Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

People Smuggling

Monday 7 June 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is prosecuting people involved in people smuggling.
  • Since 2020, there have been 65 prosecutions related to small boat crossings.
  • Planned sovereign borders Bill will strengthen section 24 of the 1971 Act.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Migrants & Borders
Context

A young family tragically drowned in the Channel last autumn, highlighting the risks associated with people smuggling.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to tackle people smuggling. A young family tragically drowned in the channel last autumn. The Minister should prosecute people who are involved in people smuggling since 2020 there have been 65 prosecutions related to small boat crossings for those facilitating activity.

Answer from Chris Philp

We are prosecuting people who are involved in people smuggling. Since the beginning of 2020, there have been 65 prosecutions related to small boat crossings for those facilitating activity. We are now explicitly going after the people who drive these boats with the objective of prosecuting as many facilitators as possible.

Answered
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Q2 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

There is public anger over the perception that Border Force is not effectively preventing illegal migration.

Question

Does the Minister recognise the public anger at us being made fools of in this? Border Force is little more than a taxi service for illegal migrants—it is ridiculous. Will the Minister assure me that he will use his powers under the Immigration Act 1971 to arrest all illegal immigrants, put them in detention, prosecute them, imprison them and deport them, so that we can stop this horrible trade dead in its tracks?

Answer from Chris Philp

We are actively prosecuting facilitators of illegal immigration. In the forthcoming sovereign borders Bill, we plan to strengthen section 24 of the 1971 Act to make it easier to use and implement in practice. We will also increase sentences for illegal entry and facilitation under section 25 of the Act.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not assure the use of powers under the Immigration Act 1971 to arrest, detain, prosecute, imprison, and deport all illegal immigrants as requested.

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