Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rwanda Relocation Policy

Thursday 20 October 2022 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • Chris Stephens asked about the compatibility of the Government's policy to relocate people to Rwanda with domestic, international law, and the 1951 Refugee Convention.
  • The Minister responded that by convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice and the contents of any such advice are not disclosed outside Government.
  • Chris Stephens inquired if the Attorney General shares views with his predecessor regarding the policy, to which the Minister redirected the conversation to the importance of the Union of the United Kingdom.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Stephens SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The question arises from ongoing debates about the legality and ethical implications of relocating asylum seekers to other countries, specifically Rwanda.

Question

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the compatibility of the Government's policy to relocate people to Rwanda and other countries with (a) domestic law, (b) international law and (c) the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Answer from Michael Ellis

By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.

Not addressed: Discussed legal conventions but did not address specific compatibility with laws or the Refugee Convention.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Chris Stephens SNP
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

This question follows from previous discussions about the legality and ethical considerations of relocating asylum seekers, focusing on the personal views of the Attorney General and his predecessor.

Question

Will the Attorney General confirm whether he shares similar views to those of his predecessor, the now former Home Secretary, who recently said that she wanted to see a flight to Rwanda in The Telegraph, and that that was her dream? Surely it is time to dream another dream, and scrap the cruel, inhumane Rwanda scheme in its entirety.

Answer from Michael Ellis

I cannot speak to other people's dreams. I know the Scottish nationalists have their own dreams, which I do not think will ever be realised, because the Union of this country is what the vast majority of the people of the United Kingdom want to maintain. The convention that I mentioned is important, and I intend to respect it. It protects the ability of Law Officers, as chief legal advisers to the Government, to give full and frank legal advice.

Not addressed: Did not confirm views or plans related to the scheme; instead referenced Scottish nationalism and legal conventions.

How: Referenced Scottish Nationalists

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)