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Illegal Migration
05 June 2023
Lead MP
Suella Braverman
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
ImmigrationAsylum & RefugeesMigrants & BordersForeign AffairsBusiness Compliance
Other Contributors: 33
At a Glance
Suella Braverman raised concerns about illegal migration 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 & BordersForeign AffairsBusiness Compliance
Government Statement
The Home Secretary announced significant progress in tackling illegal migration through small boats. Key points include: establishing the Small Boats Operational Command with a new senior director; doubling Project Invigor's funding to disrupt people-smuggling gangs; increasing illegal working raids by over 50% and doubling arrests, charges, and convictions since June last year; reducing asylum decision backlogs by 17,000 cases; signing major bilateral deals with France for enhanced interception efforts; returning individuals without the right to remain in the UK at a rate of over 4,000 per quarter (up more than 50%); preparing to implement migration and economic development partnerships with Rwanda, despite ongoing legal challenges; proposing reform through an Illegal Migration Bill that would prevent illegal immigrants from building lives in the UK while providing safe routes for those needing refuge. The Home Secretary emphasised the need for further legislative reforms but acknowledged the substantial work ahead.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Question
The shadow Home Secretary criticised the government's claim that they are stopping the boats, noting the high number of arrivals in recent months compared to previous years. She also questioned why hotel use has increased despite promises to reduce it.
Minister reply
The minister responded by emphasising the complex and enduring nature of the issue but acknowledged that while some progress had been made, challenges remain. The focus on reducing reliance on hotels is part of a longer-term strategy to reform the system.
Karl McCartney
Con
Lincoln
Question
The MP asked about the effectiveness of Project Invigor and its impact on the operations in the channel.
Minister reply
The minister highlighted that Project Invigor has seen a significant increase in funding to disrupt people-smuggling gangs upstream, which is contributing positively to reducing illegal crossings.
Sadiq Khan
Lab
Tooting
Question
The MP questioned the effectiveness of returns and asked about progress with Rwanda, expressing concerns over legal costs.
Minister reply
The minister responded by acknowledging that while challenges remain in enforcement and international agreements like the one with Rwanda, significant efforts are being made. The focus is on delivering the policy legally and effectively.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Question
The MP criticises the Home Secretary’s claim that her policies are working, highlighting an asylum backlog at a record high of 170,000 cases. She points out a threefold increase in arrivals since two years ago and an estimated £13 million earned by criminal gangs in recent months. The shadow notes enforcement visits have dropped 22% compared to pre-pandemic levels, as well as arrest rates dropping 17%. Cooper argues the Home Secretary’s boasting about cutting backlogs is misleading, as it has only cleared cases from before June 2022 while new backlogs continue to grow. She further criticises hotel use for asylum seekers increasing and the government's failure in return rates.
Minister reply
The minister responds by stating that Labour lacks a credible plan despite its rhetoric, accusing them of opposing all measures proposed to stop illegal immigration. She highlights the opposition’s activism when it suits them but opposes sensible proposals, citing examples such as their campaign against deporting dangerous foreign criminals. The minister asserts that the British people want less migration and control over borders, contrasting this with Labour's indifference towards stopping illegal entry.
Lee Anderson
Reform
Ashfield
Question
The MP expresses support for the Home Secretary’s efforts to address the immigration crisis but suggests that sharing rooms, using barges and drones, and relying on the French are not effective solutions. He asks when flights off to Rwanda will commence.
Minister reply
The minister expresses confidence in the UK's plan with Rwanda, noting its endorsement by the High Court at the end of last year following a legal challenge. She states that they await the Court of Appeal’s judgment and once this is complete, flights will proceed as soon as possible.
Alison Thewliss
SNP
Glasgow Central
Question
The Home Secretary's use of selective statistics is criticised for not addressing the real issues, such as an increased asylum backlog and a decrease in decision makers. She also highlights that Afghan refugees have come through dangerous routes due to lack of proper resettlement pathways, while very few are being granted sanctuary via established programmes.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary asserts her Government's track record of welcoming hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals from around the world and criticises the SNP for their inaction despite advocating for more sanctuary. She also mentions that there is significant collaboration with French border forces to prevent crossings.
Marco Longhi
Con
Sudbury
Question
The MP welcomes progress but asks for an investigation into a boat crossing incident where the French and British border forces allegedly cooperated in a manner not intended.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary will investigate the specific incident mentioned by the MP but notes that overall there is positive collaboration with France, including having Border Force officials working side-by-side with their counterparts.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
If a Ugandan individual seeking asylum due to homophobic laws seeks sanctuary in the UK, will she grant them sanctuary?
Minister reply
Every application for asylum is determined on its own merits considering human rights laws, international conventions and domestic laws.
John Redwood
Con
Wokingham
Question
Would reducing the waiting time from a year to three months decrease accommodation costs by 75%?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary encourages progress made in reducing the initial decision backlog and emphasises the importance of shortening wait times for asylum seekers.
Toby Perkins
Lab
Chesterfield
Question
The MP questions the effectiveness and humanity of the Home Secretary's approach, noting that the backlog is actually increasing despite her claims.
Minister reply
She states that the Government’s plan to stop boats has wide public support. She suggests that the Labour party should also back this effort.
Jack Brereton
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
What more is being done to increase capacity for deportation and processing overseas?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary notes that the number of caseworkers making decisions has increased, improving efficiency in processing asylum claims.
Joanna Cherry
SNP
Edinburgh South
Question
Does the Home Secretary see how intransigence on Afghan schemes is pushing vulnerable Afghans to come by small boats?
Minister reply
She disagrees, noting that a high number of Afghans have been resettled through various schemes and emphasises there's never a good reason to pay people smugglers for an illegal crossing.
Theresa Villiers
Con
Chipping Barnet
Question
Does the Home Secretary share alarm about Labour MPs signing a letter against deportation of foreign criminals?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary criticises Labour for opposing measures to deport dangerous foreign criminals and requests an apology from Labour.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
Question
Concerns are raised about asylum seekers being left without accommodation despite government spending £7 million a day on accommodation.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary says they are making progress in providing appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers.
Nickie Aiken
Con
City of Westminster
Question
Thanked the Home Secretary for her statement and mentioned a recent incident involving asylum seekers in Pimlico, stating that local councillors had worked to resolve it. Asked if Westminster City Council was informed about the hotel being used and requested a meeting to discuss the suitability of central London hotels.
Minister reply
Acknowledged Nickie Aiken's work and confirmed proper notification of changes to accommodation for asylum seekers, noting close cooperation with local authorities. Offered to meet Aiken or her Immigration Minister if unable.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Question
Critiqued the Home Secretary's handling of migration, questioning whether the change in definition from clearing the backlog by year-end to a legacy backlog is due to only 20% clearance so far this year.
Minister reply
Clarified that the initial decision backlog was targeted, which has reduced significantly and progress continues. Rejected criticism as lacking attention.
Question
Expressed concern about local economy impact due to a hotel used for asylum seekers, specifically asking for timelines on when hotels would be returned to normal use.
Minister reply
Announced plans for bespoke accommodation around the country and acknowledged the need to reduce hotel usage but could not provide specific timelines.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
Criticised government approach as damaging local trust, called for scrapping Rwanda scheme in favour of recruiting Home Office staff to process claims.
Minister reply
Defended partnership with Rwanda and challenged the Liberal Democrats' view as outdated and ignorant about Rwanda's capabilities.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Question
Welcomed statement but questioned fairness of using RAF Scampton, considering local community concerns.
Minister reply
Acknowledged challenges with current hotel usage costing £6 million daily and necessity for alternative accommodation at sites like RAF Scampton.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
Asked if the Home Office estimates that measures within the Illegal Migration Bill could cost up to £6 billion.
Minister reply
Responded by stating current costs of illegal migration handling and reassured about savings from future bill implementation.
Question
Supported Home Secretary's efforts but expressed concerns over Rwanda's involvement with a terrorist organisation in Congo.
Minister reply
Defended Rwanda's resettlement partnership with the UK, citing court validation of legality and awaiting Court of Appeal judgment.
Question
Criticised 'hostile environment' policy as cruel and inhumane, questioning conditions on barges or MOD sites.
Minister reply
Assured compliance with standards for asylum seeker accommodation and support at new sites.
Question
Asked if the Home Secretary agrees that reducing asylum case backlog must be done properly without accepting claims merely to reduce it quickly.
Minister reply
Agreed, stating robust approach to applications to ensure illegal entrants are detained and removed.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Question
Cited France as receiving three times more illegal migrants but processing faster than the UK, asked for lessons from France.
Minister reply
Acknowledged co-operation with French government on migration issues and noted a global migration crisis affecting many European countries.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
In this month of all months—Pride month—I want to follow-up on the answer that the Home Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Sir Chris Bryant). We know that Uganda has introduced a law that brings in the death penalty for what it terms “aggravated homosexuality”. Is she saying that, if a Ugandan was on a boat and came here on a boat, she would deport them to Rwanda when, in 2021, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, it was detaining LGBT people and claiming they did not represent Rwandan values? Has she even read her own Home Office equality impact assessment that details the illegal treatment?
Minister reply
I ask the hon. Member whether she has even read the High Court judgment that looks extensively at our agreement with Rwanda. It looks in detail at our arrangements with Rwanda and concludes emphatically that our agreement is lawful and that, when it comes, for example, to article 3—the kind of claims she is talking about—there is no issue with the treatment of asylum seekers if they were to be in Rwanda.
Question
The Home Secretary keeps talking about achieving value for money for the taxpayer. Has she made a calculation of what the net gain to the Treasury would be if asylum seekers were granted the right to work? They would then be able to pay for their own accommodation and pay taxes into the system, instead of taking money out.
Minister reply
I disagree with the hon. Member’s ingenious proposal because the reality is that the right to work would act as a magnet. It would act as a pull factor in this very complex issue that we are trying to stop.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Question
Local residents and I are very concerned about the Home Secretary’s proposals to house 200 asylum seekers in the Stradey Park hotel in my constituency. Will she agree to meet me to hear about our concerns and to explain what she is doing to increase the pace of clearing the backlog of 160,000 undetermined asylum claims, so that those from safe countries can be returned and there will be no need for her to consider using the Stradey Park hotel?
Minister reply
I can give the hon. Lady some advice for free. The best way to stop the use of hotels is to stop the boats, and I encourage her to back our legislation, which will enable us to stop the boats and stop the use of hotels.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Question
I want to raise the use of divisive language by the Home Secretary throughout this statement on immigration, and a few weeks ago when she described multiculturalism as a “recipe for communal disaster”. As a product of multiculturalism myself and representing Luton North, a town proudly multicultural, let me tell her that she is wrong. There are thousands like me from multicultural families. Does she really want to deny our right to exist? Is not the truth that the use of such vile rhetoric is just a cynical ploy to turn people against each other, rather than on those truly responsible for the backlog, the boats and the needless deaths—this Conservative Government?
Minister reply
I prefer to focus on the problem and the solutions to the problem. The problem we have here—one on which the British public overwhelmingly support the Government’s plans—is to stop the boats.
Question
The Home Secretary has said today that she wants to use the armed forces estate and barracks. Does she understand what condition they are in? Does she understand what the additional costs are going to be to repair them to make them habitable? How much will that add to the already £6 billion that she is spending on this new Bill? How will that affect our hospitals, our schools and our children’s education?
Minister reply
The answer is yes. I have been working flat out with the Prime Minister on identifying alternative sites and rolling out alternative accommodation on those sites. We are very much aware of the particular nature and characteristics of the different sites, and of the needs that their occupants will have.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Question
The Home Secretary claimed in her statement that “the asylum initial decision backlog is down by 17,000”, but the Home Office’s own statistics say there are now 173,000 initial decision cases, up from 161,000 in December. So will the Home Secretary admit the colossal scale and epic costs of her failures, running into hundreds of millions of pounds to the British taxpayer, and will she withdraw that incorrect claim?
Minister reply
As I said to the hon. Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi), the hon. Gentleman really needs to listen more carefully to what the Prime Minister promised in his statement. We are on track to deliver on reducing the backlog of initial decisions and the legacy backlog.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
Question
The Home Secretary’s statement on the boats mentions the need to acquire two further prison boats, but the Prime Minister is refusing to say where those will be located. Have there been any relevant discussions with local authorities, and does the Home Secretary plan to recruit more staff to fix the broken immigration system and its 172,000 backlog?
Minister reply
Our new sites will be rolled out following and in conjunction with close consultation with the relevant authorities—local authorities, health authorities and education authorities—so that the occupants receive the appropriate care. We have doubled the number of caseworkers in our asylum case working team, which is why we are making progress on bearing down on our backlog.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Children who have been brought into this country from desperate situations will bring with them not simply the trauma of events, but also the real physical ailments that are part and parcel of fleeing from persecution—the Secretary of State has referred to that. Will she outline how their needs can possibly be met by the proposed housing arrangement, and will she allow for the fact that exceptional family circumstances deserve to be part of that key family consideration?
Minister reply
Asylum seekers, whether they are accommodated in the UK or relocated to a safe country such as Rwanda, will always receive the appropriate level of support to which they are entitled. Where we have legal duties, we abide by them; and where we have a duty of care to asylum seekers, we meet it.
Shadow Comment
Yvette Cooper
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Home Secretary criticised the Government's progress as superficial compared to their rhetoric. Key points include: asylum backlog at record high levels; enforcement visits down by 22% and arrests by 17% since pre-pandemic; returns still lower than pre-pandemic figures; ongoing issues with hotel accommodation and rising costs due to legislative changes; the new Illegal Migration Bill costing an estimated £6 billion. The Labour Party advocates for strong border security, controlled asylum systems, and legal routes for refugees from safe countries, accusing the Government of allowing criminal gangs to flourish and failing to manage the asylum system effectively.
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