Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 7 June 2021 · 11 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Edward Leigh (Conservative) inquired about updates on terror attacks and government actions to strengthen supervision and information sharing, and requested a meeting regarding the case of Maira Shahbaz.
  • Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour) questioned the number of travelers from India and the effectiveness of border measures, to which the Home Secretary disagreed, stating comprehensive measures have been in place since January.
  • Yvette Cooper (Labour) inquired about the handling of public health advice regarding Napier barracks during the pandemic, prompting the Home Secretary to clarify the necessity of protecting public health and stopping virus spread.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

The question follows Home Office questions where the anniversaries of terror attacks were marked. It requests an update on departmental activities.

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities since the last meeting for Home Office questions, including updates on terror attacks and government actions to strengthen supervision and information sharing.

Answer from Priti Patel

Since the House last met for Home Office questions, several terror attack anniversaries have been marked. The government has strengthened supervision of terror offenders on licence and established world-leading counter-terrorism operation centres. We will continue to support the police and security services in their efforts to keep the public safe.

Answered
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Q2 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Crime & Law Enforcement Religion & Faith
Context

The question follows a statement on departmental responsibilities and highlights a specific case involving Maira Shahbaz, a Christian girl from Pakistan who was raped, abducted, and kidnapped.

Question

Does the Home Secretary recall that I wrote to her on 20 April on behalf of Aid to the Church in Need about the case of Maira Shahbaz? Will she meet with me and Aid to the Church in Need to discuss this case?

Answer from Priti Patel

My right hon. Friend raises an incredibly important case. I have been working with colleagues in the House on this for some time and would be very happy to meet him and others. We are proactively looking at all the help that we can provide.

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Q3 Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen
Immigration NHS
Context

The question follows a statement on departmental responsibilities and highlights concerns about mixed messaging regarding easing restrictions due to the delta variant, first discovered in India.

Question

How many travellers from India arrived between 9 and 23 April, and how many people have arrived here from amber list countries since 17 May? The Government delayed adding India to the red list. Can they provide clarity on border measures?

Answer from Priti Patel

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his comments. We have taken all essential steps to protect public health, including stringent border measures such as 100% passenger checks by Border Force and isolation assurance service compliance checks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific number of travellers from India and amber list countries were not provided

How: Following Scientific Advice, Stricter Border Measures

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Q4 Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen
Immigration NHS
Context

The question follows concerns about the effectiveness of government policies regarding border protections and their impact on the spread of the delta variant.

Question

How many people arrived in the UK from India as the delta variant was taking hold? The Home Secretary cannot say this number, indicating weak policy. Is it true that when it comes to protecting people from covid variants, this Government's policy is weak?

Answer from Priti Patel

I fundamentally disagree with the right hon. Gentleman. The UK has set out a comprehensive set of measures including Foreign Office advice, passenger locator forms, and managed hotel quarantine services since January last year. We have followed all scientific advice regarding red-listing India.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific number of arrivals from India was not provided

How: Fundamentally Disagree, Comprehensive Measures

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Q5 Philip Davies Con
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

Mr. Davies is frustrated with the high volume of migrants crossing the Channel by dinghy, often escorted here in the process.

Question

I am sure that the Home Secretary must share my frustration and that of my constituents about the volume of migrants coming across the channel by dinghy, often being escorted here in the process. Can she assure my constituents when real action will be taken to stop this flow, and will she introduce a regime whereby people who try to claim asylum, and who come here from an already safe country such as France, will be automatically deported and sent back there? That will make a big difference in stopping them coming here in the first place.

Answer from Priti Patel

My hon. Friend is already making the case for a Bill that has yet to be introduced in Parliament, which contains the new plan for immigration. The date is coming for its introduction and Second Reading. He is absolutely right: the British public are fed up and demoralised by what we have been seeing. I have been very clear to my Department over the last 12 months about operational activity from Border Force, and I have now asked the Department to urgently investigate the circumstances behind the incidents at the weekend that have been reported on. My hon. Friend makes a fundamental point, which is that people who are seeking to claim asylum should claim asylum in the first safe country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not provide a specific date for real action or regime introduction.

How: Working With French Authorities

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Q6 Yvette Cooper Lab Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
NHS
Context

In February, the Home Secretary told a Committee that her actions were based on Public Health England advice. However, last week, a court judgment stated that arrangements at Napier barracks were contrary to PHE advice and precautions were inadequate.

Question

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. When I asked the Home Secretary in February whether she followed public health advice when putting people in large dormitories in Napier barracks in the middle of a pandemic, she told our Committee that it was all based on Public Health England advice and that they have been following guidance in every single way. Last week however, a damning court judgment said: 'The bottom line is that the arrangements at the Barracks were contrary to the advice of PHE… The precautions which were taken were completely inadequate to prevent the spread of Covid'. It stated that the outbreak was inevitable. Will the Home Secretary now correct the record and explain why she did not follow public health advice in the middle of a pandemic, thus putting people's health and lives at risk?

Answer from Priti Patel

First let me be very clear to this House that at every single stage I have been clear about the need to protect public health and to stop the spread of the virus, and that is in relation to Napier barracks. Of course we will study the judgment and, in the light of that, look at various measures we may need to bring in. However, the Department did work fully with Public Health England—I have maintained that, and I still maintain that point.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not address why she did not follow PHE advice.

How: Working With Stakeholders

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Q7 Henry Smith Con
Migrants & Borders
Context

The recent Queen's Speech said the sovereign borders Bill will come forward in this session. However, thousands of illegal migrants have crossed the English channel.

Question

I welcome that the recent Queen's Speech said that the sovereign borders Bill will come forward in this Session, but in recent weeks thousands of illegal migrants have crossed the English channel as we have heard. What actions will the Department take now to ensure that both the French authorities and the UK Border Force are not aiding and abetting such illegal and dangerous crossings?

Answer from Priti Patel

My hon. Friend is absolutely right again on this point. I have mentioned that in my own instructions, I have been very clear with my Department and with the commander who oversees these Border Force operations that they should not be going into French territorial waters—that is absolutely wrong and there is now an investigation into that.

Answered
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Q8 Stuart McDonald SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

There have been issues with the handling of the Aspen card handover causing delays in support for asylum seekers, and a coronavirus outbreak at Napier barracks contrary to PHE advice.

Question

May we have apologies from the Home Secretary, first, to the thousands of destitute asylum seekers across the UK who have endured days and weeks without any support because of the botched handling of the Aspen card handover and, secondly, to the people she placed in danger, including through an inevitable coronavirus outbreak, by sending them to Napier barracks, against clear PHE advice? What has been done to fix these latest asylum system scandals?

Answer from Priti Patel

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the comments I made earlier about Napier barracks. Let us be clear that the Government are absolutely doing everything possible—I make no apology for this—within my powers, to meet our legal duties to provide shelter and accommodation to those in need during the exceptional times of this coronavirus pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not apologize for the issues with the Aspen card handover or Napier barracks.

How: Working Within Legal Duties

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Q9 Peter Bone Con
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

This year, over 3,500 men, women and children have illegally crossed the channel after paying traffickers. The questioner is critical of French government's handling of asylum seekers.

Question

This year, more than 3,500 men, women and children have illegally crossed the channel, after paying thousands and thousands of pounds to evil human trafficking gangs. If the Home Secretary were the President of France, would she not be totally embarrassed by the complete failure of the French Government to properly look after asylum seekers in France, to such an extent that they risk their lives to flee France to get to England?

Answer from Priti Patel

My hon. Friend makes a very important point. We are working with our French counterparts—I will be very clear about that—and we should recognise that upstream migration flows into France are a serious issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not address whether she would be embarrassed if she were the President of France.

How: Working With French Counterparts

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Q10 Zarah Sultana Your Party Coventry South
Asylum & Refugees NHS
Context

In January, Zarah Sultana raised concerns about unsafe and inhumane conditions at Napier barracks. The High Court recently ruled that the conditions were unlawful.

Question

On Thursday, the High Court ruled that the conditions at Napier barracks were unlawful. They were described as “squalid” in court, and evidence suggests that Public Health England guidance was not followed and is still not being adhered to. How many people are currently sleeping in each dormitory, why is Public Health England guidance still not being followed, and why did you claim that the standards were very high when they were unlawful?

Answer from Priti Patel

I have made it clear that I am vigorous in following and making clear the need to protect public health and stop the spread of the virus. We provide shelter to people who would otherwise be destitute, accommodation for those sleeping on streets or makeshift tents in France and other European countries, providing them with beds, food, clean sanitation, access to healthcare and welfare provision.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific questions about current occupancy levels and adherence to Public Health England guidelines.

How: That Is Absolutely Incorrect In Terms Of The Misrepresentation From The Hon. Lady.

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Q11 Marco Longhi
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The Home Secretary faces public criticism over images of Border Force vessels bringing illegal immigrants to shores and court rulings that Army barracks are inadequate for asylum seekers.

Question

How can I explain to my constituents, and indeed to those of my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mrs Elphicke), that repeated images of Border Force vessels bringing illegal immigrants to our shores and judges' ruling that Army barracks are not good enough for those immigrants when they are for our brave armed forces, align with taking back control of our borders and laws?

Answer from Priti Patel

My hon. Friend's point is important about reforms through our new plan for immigration, which will tackle issues by bringing in a one-stop shop and stopping appeals that prevent removal of individuals here illegally or not claiming asylum properly. These reforms will set the tone for reforming our asylum system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how current events align with taking back control of borders and laws, instead discussed upcoming reforms.

How: My Hon. Friend Makes A Very Important Point About Some Of The Reforms We Will Be Making

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