Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Migration

Tuesday 22 October 2024 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps include strengthening international relationships to tackle organised immigration crime and increase returns.
  • The UK Government is working with French partners to address the challenges of dangerous channel crossings.
  • The Home Secretary prioritizes strengthening relationships with partners, including France, to manage immigration effectively.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jodie Gosling Lab Nuneaton
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the drivers of illegal migration into the UK and seeks information on steps being taken with international partners to address this issue.

Question

What steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help tackle the drivers of illegal migration into the UK?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

This Government are strengthening key international relationships to tackle organised immigration crime, increase returns and secure our borders. My Department is also funding activity to address the drivers of irregular migration by improving the prospects of people in their home region, tackling humanitarian crises and targeting trafficking.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or activities being undertaken with international counterparts.

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Q2 Jodie Gosling Lab Nuneaton
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the challenges of dangerous channel crossings and seeks information on how the new Government are working with French partners to address these issues.

Question

Will the Minister please outline the ways in which the new Government are working with our French partners to tackle the shared challenges of dangerous channel crossings?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

The UK Government have been absolutely determined to work with our key partners on these questions. My Department has also focused on ensuring support for what is often called upstream migration—the drivers of the reasons why people feel they have to leave their home country or region in the first place. That has included, for example, support to help refugees in Jordan to stay in the region from which they come and support for the UN's migration multi-partner trust fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on cooperation with French partners.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP is concerned about the part France plays in stopping economic migrants from crossing the Channel and seeks information on whether the Minister has had an opportunity to speak with her French counterpart.

Question

I thank the Minister for that response. Legal immigration is very important, and people should have that opportunity if they have been persecuted or there are human rights issues, but economic migrants have to be stopped in their countries. France also has a very clear part to play, and we sometimes feel that it has not done so as strongly as it should have done. Has the Minister had an opportunity to speak to her French counterpart to ensure that France plays its part in stopping the economic migrants coming across the channel?

Answer from Anneliese Dodds

This new Government have been determined to strengthen our relationships with all of our partners, including France, on these questions. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has viewed this as a priority from day one, and she has been determined to ensure that we have both the right legal framework and the right logistical measures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if there was direct communication with French counterpart.

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