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Question
What assessment has she made of the number and scale of people in Calais who want to make their way across the Channel?
Minister reply
In recent weeks, the numbers have been fairly stable. We estimate there are currently about 1,000 people at the campsite near Calais, but we know that not all smugglers or small boat migrants stay in one place; they move around and it is very difficult to get a fixed number.
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Question
What assessment has the Home Office made of the use of social media for advertising small boat crossings?
Minister reply
The Home Office is working closely with the National Crime Agency to disrupt the criminal networks behind these boats. We have seen a significant rise in their use of social media, and we will continue to work with France on this issue.
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Question
What assessment has she made of the impact on councils such as Peterborough which are bearing the brunt of these issues?
Minister reply
We recognise the significant burden this places on local authorities. We are working with local government to ensure they have the support they need, and we will continue to drive down numbers in supported accommodation overall.
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Question
Why did the Home Secretary not address her previous failures, such as the increase in illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel and the failure to 'smash the gangs'? Why prioritise illegal immigrants over local citizens?
Minister reply
The Government is addressing these issues with a comprehensive plan to fix the broken system inherited from the previous government. We are taking practical steps to strengthen border security, support Ukraine and Gaza, and establish frameworks for refugee students.
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Question
Why is the shadow Home Secretary ignoring the chaos caused by his previous policies during the 14 years of Conservative government?
Minister reply
The Opposition's approach led to a soaring backlog in asylum decisions and left us with tens of thousands more people in accommodation across the country. We are addressing these issues responsibly.
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Question
How can we ensure sufficient vetting and transparency in asylum dispersal, especially for high-risk groups, to safeguard residents and restore faith among communities?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an important point. Anyone who comes to our country needs to abide by our laws. The rules need to be enforced. We are drawing up new arrangements including stronger checks at the border and in local communities.
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Question
What concrete steps are being taken to ensure cases are processed more swiftly, and how long does it currently take to process an average asylum application?
Minister reply
The average appeal time is now 54 weeks, which is far too long. Some appeals go on for way longer, meaning people with repeat appeals are in asylum accommodation for years, preventing the closure of asylum hotels that needs to take place.
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Question
Can you confirm whether the Government plans to scale up the reciprocal agreement with France and when?
Minister reply
At the heart of the France pilot is the principle that those who arrive on dangerous and illegal small boats should be returned, but alongside that we should also have a legal route for those who apply and go through proper security checks.
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Question
How are you working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support councils?
Minister reply
We need reforms to ensure that arrangements for families of refugees do not put additional pressure on the homelessness support system.
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Question
Will the Home Secretary commit to reading the report on asylum contracts from the Home Affairs Committee, and how are you managing those contracts?
Minister reply
I look forward to reading the Home Affairs Committee’s report. We have already been working to get better value from the contracts that we inherited, which is one reason that we have saved nearly £1 billion on asylum accommodation costs since the election.
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Question
When will you listen to us and address the issue at Bell hotel, which is in a school area causing distress?
Minister reply
I strongly support the flying of flags across the country. Flags should be an embodiment of bringing our country together through symbolism.
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Question
Will there be a delay in providing safe and legal routes for refugee children to reunite with their parents? Will this apply to all children, including Ukrainian children?
Minister reply
The new arrangements will include stronger border security and reforms to the asylum system. We have separate dedicated schemes for Ukraine and will continue with them.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary believe that the rights of people coming over in dinghies take precedence over local residents?
Minister reply
No, all asylum hotels need to close in an orderly manner. This is not about a hierarchy of rights.
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Question
How will the Government ensure that asylum hotels are closed across the country?
Minister reply
We need consistent, practical plans to close hotels and clear the appeals backlog. We also need to restart decisions on asylum claims.
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Question
Will the Home Secretary ensure that our immigration system keeps out people who come for the wrong reasons?
Minister reply
Yes, we will strengthen border security and use counter-terrorism powers against criminal gangs. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill includes these changes.
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Question
How successful will the measures be in addressing migration issues?
Minister reply
We need to tackle pull factors like illegal working. We have increased illegal work raids by 50% and are looking at Denmark's approach.
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Question
What changes will be introduced to the law to stop illegal migrants?
Minister reply
We need new legal changes, including banning sex offenders from the asylum system and a new offence of endangerment. We are introducing the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
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Question
Will the Home Secretary liaise with the Treasury to discuss windfall taxes on delivery companies employing asylum seekers?
Minister reply
We are bringing in requirements for employers in the gig economy to abide by checks on illegal working. We have also signed agreements with major delivery companies.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary realise that moving towards Reform's ground is encouraging right-wing extremism?
Minister reply
We need a system that is properly controlled, managed, and not open to abuse or exploitation. We also need stronger border security.
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Question
What legal advice will people get at an early stage under the new appeals system?
Minister reply
We are looking at providing better legal advice to expedite appeals and processes.
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Question
The Stanwell hotel in my constituency is being used to house asylum seekers. I have had zero responses from Home Office Ministers despite writing multiple letters. Please will the Home Secretary show some respect to my constituents and reply to their questions?
Minister reply
I will ensure that the hon. Member gets a written response to his questions, but let me also make it clear that all asylum hotels need to close in an orderly manner, reducing the size of the asylum system and clearing backlogs.
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Question
The European convention on human rights is important but stands in the way of some actions we need to take. May I confirm that we will not shy away from further clarification where it impedes our efforts to provide border security?
Minister reply
We have a challenge around article 8 and family cases; far too many cases are being treated as exceptions to rules set by Parliament. We believe the rules need to change for us to address this issue effectively, particularly in our immigration and asylum system.
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Question
Every time the Home Secretary announces a new policy on illegal migration, migration goes up. Does she agree that the only way to stop the pull factor is to detain, deport and never allow illegal migrants to claim asylum in this country?
Minister reply
The pilot scheme we have agreed with France involves detaining people on arrival in Dover for the first time before returning them to France. Previous Governments were unable to achieve this agreement, despite repeated attempts.
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Question
The Home Secretary said she will never ‘seek to stir up chaos, division or hate’, yet that is what we have seen this summer. Instead of scapegoating refugees and asylum seekers, perhaps the Home Secretary needs to think about more humane policies, including safe routes, employment and the right to remain. Can she explain whether these policies have been, or will be, considered?
Minister reply
The French pilot scheme involves allowing people who apply lawfully and go through proper security checks to come to the UK on a one-for-one basis as we return those arriving on dangerous small boats in the hands of criminal gangs.
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Question
Reform announced it would house all asylum seekers on former RAF bases. In my constituency, RAF Linton-on-Ouse was ruled out as inappropriate. Will the Home Secretary confirm that she has no plans to reverse this decision?
Minister reply
Obviously, we do not want asylum accommodation in inappropriate places. We must reduce the overall size of the asylum system while ensuring we can move people from hotels to alternative and better sites when possible.
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Question
Will she confirm that visas issued under refugee student schemes will be the same as international student visas, allowing scholars to bring families and dependants with them?
Minister reply
Many student visas do not allow students to bring dependants. The approach for refugee student routes is to recognise that some people may wish to return home after their education while others cannot due to the nature of crises they face.
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Question
In her statement, she mentioned that the National Crime Agency disrupted 347 immigration crime networks. Can she tell us how many gangs were smashed during this period?
Minister reply
Many of those disruptions are exactly about pursuing gangs and there have been more than 40 high-profile and high-value disruptions having a significant impact on degrading, undermining, and stopping criminal gang activity.
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Question
Is it any wonder an Opposition Member described the shadow Home Secretary’s asylum policy as ‘silly’? We want to end asylum hotels and save significant sums of money. Will she tell my constituents how she is speeding up the process of closing such facilities in Bournemouth?
Minister reply
We need to end asylum hotels across the board, which means ensuring we can clear appeals backlogs through major appeals reform, preventing people from taking up accommodation when not entitled to it, and looking for alternative more appropriate sites.
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Question
Providing safer routes for refugees is part of the solution but restricting family reunion increases the number of people putting themselves at the mercy of traffickers. Will this not increase tragedies in the channel?
Minister reply
I acknowledge concerns about restrictions on family reunion and their impact on trafficking, but our primary focus remains on stopping criminal activity and ensuring safe routes for refugees.
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Question
The only effective measure of the Government’s actions is the number of crossings, isn’t it?
Minister reply
There is a significant problem with small boats due to criminal gangs changing their tactics and exploiting French waters rules. We need tighter rules for visa end dates and increased border security to prevent dangerous boat crossings.
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Question
What are the Government doing to address the growth of ugly rhetoric that risks a culture of fear in many communities?
Minister reply
Our country has been strengthened by people from all over the world, and we need to continue this tradition. We must prevent division and hatred while ensuring our immigration system is controlled and managed effectively.
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Question
Why does she not lift the ban on asylum seekers working to help them support their families?
Minister reply
Tackling illegal working by criminal gangs is crucial. Promises of easy and illegal work are part of what these gangs use to exploit people, so lifting this ban would undermine efforts to combat such practices.
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Question
When will changes to the regulation of legal advice for those seeking immigration status be discussed with devolved administrations?
Minister reply
We welcome discussions on high standards of legal advice across the country. We have such discussions with all devolved Administrations and will continue these as the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill progresses.
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Question
How many migrants are expected to be returned to France over the coming 12 months?
Minister reply
This is a pilot programme without an overall cap on numbers. We aim to build it as we go and provide updates monthly on progress.
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Question
Can she reassure constituents about tackling criminal gangs, clearing the asylum backlog, and ending hotel use?
Minister reply
We are committed to ending asylum hotel use orderly. We will strengthen laws like banning sex offenders from the asylum system and enhance counter-terrorism powers against criminal gangs.
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Question
What percentage of people arriving by small boats have torn up identification documents, and should such people be granted asylum?
Minister reply
Different identity checks are part of the system, and lack of credibility in applications can lead to rejection. We increase digital ID and biometric checks to prevent illegal working.
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Question
What action is being taken to strengthen enforcement against illegal working?
Minister reply
Illegal working raids are up 50%, but we need to ensure reports are acted on swiftly and that the system remains fair.
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Minister reply
I welcome the campaigning the hon. Lady has done to support students in Gaza, because the situation we are seeing there is horrendous. The Foreign Secretary will shortly make a statement about the truly abominable situation in Gaza, as well as the work we are doing to get out students who have fully funded places in the UK and provide them with support.
On the hon. Lady’s question, I would say that the criminal smuggling gangs use the potential to work in the UK as a pull factor—as part of their advertising—which is a point the French Government have raised many times. The challenge with the scenario she sets out is that it would make it even easier for the criminal gangs to use that factor as part of their advertising to try to persuade people to part with their money and make an incredibly dangerous journey across the channel.
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Question
The stigmatising and dehumanising of asylum seekers has stirred up race hate in our communities, thankfully by only a small number, and I have been really disturbed to see that racism perpetrated on the streets of York. However, I am even more disturbed to hear that there are planned assaults on asylum hotels across the country, not least in York, where we have children and families staying. What policing operations will be in place to protect those children and families from this hate and ensure their safety over the coming weeks?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to point out the dangers of divisive, dehumanising language towards other human beings and to point to our shared humanity. We can have disagreements with people; we can have different views about the way in which systems should work and rules should be enforced and we can recognise that there will be people who have to be returned because they have no right to be in the UK. However, we can also avoid the kind of demonising language that ends up escalating tensions or promoting hatred and violence—something that we in this country should never do.
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Question
The Home Secretary has today described the people smugglers as criminals and the boat crossings as illegal. Does she therefore agree that the 29,000 individuals who have entered this country illegally from France this year should be classified as lawbreakers who should at least be deported straightaway or be banned from claiming asylum in the future?
Minister reply
The laws on illegal entry go right back to 1972, I think; the issue of illegal entry is long standing. I say to the hon. Gentleman that the policy of the previous Government—his Government—was to claim that everybody was going to be returned to France or sent to Rwanda, but they ran their scheme in Rwanda for two and a half years during which time only four volunteers were sent, so nobody was returned, and they never managed to return anybody to France. We are clear that we believe people can apply through a legal process and go through proper security checks but that we will return people who come on these dangerous small boats facilitated by criminal gangs.
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Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement, and I commend her for the way she is working with our neighbouring countries to deal with this problem. The approach of the previous Government was basically to stand on the cliffs of Dover shouting abuse across the channel and to tell them that they should keep all refugees and we would take none. Does my right hon. Friend agree that if we are going to provide a solution to this problem, it has to come from the sort of co-operation that she has been working on?
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend; we saw what happened under the previous Government and the system we inherited. That Government made grand but empty claims about where people were going to be returned to but had none of the agreements and nothing workable in place to actually do it. Instead, they had people stuck—potentially indefinitely—in the asylum system, which would have meant increasing numbers of asylum hotels. In contrast, we have already achieved a 28% increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and put in place the foundations for building a new approach with France and other European countries.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary accept that some of the UK’s adversaries are seeking to weaponise illegal migration, and does she share my concern about the growing nexus between malign state actors and non-state actors, such as the criminal gangs she has mentioned? If she accepts that that collaboration and malevolent co-operation is going on, does she then agree that it is a national security threat and that even though there will be more counter-terrorism powers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill for the National Crime Agency, which I welcome, there should also be more collaboration between the Security Service and the National Crime Agency?
Minister reply
I agree with the points made by the right hon. Member. The Prime Minister said last year that border security is a national security issue; he is right about that. He is also right that we see malign forces attempting to exploit and undermine border security, and he is right to talk about the interaction we see sometimes between malign state-backed threats and organised immigration crime. That is why we already have growing co-operation between the intelligence and security agencies and the National Crime Agency.
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Question
In a previous life, I worked on the Turkey-Greece returns deal, which returned refugees who had crossed in small boats from Turkey to the Greek islands in return for properly registered asylum seekers in Turkey. As we all know, that deal drastically reduced the number of small boats that crossed into Turkey. Does the Home Secretary think that the UK’s deal with France, negotiated just last month, is already having a deterrent effect? Might that be connected to our having seen the smallest number of crossings in August since 2019?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right that crossings in August were at their lowest for several years even though there was the same level of crossing days as last summer. He will know that a lot of different factors are involved. We have been seeking with France, through the implementation of its maritime review, to be able to make stronger interventions.
I welcome the point that my hon. Friend made about the Greece-Turkey deal, which did have a significant impact on those crossings. That is why we believe that pursuing this co-operation with France is the right thing to do. I welcome the work that the French Government have done to support the pilot agreement on returns.
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Question
As an Eastbourne boy born and bred, I am a proud Englishman. In Winston Churchill’s St George’s day speech in 1933, he said that his England was one where no one would think of persecuting a man on account of his religion or his race. Does the Home Secretary agree with Winston Churchill that our country and our flag represent unity and tolerance? Does she agree with me that those who attempt to divide our communities in the name of our flag are no patriots of Churchill’s England, no patriots of today’s England and no patriots of our great country?
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Question
Welcomes the Government's action in sanctioning Chinese companies involved in manufacturing and supplying boats used by criminal gangs. Asks about discussions with international counterparts to coordinate efforts to target those companies.
Minister reply
We have extensive cooperation through the National Crime Agency, including new agreements with Iraq, Turkey, Bulgaria, Belgium, France, and Germany. We are also working to disrupt supply chains of boats used in illegal immigration.
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Question
Asks about the Home Secretary's intention to alter the interpretation of article 8 of the European convention on human rights, and suggests disapplying all immigration matters from the European Court of Human Rights.
Minister reply
We need reform of the way article 8 is interpreted to address excessive exceptions in family migration rules. We also need clarity about how these rules should be interpreted by courts.
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Question
Asks whether Britain should lead change in modernising the European convention on human rights.
Minister reply
The UK has a history of leading international standards, but laws need to evolve with changing times. We must not abandon our commitment to international co-operation.
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Question
Concerned about safety in his constituency related to asylum hotels and asks for steps to close the Four Points hotel as an asylum accommodation.
Minister reply
We want all asylum hotels, including in his constituency, to close in a controlled manner. We are developing new partnerships to strengthen arrangements for enforcing rules and tackling criminality.
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Question
Criticises the previous government's increase in asylum hotels and small boat crossings, and asks for a non-divisive approach.
Minister reply
The previous Government increased asylum hotels and saw a tenfold increase in small boat crossings. We must end asylum hotels to regain control over the system without divisive rhetoric.
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Question
Asks about plans for introducing a third-country scheme.
Minister reply
We have managed to get an agreement with France, which is effectively a third-country agreement. We are also exploring returns hubs but do not think an expensive programme sending just volunteers is the right approach.
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Question
Supports record deportations and focus on article 8, asks for assurances about closing a hotel in his constituency.
Minister reply
We need to end all asylum hotels including the one in his constituency. We are ending asylum hotels because they undermine confidence in the system and were introduced due to loss of control by previous governments.
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Question
Asks about scope of the Government’s asylum accommodation programme.
Minister reply
We are developing alternative approaches, including work with local councils and other Departments. We must reduce numbers in the system overall to manage it effectively.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary accept that a deterrent must be known to work before people consider making dangerous crossings?
Minister reply
We have established an agreement with France as a pilot programme, which allows us to detain people immediately upon arrival in Dover and return them. The first cases have been referred to France, and we expect the first returns to start during this month.
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Question
Will there be no let-up in enforcement activity against illegal trading and retail work?
Minister reply
We have set up a domestic organised immigration crime taskforce to work across different police forces on the networks that are exploiting illegal working, which often have networks into all kinds of other organised crime. We are strengthening this domestic work as a result of the report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
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Question
Will there be an increase in houses in multiple occupation or local costs for councils?
Minister reply
We will end asylum hotels over the course of this Parliament, not simply by moving people to different kinds of accommodation but by reducing the overall size of the asylum system. The previous Government’s policies were increasing it.
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Question
What will be done to ensure that asylum seekers, refugees, migrants are safe from attempts by far-right groups?
Minister reply
Everyone has a right to be safe and respected. We need clear recognition of our shared humanity and the need to prevent any kind of violence and hatred.
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Question
When will the Home Secretary realise that the only effective deterrent is to detain and deport everyone who comes here illegally?
Minister reply
We have increased returns of those with no right to be here by 28% since the election. We are strengthening enforcement and bringing in new counter-terrorism powers.
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Question
Will the policy announced today speed up the end of the use of asylum hotels?
Minister reply
We will end the use of asylum hotels. We will close the asylum hotels that the previous Government opened, including in his constituency.
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Question
Can the Home Secretary give a date when the hotel in my constituency will close to illegal asylum seekers?
Minister reply
We have been clear that we will end the use of the asylum hotels opened by the previous Government; we will close those asylum hotels.
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Question
How are conversations with French authorities ensuring intervention in shallow waters to stop illegal crossings?
Minister reply
The French Government have been undertaking a maritime review, and the Interior Minister has been strongly pursuing the issue to ensure that there can be intervention in French waters.
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Question
The shadow Home Secretary decided to suspend consulting local authorities before opening asylum hotels, which remained suspended post-pandemic. Does the Minister agree with this and will she reverse it?
Minister reply
The current Government is strengthening work with local authorities instead of voting against amendments that would have strengthened such cooperation.
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Question
Is the Home Secretary committed to withdrawing from outdated refugee conventions and rescinding ECHR influence over British laws?
Minister reply
The Government intends to strengthen border security by going after criminal gangs, rather than pursuing measures that undermine sovereignty.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that crucial counter-terrorism powers in the Border Security Bill should be implemented now?
Minister reply
The Government will work to speed up legislation providing counter-terrorism powers against smuggler gangs, banning sex offenders from the asylum system, and searching mobile phones of individuals arriving on small boats.
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Question
How does the Home Secretary view the rhetoric around migration in light of historical precedents?
Minister reply
The Government will not pursue violence-promoting rhetoric and will support refugees fleeing persecution while strengthening border security to restore confidence.
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Question
How many people did the previous government return to France weekly compared to this Government’s 50 per week pilot scheme?
Minister reply
Under the previous Government, no one was returned to France from small boats and only four paid volunteers were sent to Rwanda.
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Question
When will the independent appeals commission begin recruiting staff and when will it operate fully?
Minister reply
Legislation for the new body will be sought to enable implementation by investing in trained adjudicators, aiming for full operation before next summer.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that extending Ukrainian visa schemes and supporting Gazan students will help showcase the UK’s immigration system at its best?
Minister reply
The Government hopes to support Gazan students taking up scholarships in the UK, while also addressing asylum reform.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree with the Prime Minister’s view that there is enough housing for illegal immigrants and will she rule out using houses of multiple occupation or social housing?
Minister reply
The Government aims to tackle chaos in the asylum system by reducing overall numbers through proper procedures, including sorting appeals.
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Question
Will the Home Secretary do all she can to protect our human rights framework from those on the Opposition Benches who would tear it up for a cheap headline, by campaigning as hard as she can to make sure that the ECHR is fit for the 21st century, restoring public confidence?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary emphasised the need to protect our human rights framework and highlighted Winston Churchill's support for the European convention on human rights after World War II. She urged to campaign to ensure the ECHR is fit for the 21st century.
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Question
Does the Home Secretary agree that immigration has soared since we left the European Union, and that the architects of the damaging Brexit campaign are probably the people least likely to have the answer to the small boat crossings?
Minister reply
The Conservative party in government managed to create chaos in the asylum system and let criminal gangs take over along our borders while illegal migration quadrupled in the space of just four years. Immigration needs to be properly controlled and managed in a fair and sensible way.
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Question
Does she accept that the frustration many feel about illegal immigration must never be confused with opinions about those who come and add to our society in the NHS, agriculture and other jobs where we rely on help from foreign nationals? Will she finally rightfully close the current loopholes and block the back-door access to the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right that people have long supported those coming to work in our NHS through legal routes, but migration needs to be controlled and managed. He raises a separate issue about Ireland and Northern Ireland; however, he will know that the common travel area is a long-standing part of our history and arrangements.