Context
The issue of illegal migration to the UK has been a priority for the FCDO. The Minister previously highlighted this in his Locarno speech on January 9th, emphasizing the need for international collaboration and sanctions against people smugglers.
Question
What diplomatic steps he is taking with international partners to help tackle illegal migration to the UK?
Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)
Tackling irregular migration is an FCDO priority. We regularly engage with counterparts in priority countries to strengthen collaboration on tackling organised crime and to secure migrant returns. The sanctions on people smugglers are the first of their kind and we hope other allies will follow us in going after the enablers of the gangs, issuing travel bans, freezing assets, and disrupting this illegal trade. Additionally, there is a new joint unit within the Department working on returns which have increased by 23% across the country and work upstream with official development assistance funding of £84 million announced when the government came into power in July.
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