Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Office's handling of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels and the need for a strategic approach to address placement shortages.
I am concerned about the Home Office placing vulnerable, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels in local authority areas. The Home Office is directly commissioning these hotels because it knows that local authorities do not have the funding or capacity required. Will the Home Secretary finally admit that these vulnerable children are legally the Home Office's responsibility so they are not left in legal limbo? Will she ensure her Department takes a strategic approach to address placement shortages, rather than its current ad hoc approach, and will she ensure police keep searching for those who have gone missing?
We take seriously the position of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. We will look at funding arrangements for local authorities to support these children, so their needs are properly met.
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Assessment & feedback
Admission that vulnerable children placed by the Home Office are legally its responsibility and a strategic approach addressing placement shortages
We Take Seriously
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The asylum system's safe route created for Afghans who supported allied forces, and the need to move them on with their lives.
The best part of our asylum system is the safe route for Afghans who helped British forces. These people are often full of professional skills and speak good English. Will my right hon. Friend give a report on progress in getting more Afghan citizens out of hotels, so they can contribute to society?
We support those who came through designated schemes such as the Afghan relocations and assistance policy. Far too many are accommodated in hotels, but we are working with the Ministry of Defence on all options, including service family accommodation, to properly accommodate Afghans so they can settle peacefully here.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The number of convictions for people smuggling fell from 12 per month in 2020 to just three a month by early 2022. The Home Secretary is questioned on her failure to act against criminal gangs.
In 2020, the Home Office secured 12 monthly convictions for people smuggling into the UK, but that fell to eight in 2021 and three in the first half of 2022. The smuggler gangs have proliferated and dangerous boat crossings are up twentyfold. Why has the Home Secretary failed to take action against criminal gangs?
The shadow Home Secretary and Labour have no plan on illegal migration. They voted against new offences for prosecuting smugglers, tougher sentences for foreign criminals, and scrapping the Rwanda scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
Labour Has No Plan
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Secretary's lack of response on prosecutions, failure to take action against criminal gangs, and the increase in dangerous boat crossings.
The Home Secretary had no response on prosecutions and has been in charge for 12 years. Ministers have made things worse with legislation that did not work. The Prime Minister promised money for the National Crime Agency, but two days later, the Home Office does not know how much it is or where it is coming from. Can the Home Secretary tell us how much additional funding there will be for the NCA?
The Prime Minister's announcement set out a comprehensive approach to illegal migration and stopping boat crossings, dealing with asylum backlog, operationalising Rwanda agreement, and cracking down on smugglers. The shadow Home Secretary needs to reverse her opposition to our plan.
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Assessment & feedback
Details on additional funding for the National Crime Agency
Needs To Get With The Programme
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Home Office's handling of illegal migration since the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act in 2022.
Since the Nationality and Borders Act came into force, dangerous boat crossings have reached a record high. The Prime Minister promised extra money for the NCA but details are unclear two days later. Can the Home Secretary tell us how much additional funding there will be for the NCA?
The announcement sets out a comprehensive approach to illegal migration, stopping boat crossings, dealing with asylum backlog, operationalising Rwanda agreement, and cracking down on smugglers. The shadow Home Secretary needs to reverse her opposition to our plan.
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Assessment & feedback
Details on additional funding for the National Crime Agency
Needs To Get With The Programme
Response accuracy