Criticises government strategies like 'small boats week', highlights increased asylum backlog and costs to taxpayers. Questions Minister about legionella issue on Bibby Stockholm, cost of barge, people in hotels, implementation of Illegal Migration Act 2023, calls for Labour's plan to address immigration issues.

Inquires about duration of Wethersfield site usage in Braintree district, planning processes beyond 12 months, and potential increase in funding if the site remains open for more than a year.

The Minister comes here again with another statement, but the problem is not the boats; it is the backlogs. He comes here fiddling figures with legacy backlogs, but the flow backlog of people coming into the country continues to increase, and the hidden backlog—those granted asylum by the courts but left waiting for his party to complete the paperwork—grows and grows. In reality, we have a backlog of 175,000 people waiting for a decision from his Department—the highest number since records began—and local MPs get only boilerplate replies that give no reassurance to our constituents left in limbo by his incompetent Department. We all want to see an end to the small boats and to people risking and losing their lives in the channel, but that requires safe and legal routes, which do not exist.

When the Prime Minister announced that he was imperilling £300 million-worth of levelling-up investment on RAF Scampton, he said he was going to lead by example by accepting migrants into Catterick camp in his constituency. Home Office officials have now informed us that that is not happening, so where is the leadership in that?

On behalf of the Home Affairs Committee, may I send our thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the loss of life in the channel last month? The Home Affairs Committee has long urged the Government to clear the asylum backlog, and I am pleased that the legacy backlog is starting to shrink. However, there are important questions about the quality and quantity of decisions. On quality, it was reported in The Sunday Times last week that interviews have been slashed from seven hours to 45 minutes.

The Minister is absolutely right to be doing everything to tackle the small boats issue and illegal migration. Over the summer months, nearly 500 asylum seekers have arrived in destinations in Chelmsford, and I am grateful for the time he has spent speaking to me about it.

Over the past few years, the Government have allowed the backlog of asylum claims to rise and rise to over 170,000. For all the Minister’s warm words, progress in tackling it has been disgracefully slow.

I very much agree with what my right hon. Friend said about the importance of effective processing, but he is right about the underlying importance of having a clear plan to deter people from coming to this country illegally, which leads us to Rwanda and the upcoming Supreme Court judgment anticipated later this year.

Asked the Minister to explain why a Border Force cutter was stationed in Orkney despite the area's history of small boat arrivals. Criticised the use of scarce resources.

Complimented the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee's comments on tragedies in the channel and questioned the effectiveness of the £480 million subsidy given to the French police, noting a 90% increase in successful interceptions by Belgium.

Brought up cases in his constituency where asylum seekers were given insufficient notice to leave hotels, leading to homelessness issues.

Complimented the Minister on the progress made in procedure and disreputable lawyers exploiting the system. Suggested the Supreme Court case should be expedited.

Asked about how cases within the backlog are prioritised, citing a constituent who has been waiting nearly a year for a decision.

Welcomed the announcement regarding the Professional Enablers Taskforce and encouraged it to look at lawyers’ interventions in the immigration system.

Said he envies the Minister's capacity for self-congratulation but pointed out that more migrants are arriving under this Government.

Thanked the Minister for helpful telephone calls regarding the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland port, expressed opposition to its use as accommodation and asked about updates on the situation and when migrants will return.

Asked if the Government plans to renegotiate terms of the European convention on human rights given challenges from international criminal gangs.

Asked about timeline for closing hotels requisitioned in her constituency given numerous commitments made from the Dispatch Box.

Inquired about a small hotel in Cliftonville being readied despite unwritten deal not to face accommodation pressures.

Asked if Minister will continue work on reducing illegal boats and immigration levels given housing list pressures.

Asked about availability of Old Palace Lodge in Dunstable for community use.

Asked about assurances from Prime Minister regarding return agreements with India.

Asked about increasing deportation facilities and speed of deportations.

Asked about maintaining extra resources and improving focus on productivity for dealing with legacy events and future cases.

Asked about timescale for returning Novotel hotel to proper use.

Asked about ensuring contracts for Royal Hotel and Rothwell House Hotel are not renewed due to unsuitability.

Reducing the asylum backlog is important, but we absolutely must not fall into the trap of having a de facto amnesty to try to achieve that. In the past year we approved the claims of 73% of applicants, including many from undisputed safe countries, while France approved just 25%. Why are we approving nearly three times the proportion of claims approved by France, given that this is clearly one of the pull factors that draws people across the channel?

I welcome the near end to illegal Albanian immigration, the crackdown on immigration lawyer abuses, and UK Visas and Immigration caseworkers helping MPs. However, as more asylum seekers become refugees, has my right hon. Friend considered creating a homes for refugees programme, building on the successful Homes for Ukraine scheme?

Although I am pleased to see the 20% fall in channel arrivals this year, I do not believe we will see a more meaningful fall until we get the Illegal Migration Act 7538 operational. I know that we are waiting for the Supreme Court and I urge it to hurry up, but given that the Government lost only on a very narrow point that was specific to Rwanda, can my right hon. Friend reassure the House that, should they lose in the Supreme Court, the Government have alternatives planned so we can get removals going as soon as possible?