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Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
04 March 2024
Lead MP
Tom Pursglove
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
ImmigrationAsylum & RefugeesMigrants & BordersEmploymentForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Tom Pursglove raised concerns about independent chief inspector of borders and immigration in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
ImmigrationAsylum & RefugeesMigrants & BordersEmploymentForeign Affairs
Government Statement
The Minister recognises the importance of independent scrutiny by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. He announced that all overdue reports were published as promised, totalling 13 out of 15 reports previously delayed beyond the eight-week publication period. The minister stated that action has already been taken on several recommendations from these reports to strengthen border security and improve asylum processing systems. Plans are in place to appoint a new chief inspector with an advertisement live since the former's termination, adhering to robust competition procedures. Additionally, interim appointment options are being explored until the permanent position is filled. The minister emphasised that the UK border security and immigration system remain priorities, with continuous improvement efforts ongoing.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North
Question
Asks for confirmation on actions taken to address serious issues highlighted in reports, including ineffective border protection at airports and lack of quality assurance due to increased productivity pressures. Questions the operation of the inspectorate during the vacancy period without a deputy, impact on staff and their future roles, and requests visits to Wethersfield asylum centre.
Minister reply
The minister confirms that outstanding reports will be responded to within the eight-week window as committed. He assures engagement with the next chief inspector for oversight of delivered commitments. Acknowledges efforts in processing asylum backlogs under pressure from the House, stressing continued improvement through learning and IT enhancements. Mentions ongoing considerations for ICIBI function arrangements during vacancy and willingness to consider committee visits to Wethersfield.
Tim Loughton
Con
East Worthing and Shoreham
Question
To follow up on some specific questions from the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee that the Minister did not pick up on, is it not the case that David Neal was dismissed by Teams call by a civil servant? Why was he not afforded the courtesy of seeing a Minister? Is it not also the case that despite the recruitment process having started last November, no suitable candidates came forward and the post had to be readvertised at a higher salary?... Finally, can the Minister assure me that there were no redactions and nothing was removed from the 13 reports published en masse last week?
Minister reply
On my hon. Friend’s final point, I will go away and check, and I will write to him. This is clearly an important function... The recruitment process was restarted the day after Mr Neal left the role... We are keen to make progress in appointing a new independent chief inspector of borders and immigration... The relationship with the ICIBI will be in the terms that I set out: it will get on and publish reports within the eight-week framework for the existing workload. We will continue to work constructively with it when Mr Neal’s successor is appointed.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Question
We think of the family and friends of the seven-year-old who lost her life in the channel this weekend. It matters more than ever that we stop the criminal gangs and dangerous crossings that are undermining border security and putting so many lives at risk... The Tory Home Secretary has shamefully tried to bury or hide 13 inspectorate reports and one National Audit Office report with damning revelations about Britain’s borders, and now he has gone into hiding himself. He should be doing a statement on those reports, which show shocking border security failures... More findings: only two people have been removed under the inadmissibility process that the Government claimed would cover tens of thousands, and 147 unaccompanied children who went missing have still not been found...
Minister reply
That was a contribution to the House full of soundbites, as ever, but light on policy substance... We hear time and again from the right hon. Lady and her colleagues a lot of criticism of what the Government are doing and absolutely no credible policy alternative in response... The number of crossings last year was down by over a third compared with the year before, and Albanian arrivals are down by over 90%... However, it does not take many spends of £8 million a day to get to the figures that have been provided to the NAO in a transparent manner. We think that advancing that policy and putting those criminal gangs out of action is the right thing to do, recognising that the policy is novel and has been challenging... Significant progress has been made since the report was commissioned to increase the number of officers trained in vulnerability and behavioural detection.
Question
Following on from that point, there is clearly an issue with publication within eight weeks. Bearing in mind that the public purse is funding 30 civil servants and a chief inspector of immigration, has my hon. Friend considered a statutory basis for the eight-week requirement—or whatever requirement is necessary or proportionate—for the publication of such reports, to ensure efficiency in the system?
Minister reply
In his usual way, my hon. Friend comes to the House with constructive suggestions for how the Government can go about their work... I am happy to put that suggestion to the Minister who leads on these matters in the Department... I can absolutely assure my hon. Friend that there is a commitment to engage with the reports within that eight-week window.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Question
Thanked David Neal for his work and highlighted issues raised in his reports including communication, data quality, treatment of unaccompanied children, and secret policies. Asked about the future of planned inspections and implementation of recommendations.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of Neal's work and thanked him. Stated that the Government will continue to implement accepted recommendations even without a new chief inspector in place. Announced ongoing efforts to appoint a replacement while engaging with the Home Affairs Committee.
Simon Fell
Con
Harrow East
Question
Asked for assurances on progress made on issues raised in Neal's reports and suggested making the post independent.
Minister reply
Assured that the Government will continue to work through recommendations from published reports. Promised to respond to future reports within an eight-week window. Agreed to consider procedural suggestions.
Diane Abbott
Ind
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Question
Asked if the Minister would follow up on issues related to unaccompanied child migrants, such as playing unsuitable games and age overestimation.
Minister reply
Acknowledged concerns about unaccompanied children. Stated that inappropriate behavior by support workers was investigated and addressed. Emphasised the Department's commitment to safeguarding vulnerable children.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Asked for clarification on reasons behind delayed report publication and impact on current inspector’s role.
Minister reply
Explained that the decision was due to loss of confidence in Neal by the Home Secretary. Assured the House that future reports will be responded to within eight weeks.
Alistair Carmichael
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Question
Asked if the next inspector should examine the Rwanda scheme before its implementation.
Minister reply
Disagreed, stating that lives are at stake and progress must continue. Argued that the Rwanda policy is crucial for ending criminal activities in the Channel.
Khalid Mahmood
Lab
Birmingham Perry Barr
Question
Asked if the Bill implementing the Rwanda scheme will be implemented, citing its high cost of £500 million.
Minister reply
Defended the policy's necessity and commitment to transparency. Emphasised that the Rwanda policy aims to save lives by putting an end to criminal activities in the Channel.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
The borders inspectorate found that staff working in a Home Office-run hotel made unaccompanied asylum-seeking children play a disgraceful game to find out which child was next to be placed in foster care, a practice certain to cause more distress to already traumatised children. The same report found that agency workers employed to look after children as young as nine had insufficient background checks and training. What has the Minister done to ensure that he understands the full extent of the risks to children in the asylum system, and what steps is he taking to end such disgraceful practices, and to guarantee that everyone working with children is properly vetted and trained?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to say that everybody working with children has to be properly vetted. We have taken seriously the recommendations that Mr Neal made in response to that issue. As I said to the right hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), this was a terrible situation. There was accountability in relation to the individual who thought it appropriate to play that game, which was, to any Member of this House and any right-minded person, abhorrent.
Question
The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, raised concerns about Government policy on trafficking and slavery. Her contract was not renewed, and that crucial post was vacant for 16 months. David Neal, as the ICIBI, raised concerns about immigration, and he was sacked. That post will be vacant for months. The Minister has said that independent scrutiny plays an important role, but does he not agree that under this Government, independent scrutiny is not only not valued, but becoming a sackable offence?
Minister reply
I have been clear with the House about the basis on which Mr Neal’s contract was terminated. I do not think it was appropriate for him to share confidential information in the way he did; it was outside the process for publication. However, as I have said repeatedly, we want to get on and appoint a successor. The chief inspector of borders and immigration has an important role and remit; the House and the Government see value in it. We are looking at what can be done to bridge the gap in the absence of a full-time, permanent chief inspector.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Question
As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Africa, I met David Neal a number of times. He was incredibly impressive, robust, well-informed, all over the detail, and entirely independent. It beggars belief that the Government ignored his reports for so long—publication is essential for scrutiny—sacked him over Teams, and dumped all the reports out at once. Does the Minister believe that the Home Office is so perfect, and that everything is going so well, that it should be above scrutiny? Or is it more the case that everything is going so badly, including on Rwanda, the asylum backlog and our border security, that there is no hope of improvement until we have a change of Government?
Minister reply
That is an interesting observation, but what sits behind it, I am afraid, is a lack of policy and a lack of an alternative, credible approach to borders and immigration. Mr Neal said this in response to the reports being laid before Parliament last week: “I think it’s a real positive that these reports have been published.” I agree with him. I promised that we would lay those reports before Parliament; we have got on and done it, and we will table the outstanding reports within the eight-week window.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
Question
Last week’s figures showed 46,000 people still in asylum hotels. David Neal’s report said: “There is no evidence of a Home Office strategy to end hotel use, as recommended by ICIBI in 2022.” He is right, is he not?
Minister reply
I am afraid that what is right is that the hon. Lady consistently votes against the strategy to end the use of hotels, as do her colleagues on the Opposition Front Bench and Back Benches. The way to address the issue of hotels is: to diversify the accommodation offer; to ensure that local authority areas engage properly with dispersed accommodation—I encourage all Members of this House to take an interest in the performance of their local authority—and to bring into being larger sites, such as those that we have brought forward.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Question
Is the Government’s failure to tackle the asylum backlog, the Minister’s inability to grapple with the asylum hotel issue, or the staggering cost of the Rwanda deal, at £2 million per person taken out of this country, the reason why the Minister has broken the Home Office budget, and will come to Parliament cap in hand next week, asking for an extra £5.5 billion of funding for the Home Office?
Minister reply
I am afraid that the hon. Member is yet another Opposition Member with no credible alternative to speak of—just lots of complaints about the work that the Government are doing. We are making progress. As I have said, last year, the number of people who arrived via the channel was down by a third compared to the year before.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
The shambles that is the ongoing mismanagement of our borders and the Government mismanagement of the huge asylum backlog, which was just referred to, is now enhanced by the additional shambles of an unnecessary interregnum. In answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael), the Minister seemed to imply that independent oversight would not be necessary in the next few weeks and months while there is an interregnum over the Rwanda deal. If the Government are right—in the best-case scenario, from their perspective—1% of all asylum seekers will go to Rwanda. Apparently, that is so important that independent oversight is not necessary during this period. Will the Minister confirm that until a new inspector is formally and fully appointed and in post, there will be no further progress in deporting anybody to Rwanda?
Minister reply
It is rather ironic that the hon. Gentleman argues for due process on the one hand, and says that we should dispense with it on the other. The contract of the chief inspector of borders was terminated because of respects in which his actions were not in accordance with the agreement around the post.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
May I put on record my thanks to the Minister for all the work that he did for one of my constituents last week, and for ensuring that one of the Ukrainian babies got back to Northern Ireland? We should bear in mind the gap that has been left in this vital component of our immigration response. On the role of civil servants and the importance of ministerial oversight, most recently, the difficulty in Northern Ireland, where there was an absence of Ministers in situ, was that although senior civil servants could make decisions, they were loth to do so; and those who made decisions did not provide the usual accountability or explanation of decisions. How will the Minister ensure that that does not remain the case until a replacement for the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration is in place?
Minister reply
The hon. Member always goes about his business in the House diligently, and he speaks with great passion about Northern Ireland; I am delighted that we now have Ministers back in government there. I look forward to engaging with counterparts in Northern Ireland on these issues.
Shadow Comment
Diana R. Johnson
Shadow Comment
The shadow criticises the delay in publishing reports by the Home Office despite promises to do so promptly after terminating David Neal’s position as Chief Inspector. She raises serious concerns about ineffective border security, illegal goods detection failures at airports, and prioritisation of productivity over quality assurance for asylum claim processing. The shadow questions how the inspectorate will function without a chief inspector or deputy, and requests clarity on the status of inspection work and staff management during this period. Further, she mentions David Neal’s recent testimony about issues at Wethersfield asylum accommodation centre regarding safety concerns and asks for a visit by the committee to address these matters. The shadow also inquires about implementing recommendations from David Neal and comments on the timing of report publications alongside other significant news.
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