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English Channel Small Boats Incident
25 November 2021
Lead MP
Priti Patel
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Asylum & RefugeesMigrants & BordersForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 34
At a Glance
Priti Patel raised concerns about english channel small boats incident 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
The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, made a statement regarding the tragic drownings that occurred in the English channel the previous day. At least 27 individuals lost their lives in this incident. She expressed profound sorrow and acknowledged that the House shares her sentiments. The Prime Minister chaired an emergency Cobra meeting and contacted French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the situation. Patel offered assistance to France, including joint patrols and more officers on the ground, to prevent dangerous boat journeys across the channel. She emphasised that addressing the illegal migration crisis requires a coordinated international effort and continuous collaboration with partners in Europe and beyond. The Home Secretary highlighted that the UK has provided support to France and is working to end these crossings because it cares about the safety of individuals. She stated that her government's new immigration plan, set to be enacted through the Nationality and Borders Bill, aims to tackle illegal migration by introducing measures such as a one-stop appeals process, processing claims outside the country, declaring inadmissible those who pass through safe countries before reaching the UK, and imposing life sentences for people smugglers. However, they are not waiting until the bill passes; immediate action is being taken on operational and diplomatic fronts, including maritime tactics like boat turnarounds by Border Force, dismantling criminal groups, securing arrests and convictions, and collaborating with France to prevent crossings.
Torfaen
Question
Will the Home Secretary give an update on possible timings for the legal case and reassure the House that Britain will provide full co-operation required by French prosecuting authorities? What urgent action is needed to increase surveillance capacity?
Torfaen
Question
What steps will be taken to deepen intelligence and law enforcement co-operation with the French authorities and other countries, focusing not just on coastal patrols but also disrupting smuggling routes? Will the Dubs scheme for unaccompanied children be reinstated urgently?
Torfaen
Question
How will the government ensure that its promise to help 20,000 people through the Afghanistan resettlement scheme and to support 5,000 individuals in the UK Resettlement Scheme's first year is fulfilled?
Torfaen
Question
Will the government revisit its decision on cutting international aid budgets to assist those fleeing persecution globally, given that this affects efforts to address worldwide migration crises?
Torfaen
Question
Asked about the ongoing legal case in France, surveillance capacity, law enforcement cooperation, and intelligence sharing. He also questioned the reinstatement of the Dubs scheme and progress on resettlement schemes for Afghan refugees and other vulnerable groups.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary acknowledged the tragic circumstances and supported ongoing joint patrols with French authorities. She highlighted limitations due to differing legal frameworks but emphasised efforts to strengthen data sharing and intelligence cooperation. Regarding resettlement, she noted pandemic-related challenges and reaffirmed the government's commitment to meeting its targets.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Asked about putting pressure on France for joint patrols within their territorial waters or on land, noting that it would benefit both countries.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary agreed with the need for direct offers on joint patrols to address the broader issue of migration across EU member states. She confirmed ongoing discussions and offers made to French authorities.
Martyn Day
SNP
West Dunbartonshire
Question
This is a devastating tragedy and our thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, together with their friends and families. I agree that greater co-operation to tackle the dreadful, criminal, people-smuggling gangs is required. However, this awful event should also signal a massive shift in approach towards the provision of safe legal routes to the UK, not doubling down on criminalising those who are the victims if they get here with up to four years in prison.
Minister reply
I have to say that I am very disappointed by the hon. Gentleman’s tone and comments, and by his inability to understand what is taking place or the issues and challenges of global illegal migration. First, if the hon. Gentleman thinks there is a simple solution, I will restate for him that there is no simple solution.
David Davis
Con
Goole and Pocklington
Question
I think the whole House knows that my right hon. Friend has strained every sinew since her first day in post to prevent the sorts of tragedies that we saw in the last 24 hours. My right hon. Friend is right to point to the pan-European nature of this problem. Frontex, for example, has quadrupled its expenditure on surveillance alone in the Mediterranean in the past year. She has accurately pointed to her ongoing co-operation with the French as central. Will she tell the House what additional measures she has offered the French in order to crack down on these evil gangs and to cut down this deadly trade?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend makes some very important points. On the role of Frontex, it has accelerated surveillance and border patrols, and it is even supporting activity in the Mediterranean to stop boats entering territorial waters illegally—I have seen those patrols.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
Question
Our hearts go out to all those affected by yesterday’s terrible tragedy. There was already deep concern in my constituency about the Government’s approach to protecting men, women and children seeking refuge in the UK. A new resettlement pathway for vulnerable Afghans was announced in August, but three months later, we still do not know when the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme will be operational or how those who are outside the UK will be able to access it. Can the Home Secretary tell us that today?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady makes very important points about the Afghan resettlement scheme. It was announced in August at a time of great crisis, with Op Pitting taking place at the time. The Minister for Afghan Resettlement will update colleagues on this in due course.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
What an appalling and entirely foreseeable tragedy. Does the Home Secretary agree that we cannot wait on her excellent Bill? We cannot wait on the French co-operating and taking these poor people back, as they should. We have to act now in a national emergency to save lives. There are only two countries in the world that have solved this problem: Australia, which has an offshore processing centre, and Greece, which does push-back. We have to be tough. We have to face down the human rights lawyers.
Minister reply
I echo my right hon. Friend’s frustration fully. In terms of toughness, I have been very clear—I know that this does upset some right hon. and hon. Members—that I have not ruled anything out.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
Does the Home Secretary accept that the only reason people traffickers and gangs can operate is due to desperation across Europe and the world? Instead of focusing on more border controls, we should address environmental disasters, wars, poverty, and uphold international conventions. Pushing asylum seekers back is not a solution; it's brutality.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary emphasises that her comments are unfair and unreflective of the work being done to address humanitarian crises globally. She notes that migrants often travel through safe countries with functioning asylum systems and highlights the need for bilateral returns agreements.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Does not the Home Secretary agree that if we have a fair system, a queue will form and some people will try to jump it? Therefore, is the only way to deter them showing that crossing illegally means they will be returned?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary states she has offered bilateral returns agreements to her French counterpart. She also mentions the difficulty of establishing such agreements with EU countries due to Commission competence.
Question
Can the Home Secretary confirm that there is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker? Seeking asylum is a human right, and when she says people should seek asylum in the first safe country they reach, she is referring to the Government’s hostile environment policy. What are the routes by which the UK could be considered the first safe country?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary points out that there are individuals who come to the UK pretending to be genuine asylum seekers.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
Given yesterday's tragic events, will the Home Secretary consider a humanitarian visa scheme so people do not have to risk their lives on boats? They are seeking safety for their families.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary mentions that she is bringing forward the Nationality and Borders Bill to address the broken asylum system.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
Question
Given the tragedy in the channel, can the Home Secretary go further with her measures? She needs to disrupt criminal gangs, process claims offshore, and turn boats around in the channel. People who voted for control want to see action.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary confirms that offshoring and processing claims in third countries are under consideration. Her plan for immigration covers these areas.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Question
Does the Home Secretary agree we are dealing with modern-day slave traders? Will she ensure full force is brought to bear against them, including processing asylum claims at all British embassies?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary agrees that this is a modern-day slave trade and confirms that safe and legal routes outside the UK are being considered.
Brendan O'Hara
SNP
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Question
Will the Home Secretary join me in asking news outlets to reflect on their use of dehumanising language when referring to those who died? 'Migrants' drown; people drown.
Minister reply
The Home Secretary agrees that such language should be avoided and reflects on inappropriate language used during Afghanistan operations.
Question
Can the Home Secretary reassure me that her policy is to look after people but also get a grip on the problem?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary reassures that the approach involves more than just 'grip' and requires addressing complexity with various skills, including humanity and decency.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Question
It is truly heartbreaking to think of the lives, hopes and talents extinguished by those attempting to cross the Channel in small boats. The Home Secretary's policies are not working and vulnerable people are paying the price for a lack of safe routes into the UK.
Minister reply
That is exactly what the Nationality and Borders Bill does.
Robert Jenrick
Reform
Newark
Question
Supports the Home Secretary's pursuit of all long-term options, including offshore processing. However, in the short term we will see more tragedies unless a strategy can be agreed upon with France.
Minister reply
My hon. right Friend is absolutely right; hence discussions took place between the Prime Minister and President Macron last night.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
Describes the tragedy as murder, asks for withdrawal of the Nationality and Borders Bill to put in place safe routes.
Minister reply
The answer is no because the Nationality and Borders Bill does create safe and legal routes.
Christchurch
Question
Asks if illegal immigration should be made a criminal offence to contribute to ending this trade.
Minister reply
I certainly think that more needs to be done, so Ministers would be happy to meet my hon. Friend.
Question
Urges the Home Secretary to make every effort to bring together responses and work across Government authorities.
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct; arrests have been made with intelligence-sharing being pivotal to arrests, convictions and prosecutions.
Question
Asks the Home Secretary to meet COSLA for home truths about the situation and urges to address this as an international issue.
Minister reply
I take issue with the hon. Lady’s comments but maintain that migration is a global crisis, proactive in speaking to EU member states.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
Points out Home Office failure on this issue for too long and suggests moving it from the Home Office to Cabinet Office.
Minister reply
Let me say that there is a cross-governmental response to this.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
Suggests setting up camps and opportunities for refugees from oppressive regimes like Iran rather than their making perilous journeys.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a relevant point about global migration crises, working with Jordan and neighbouring countries in the region.
Rosie Duffield
Ind
Canterbury
Question
Asks Government to act not only to repel but open Afghan citizens resettlement scheme and safe family reunion routes.
Minister reply
I refer the hon. Lady to my earlier comments on both those points.
Question
Asks if the Home Secretary agrees that the safe and legal routes are vital and have to be the only viable route into the UK.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; we need to build on successes for people fleeing persecution.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Will the Minister consider utilising private patrol companies offering services with boats ready and equipped to help patrol the sea, such as one called Osiris Marine Solutions that has emailed me to highlight its facilities? Is there a role for private enterprise in helping in the fight against these dangerous crossings?
Minister reply
The answer is yes, there is a role. The Home Office has been tasked to look at private sector companies and support.
Question
Against the background of British troops being sent to Poland to help secure the border with Belarus, can the Home Secretary confirm and clarify the basis of her broad and generous offer to the French? Has she offered Border Force cutters to work close to shore off the French coast in conjunction with the French, and has she offered the deployment of British troops and UK police, if necessary under French command, to operate on French beaches?
Minister reply
Yes, I have.
David Simmonds
Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Question
First, may I commend the Home Secretary on her robust response to the Scottish National party? The London Borough of Hillingdon is currently buckling under the strain of looking after around 10% of all the refugees in the whole country, including large numbers who have been bussed up from Dover. Almost none of those people have a route to Scotland. Recognising the importance of safe and legal routes and the comments made by the French Foreign Minister about some of the pull factors in the UK, will my right hon. Friend consider what steps could be taken to remove the grant of asylum from those whose claim is subsequently shown to have been bogus?
Minister reply
I would like to put on record my thanks to the London Borough of Hillingdon and to many other local authorities across the country, although they are predominantly in London. My hon. Friend is right in his suggestions for solutions and working together.
Richard Holden
Con
Basildon and Billericay
Question
Lives are tragically being lost in the channel, and the British people want the gangs to be smashed, the crossings to be stopped and people to be processed in the nearest country. Again and again, the Opposition have voted against our measures in the Nationality and Borders Bill to cut down on human trafficking via small boats, and the shadow Home Secretary has called our proposals “unconscionable”. Does the Home Secretary agree that Labour’s failure to support the necessary legislation shows that, when the chips are down, they are not only failing to understand the views of the British people but, tragically, failing to protect those being exploited by criminal gangs whose callous and criminal behaviour means that people are being left to die in the channel?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes some important points. We have removal centres for very good and strong reasons. They are for people with no legal right to remain in our country, and we have to put them in the removal centres as part of the process to move them on.
Question
The situation yesterday was an absolute tragedy, but the Home Secretary has made it absolutely clear that there is no single silver bullet to fix the problem. Does she agree that there are, broadly, three huge areas to cover? The first is international co-operation, which has to be there if we are to work with other countries. Secondly, domestic legislation has to be put in place, which is what we are doing through the Nationality and Borders Bill, to fix our borders and the broken asylum system. Lastly, we need the toughest possible measures and surveillance to crack down on the criminality of those gangs that are aiding and abetting the situation every day.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I thank him for his comments. He has summed up the totality of the challenge that confronts us all.
Shadow Comment
Nick Thomas-Symonds
Shadow Comment
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds responded, expressing condolences for those who lost their lives in the tragic drownings. He highlighted the ongoing legal case in France and asked the Home Secretary to update the House on possible timings and Britain's commitment to full co-operation with French prosecuting authorities. He also enquired about increasing surveillance capacity and deepening intelligence and law enforcement cooperation with other countries to disrupt people-smuggling routes. Thomas-Symonds raised concerns about the lack of properly managed safe and legal routes, pressing for the reinstatement of the Dubs scheme that helped only 480 unaccompanied children instead of the expected 3,000. He also inquired about the government's plans to help a total of 20,000 people through the Afghanistan resettlement scheme and about making good on the promise to support 5,000 individuals in the UK Resettlement Scheme's first year. The shadow minister emphasised that cutting international aid budgets would hinder efforts to assist those fleeing persecution worldwide.
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