Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Migration Bill: Asylum Seekers

Monday 20 March 2023 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Home Secretary stated that the misuse of the asylum system must be stopped to focus resources on those who truly need help.
  • The Home Secretary invited Labour Member Marsha de Cordova to apologize to the nation.
  • The Home Secretary responded to questions about safe and legal routes for asylum seekers, emphasizing the Government's commitment to rolling out such routes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP raised concerns about the potential negative effects of the Illegal Migration Bill on asylum seekers' well-being.

Question

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of the Illegal Migration Bill on the wellbeing of people claiming asylum?

Answer from Suella Braverman

We must stop the misuse of our asylum system so that we can focus our resources upon those who really need our help, not those who can afford to pay people smugglers to transport them from safe countries.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment of well-being impact on asylum seekers

How: Changed Subject

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Q2 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP argued that the bill is incompatible with legal obligations under the Equality and Human Rights Commission, leaving asylum seekers in limbo.

Question

Why will the Home Secretary not seek to provide safe and legal routes for everybody now?

Answer from Suella Braverman

We always place a high priority on the wellbeing of asylum seekers, which is why we are also committing to rolling out safe and legal routes as part of our plan. While I have the attention of the hon. Lady, may I take this chance to invite her to apologise to the nation?

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate establishment of safe and legal routes

How: Personal Attack

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Q3 Vicky Ford Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The MP questioned whether the Home Secretary would consider proscribing the Wagner Group based on its activities in Africa.

Question

Will the Home Secretary proscribe the Wagner Group?

Answer from Suella Braverman

We keep the list of proscribed organisations under review. We do not routinely comment on security and intelligence matters, but where a group meets a test of being a terrorism concern and where it meets our legal criteria, then a group can be proscribed, if it is necessary and proportionate to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate proscription decision

How: General Review Statement

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Q4 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP criticised the government for using divisive rhetoric to distract from their inability to support communities.

Question

Will she not admit that she is blaming the destitute to mask her own failures?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The only people who have failed here are Labour and Opposition Members who have failed to stand up for the British people and failed to support our measures to stop the boats. All they want is open borders and unlimited migration.

Not addressed: Acknowledgment of governance failures

How: Criticising Opposition

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Q5 Andrew Bridgen Con
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP inquired about the status of legal agreements for removing asylum seekers from identified safe countries.

Question

When will those legal agreements be in place?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that this is about enabling the Government to properly help the most genuine and vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees who come to this country. Currently, because of the influx of illegal migrants, and because our modern slavery and asylum system has been overwhelmed thanks to the efforts of the people smuggling gangs, we are unable to help those genuine victims to whom we owe a clear duty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Timeline for legal agreements

How: General Statement

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Q6 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP challenged the government's plan for detaining and removing asylum seekers, citing lack of facilities and agreements.

Question

Where will she detain the tens of thousands of asylum seekers forecast to arrive this year?

Answer from Suella Braverman

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his approach to entertaining the House today, but let us compare what the Labour party has done over the last 10 days with what the Government have done. In the last 10 days, the Prime Minister and I have secured a big deal with the French to increase cross-channel co-operation.

Not addressed: Specific locations for detaining asylum seekers

How: Comparing Actions Of Opposition

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Q7 Alison Thewliss SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

Freedom from Torture has highlighted the negative impact of the anti-asylum bill on torture survivors, citing it as a betrayal of commitments made after the Shaw Review. Since 2020, seven babies born to mothers in Home Office accommodation have died, prompting concerns from Women for Refugee Women and the Royal College of Midwives about the harm caused by the government's plans. The Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland has warned that these plans breach the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Question

Freedom from Torture highlights the negative impact of the anti-asylum bill on torture survivors, calling it a betrayal of commitments made after the Shaw Review. Seven babies born to mothers in Home Office accommodation since 01/2020 have died, prompting concerns from Women for Refugee Women and the Royal College of Midwives about harm caused by the government's plans. The Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland warns that these plans breach the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Answer from Suella Braverman (Home Secretary)

We take seriously our duties to everyone in our care. Our measures will ensure proper wellbeing and welfare provision for vulnerable individuals, but the hon. Lady has no right to lecture this Government on how to support asylum seekers when Scotland fails to take sufficient numbers of them.

Not addressed: The harm caused by the proposed Bill was not addressed.

How: Lecturing, Failing To Address

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Q8 Alison Thewliss SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The Home Secretary's remarks on Rwanda being a 'blessing' for asylum seekers contrast with her language when they arrive in the UK, where she describes them as an 'invasion'. Women for Refugee Women and other organizations express concern over such rhetoric.

Question

That is simply not correct. The Bill does not help asylum seekers; it bans them. What does it say about the Home Secretary's morals that she believes Rwanda would be a blessing, but when they come here she calls them a swarm and an invasion?

Answer from Suella Braverman (Home Secretary)

The hon. Lady opposes our plans, siding with people-smuggling gangs who exploit vulnerable individuals coming to this country. Her actions encourage cooperation with these practices.

Not addressed: The moral stance was not addressed.

How: Siding With People-Smugglers

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