Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Migration: International Co-operation

Tuesday 30 April 2024 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tackling irregular migration is a priority for Foreign Office engagement through international forums and bilaterally.
  • The UK signed an agreement with Vietnam to tackle irregular migration and reduce channel crossing casualties.
  • The UK Minister responded that the Rwanda agreement is already having the deterrent effect sought on migration flows.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Giles Watling Con
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the need to strengthen international cooperation in addressing irregular migration.

Question

What diplomatic steps he is taking to strengthen international co-operation on tackling illegal migration?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

Tackling irregular migration is a priority for Foreign Office engagement across our overseas networks, through international forums, including at the G7 and European Political Community, and bilaterally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific diplomatic steps were not detailed

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Q2 Nicholas Fletcher
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP references the success of an agreement with Albania in reducing irregular immigration and asks if similar agreements are necessary.

Question

Given the success of the agreement with Albania, which has considerably reduced the number of illegal immigrants crossing by small boats, does the Minister believe that more of these agreements are necessary, alongside our Rwanda policy?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

Yes, my hon. Friend makes a good point. He will have seen that on 17 April we signed an agreement with Vietnam to tackle irregular migration and reduce channel crossing casualties. The numbers of Vietnamese people coming across the channel has been one of the fastest rising groups in recent months.

Answered
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Q3 Chris Clarkson
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP mentions the Irish Tánaiste's statement about the increase in illegal migration to Ireland being a result of the UK's Rwanda policy and asks if there have been discussions regarding returns policies.

Question

Recently, the Irish Tánaiste stated that he believed the increase in irregular migration to the Republic of Ireland was a direct result of the deterrent effect of our Rwanda policy. The Irish Government have since made moves to try to remove those illegal migrants back to the UK. What conversations has my right hon. Friend had with EU counterparts and Home Office colleagues about ensuring there is no returns policy with the EU unless a reciprocal agreement is made?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

My hon. Friend makes a very good point: what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. The movement of asylum seekers from the UK to the southern Irish Republic would suggest that the Rwanda agreement is already having the deterrent effect we are seeking.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific conversations about returns policies were not detailed

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Q4 Giles Watling Con
Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP proposes a joint effort between UK and French forces to prevent boats from reaching the beaches in France.

Question

I have been saying for some time in this place, and many other places, that a combined effort between French and English forces would be very useful on the ground in France to stop the boats from even getting to the beaches in the first place. We have the technology and we can destroy the boats; I do not see why we do not do that. My right hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) and I wish to visit Calais to meet the mayor to discuss that idea. Will my right hon. Friend join us?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

That is an unbelievably tempting invitation from my hon. Friend. Recently, we have seen a 120% increase in French troops on the ground and a 36% reduction in the number of migrants coming across compared with last year, so French troops on the ground are delivering what is required, at least in part.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Whether the Minister will join the proposed meeting was not addressed

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Q5 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP references the Irish Justice Minister's subjective claim that up to 80% of those illegally in Ireland are coming across the land border.

Question

The Irish Republic's Government and their Justice Minister indicated that they believe that up to 80% or more of those who are illegally in the Republic of Ireland are coming across the land border, but that appears to have been a purely subjective figure. Has the Minister been able to establish the veracity, or otherwise, of such an exceptionally high figure, which the Justice Minister has claimed to be the case?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

We have not because, as the hon. Gentleman will understand, that is a southern Irish Government responsibility. No doubt the southern Irish Government will be pressed on this matter and will deliver an answer in due course.

Not addressed: Verification of statistics was deferred to another party

How: We Have Not Because, As The Hon. Gentleman Will Understand, That Is A Southern Irish Government Responsibility.

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Q6 Patrick Grady SNP
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP criticizes the Minister for not willing to agree on a return policy with other European countries.

Question

On one hand, the Minister says he wants to improve international co-operation on tackling illegal migration, but on the other hand he says the Government are not willing to come to an agreement with the Government of Ireland or any other European countries on returns of asylum seekers.

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

I did not say anything of the sort, Mr Speaker. We are working together in numerous international fora, including the Global Refugee Forum, the G7, the UN General Assembly and the European Political Community summit, to tackle this matter upstream. Working upstream and working with others is critical to resolving this deeply disturbing problem.

Not addressed: Willingness to agree on returns policies was not addressed directly

How: I Did Not Say Anything Of The Sort, Mr Speaker.

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Q7 Alyn Smith
Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP welcomes an agreement between the UK and Frontex and inquires about its funding.

Question

The only way to stop boats at sea and illegal migration is through structured co-operation with our neighbours and internationally. I welcome the signing on 23 February of the agreement between the UK and EU's Frontex border protection service, but is it properly funded and what mechanisms are in place to review that funding as it evolves? Surely the Minister must agree with me that the best way to tackle illegal migration is to fund safe and legal routes properly. What progress is he making on a comprehensive deal to that end with our EU friends, including Ireland?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

We need to tackle this issue, as I think the hon. Gentleman is implying, on a series of different fronts. We are working upstream, as the deal with Vietnam demonstrates. Our Prime Minister has substantially repaired the relationship with France. The Calais Group has met the UK-France customs partnership. We work closely with Frontex. There are far more officials now in Britain dealing with these cases. As the Prime Minister has made clear, once this matter has been resolved, he is going to look at bringing in safe and legal routes from elsewhere.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifics about funding for Frontex agreement were not detailed

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