Small Boat Crossings 2023-03-28
2023-03-28
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question addresses the need for actions within the criminal justice system to deter individuals from making small boat crossings across the English Channel.
What steps his Department is taking through the criminal justice system to deter small boat crossings of the English channel.
Under the Nationalities and Borders Act 2022, 162 people, including 34 small boat pilots, have been convicted, resulting in sentences totalling 108 years—legislation, of course, opposed by the Labour party.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The question addresses the concerns of constituents regarding illegal immigrants using the court system's sluggishness to remain indefinitely and seeks information on steps being taken to boost tribunal capacity ahead of the Illegal Migration Bill.
I thank the Secretary of State for the answer, but is my right hon. Friend aware of the concerns of many of my constituents that illegal immigrants and their lefty London lawyers are seen to game the court system by relying on its sluggishness so that they can remain here indefinitely? What steps is he taking to boost capacity in the upper and first tier-tribunals ahead of the Illegal Migration Bill coming into force?
I thank my hon. Friend, who has woken up the shadow Front Bench team from their slumbers with that one. He is absolutely right. As part of the work I am doing with the Home Secretary, we are increasing the number of judges we are recruiting for the immigration and asylum chamber. That means 72 more judges for the first-tier tribunal and 50 more for the upper tribunal.
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