Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Immigration Bill: Devolved Administrations

Monday 22 May 2023 · 4 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

  • Minister Priti Patel met with local authorities to discuss the Bill's provisions.
  • Immigration is a reserved matter for this Parliament to dictate future borders policy.
  • The Bill aims to disrupt people smugglers' and human traffickers' business models.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Owen Thompson SNP
Immigration Scotland Local Government
Context

The question follows concerns about the rapid progress of the Illegal Migration Bill and the lack of opportunity for proper consideration by devolved administrations.

Question

Whether she has had recent discussions with the devolved Administrations on the Illegal Immigration Bill. Not only is the Bill being driven through Parliament at breakneck speed, but the Scottish Government have been given no opportunity yet to consider the proposals properly before their introduction. Does the Minister therefore agree that any regulations through the Bill that would amend, repeal or revoke any Scottish legislation or any devolved matter cannot possibly come into force without the consent of Scottish Ministers?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

I am in regular correspondence with the devolved Administrations about the Illegal Migration Bill. I recently met the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, and last week I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice to propose a meeting, which I hope will happen later this week. Immigration is a reserved matter, and it is a matter for this Parliament to dictate our future borders policy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about regulations coming into force without Scottish consent was not directly answered.

How: Immigration Is A Reserved Matter, Dictate Our Future Borders Policy

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Q2 Owen Thompson SNP
Immigration Scotland
Context

Concerns over the rapid progress of the Illegal Migration Bill and the lack of opportunity for proper consideration by devolved administrations.

Question

Does the Minister therefore agree that any regulations through the Bill that would amend, repeal or revoke any Scottish legislation or any devolved matter cannot possibly come into force without the consent of Scottish Ministers? From the figures that I have seen, his constituency of Midlothian currently has no asylum seekers in dispersal accommodation and no asylum seekers in contingency accommodation such as hotels. Zero asylum seekers in his constituency. He is, I am afraid, yet another example of humanitarian nimbyism by the SNP.

Answer from Robert Jenrick

I think that I just made clear that I have reached out to colleagues in the Scottish Government. But immigration is a reserved matter, and it is a matter for this Parliament to dictate our future borders policy. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will support the Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about regulations coming into force without Scottish consent was not directly answered.

How: Immigration Is A Reserved Matter, Dictate Our Future Borders Policy

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Q3 Priti Patel Con Witham
Asylum & Refugees Local Government
Context

Concerns over the impact of the Illegal Migration Bill on local authorities and their plans to accommodate asylum seekers.

Question

In addition to the devolved Administrations, will the Minister kindly share details of the discussions that he has had with local authorities—local government and local councils in particular—on the Bill's provisions? How do those relate to the Government's plans to accommodate people in Wethersfield, including those who would be covered by the Bill?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. When she was Home Secretary, she set out the policy to create large sites on which to house asylum seekers in a more focused and less expensive manner, and she took forward a proposal for a site in the north of England. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and I have continued that tradition and set forth plans for three sites: one at Bexhill, one at Wethersfield and one at Scampton.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific details about discussions with local authorities were not provided; instead, the answer focused on site proposals.

How: Set Forth Plans For Three Sites

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Q4 Alison Thewliss SNP
Immigration Women & Equalities
Context

Concerns over the harm caused by the Illegal Migration Bill to trafficked women seeking support in Scotland.

Question

The Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance, TARA, supported 156 women in its service in 2021 and 2020. Of those, 138 were seeking asylum or were undocumented when they were referred to TARA. Bronagh Andrew of TARA told the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee that, 'had the Illegal Migration Bill been in place, those women would not have been able to access our support.' In the face of clear evidence of the harm that the Tories' Illegal Migration Bill will cause, what possible justification can the Minister give for removing support from trafficked women in Scotland and strengthening the hand of those who would exploit them?

Answer from Robert Jenrick

The Bill is based on the simple principle that we want to break the people smugglers' and human traffickers' business model. By supporting the Bill—I know the hon. Lady opposes it—we will do that. We will stop people making these dangerous, unnecessary crossings and there will be fewer cases such as those that she raises.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific justification requested was not provided; instead, the answer focused on the principle behind the Bill.

How: The Simple Principle, Break The People Smugglers' And Human Traffickers' Business Model

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