigarettes and luxury goods into Gaza than… medicines” [ref: a110.1/3]—and confirmed £116 million in UK support this year and “the establishment of a Palestinian embassy in London today” [ref: a110.1/4]. On Iran, amid protests, he urged protection of fundamental freedoms [ref: a110.1/5]. On Alaa Abd el‑Fattah, he condemned “abhorrent” historical posts and announced “the permanent under-secretary to urgently review the Department’s systems for conducting due diligence” [ref: a110.1/7; a110.1/8]. On Yemen, he welcomed dialogue and affirmed that the UK is maintaining £139 million of humanitarian aid this year [ref: a110.1/10], and he reported a joint RAF‑French strike against Daesh in Syria [ref: a110.1/12].

Point of Order and Committee Business

A point of order raised concerns over incomplete Treasury answers on business rates; the Chair referred Members to the Procedure Committee’s live inquiry, “accepting evidence until Friday 16 January” [ref: a131.2/1]. Later, the House agreed a change to Environmental Audit Committee membership: “Alison Hume be discharged… and Sojan Joseph be added” [ref: a131.5/2].

Adjournment Debate: Rights of Women and Girls in Afghanistan

Contributions highlighted the Taliban’s systematic erasure of women’s rights, including bans on girls’ education and women’s work. The Minister called the decrees “unacceptable” and said the UK will keep pressing for reversal and accountability, confirming “more than £150 million this financial year for lifesaving aid to Afghanistan, ensuring that at least half of the beneficiaries are women and girls” [ref: a138.1/4]. He said the Government are engaging Afghan women and civil society, support UN accountability mechanisms, and are considering (while noting complexity) calls to classify the situation as “gender apartheid” [ref: a137.2/5].