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Question
A year ago, you promised to smash the gangs but there is no mention of it today. Your claim has become a joke and an embarrassment. We warned that law enforcement alone would not be enough.
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Question
I congratulate the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary on succeeding in agreeing a deal with France. It just shows that treating people with respect can result in positive action, and treating them with contempt, as the Conservatives did throughout this issue, was never going to provide a solution... Can my right hon. Friend confirm that each of those four volunteers whom the Conservative Government paid to be sent to Rwanda was paid, by the British taxpayer, £150,000 to provide free housing, a free university education and free private healthcare? Who approved that funding in the Department?
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Question
We all want to stop these dangerous channel crossings, which first ballooned under the former Conservative Government... This deal is a step in the right direction, and I sincerely hope that it works, but people will understandably be sceptical that such a small scheme will act as an effective deterrent at this stage... Can the Home Secretary update the House on the average time it takes to process an asylum application after arrival on British shores, and how has that changed over the past year?
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Question
Can the Home Secretary confirm it is unprecedented for an EU country to allow returns from outwith the EU’s external borders? What are the parameters for success of the pilot, and how will the UK-EU relationship adapt in the future?
Minister reply
We have seen a change in the way criminal gangs operate over the past six months. They have increased overcrowding on boats and exploited French waters rules. The UK is changing its law to prosecute people endangering others' lives, and France is reviewing maritime rules. We need comprehensive action on every aspect of this issue.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary recognise that a much bigger solution than what is proposed is required given the scale of the problem?
Minister reply
No one should be making these dangerous boat crossings which undermine border security and put lives at risk. We need comprehensive action on every single aspect of this issue to make a difference, strengthen our border security and save lives.
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Question
Could the Home Secretary outline what this means for somebody applying from France?
Minister reply
People will need proper identification, go through security checks and apply lawfully. We will set prioritisation decisions including on connections to the UK and countries people are most likely to be refugees or targeted by smuggler and trafficking gangs.
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Question
Is this a grubby, grotesque little deal which does nothing to address the crisis?
Minister reply
The small boat crossings are dangerous and put lives at risk. We have an agreement that means we will return people who come on those dangerous boat crossings and in return take those who apply lawfully through the application process.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that working with international partners is the way to get results?
Minister reply
We need action right across the board, from strengthening prevention to law enforcement. We are taking action on border security along the French coast and in the channel, and we are also taking action here in the UK on illegal working or reforms to the asylum system.
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Question
What evidence does she have that hostile states and organised criminals are using this as a route to get people to this country?
Minister reply
Let us be clear: we need action right across the board from strengthening prevention to law enforcement. We are taking action on border security itself, with action along the French coast and in the channel.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that illegal working motivates those willing to take dangerous journeys across the channel?
Minister reply
We need strong standards on issues of criminality: anybody who comes to the UK through whatever route needs to abide by our laws. We have put in place new measures to strengthen the criminality checks in the asylum system.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree with President Macron’s analysis that UK is perceived as attractive to illegal migrants, and what measures will she take to reduce these 'pull factors'?
Minister reply
I disagree with the Opposition's inaction on this issue. We have increased raids by 50%, arrested more people for illegal working, and are introducing new laws to tackle gig economy exploitation. These actions reflect our commitment to addressing illegal migration.
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Question
Will the Home Secretary confirm that she will introduce legislation to make it illegal for delivery companies to hire people who arrive on boats, and ensure this is robustly implemented?
Minister reply
We know some delivery companies are not doing proper checks despite their promises. We are increasing raids and arrests, and we must change laws so that organisations like delivery companies take responsibility and do not profit from exploiting illegal migration.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that without adequate international aid, we are setting ourselves up for more humanitarian crises and migration pressures?
Minister reply
We had to take a difficult decision on overseas aid to ensure defence investment. We need to work internationally to prevent dangerous journeys and make sure people can get sanctuary so they do not have to make those dangerous journeys.
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Question
Has the Home Secretary seen any detail of Reform's plans for deportation of illegal migrants, as proposed by the hon. Member for Clacton?
Minister reply
The hon. Member for Clacton has been travelling around the world and is not here when we discuss these issues seriously in Parliament. His party voted against counter-terrorism powers that could have gone after criminal gangs.
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Question
What further incentive could the French be offered to go beyond this pilot deal, and would a two-for-one swap be considered?
Minister reply
Stronger enforcement is crucial. We need practical arrangements that build credibility and plans systematically in partnership with other European countries. The previous Government's grand claims without follow-through did not work.
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Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that while sound and fury may make Conservative Members feel better, it is the Government who are getting on with stopping boats?
Minister reply
The previous Government's approach deteriorated relations with France. Our work provides practical arrangements we can build on, trial different approaches, and strengthen border security systematically.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that British Border Force should take illegal migrants straight back to France?
Minister reply
No one should be making these dangerous boat crossings. If the hon. Member cares about stopping boats, he needs to support bringing in counter-terrorism powers against criminal gangs and laws to stop people from working illegally.
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Question
Does this new deal with France prove that it can be a genuine deterrent unlike the previous Government's attempts?
Minister reply
This agreement aims to provide a genuine deterrent. We are making practical arrangements and trialling different approaches, as opposed to the previous Government's grand claims without follow-through.
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Question
The Home Secretary referenced a memo written by the shadow Justice Secretary proposing one in, one out deals. Does she agree that this shows the Conservatives' hypocrisy as they now oppose what they previously supported?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right; there are measures that the Conservatives tried and failed to deliver when they were in government that they now suddenly want to oppose publicly. Instead of being practical, they just moan about it without offering solutions.
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Question
What safeguards have been put in place to ensure international law is respected and the rights of genuine asylum seekers are protected under this agreement?
Minister reply
France abides by international law, with whom we have a long history of cooperation. We will continue to work closely to ensure that all measures comply with international standards.
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Question
Can the Home Secretary confirm the closure of asylum hotels in Blackpool before the next election and provide an update on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill's progress?
Minister reply
We are committed to ending asylum hotels over this Parliament. The Metropole hotel in your constituency will be closed by this Government before the next election. We would get the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill through Parliament much faster if the Conservatives decided to support it.
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Question
The numbers of small boat crossings are up 40% under Labour. Can she guarantee that the UK will not sign up to any element of the EU pact on migration and asylum that could see us accepting much larger asylum transfers from the continent?
Minister reply
We have been working closely with the EU Commission for many months, sharing details on these proposals as we developed them. The EU has been supportive, explicitly saying it will support action to tackle dangerous boat crossings in the Channel.
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Question
Does she agree that working with French allies is essential to tackle illegal migration effectively and humanely?
Minister reply
Absolutely. We must prevent these dangerous crossings, which can result in deaths such as the little girl crushed by overcrowding on a boat.
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Question
If one in, one out works and stops small boat crossings, how will this affect our safe and regulated route scheme?
Minister reply
I am not fully sure about the logic of your argument. However, we must prevent dangerous boat crossings while ensuring there are systems of sanctuary for those fleeing persecution.