Asylum System

Question

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?

Question

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?

Question

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?

Question

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?

Question

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?