Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

People Smuggling

Thursday 4 September 2025 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is developing controlled and managed routes for genuine refugees.
  • Government is working with France and other countries to secure borders and end people smuggling.
  • CPS is taking action to prosecute people smugglers and has received extra funding to increase capacity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Warinder Juss Lab Wolverhampton West
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The questioner highlights the work of Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary in her constituency and references a recent confirmation by the Home Secretary regarding controlled routes for genuine refugees.

Question

I welcome the Government’s steps to deter people smuggling and end the exploitation of vulnerable people. I also want to highlight the work that Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary does in my constituency to help refugees rebuild their lives. As the Home Secretary confirmed only this week, one of the Government's major reforms is developing controlled and managed routes for genuine refugees. Does the Solicitor General agree that having safe and legal routes for asylum seekers is a crucial step in undermining the business model of the people smuggling gangs?

Answer from The Solicitor General (Lucy Rigby)

Developing controlled and managed routes for genuine refugees is important. This is one of a host of robust, concrete and practical measures that the Government are taking to crack down on the vile activities of people smuggling gangs.

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Q2 Alan Strickland Lab Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The questioner seeks to address the issue of small boats crossing to the UK by advocating for global leadership in tackling this problem.

Question

To stop the small boats, it is crucial that the Labour Government provide global leadership to smash the criminal gangs. Can the Solicitor General set out the work that we are doing with other countries to secure our borders and end this appalling trade in human life?

Answer from The Solicitor General (Lucy Rigby)

My hon. Friend rightly highlights this Government’s global leadership on these issues, which is part of our plan to fix the borders crisis left to us by the last Government. We have agreed a landmark deal with France, and we have increased co-operation with Germany and other countries. We have removed 35,000 people with no right to be here, and increased the removal of failed asylum seekers by 30%. We are giving Border Security Command counter-terrorist-style powers through our borders Bill.

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Q3 Alex Ballinger Lab Halesowen
Migrants & Borders Justice & Courts
Context

The questioner cites concerns from constituents about the number of small boats crossing to the UK and the dangers this poses, particularly for women and children.

Question

My constituents in Halesowen continue to be concerned about the number of people crossing to the UK on small boats. They are calling for swift and tough action against the people smugglers responsible for these dangerous crossings, which are putting the lives of women and children at risk. Can the Solicitor General outline how she is supporting this action?

Answer from The Solicitor General (Lucy Rigby)

I have heard from Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors about the deplorable actions that the smugglers take in not only facilitating very young children being aboard the boats, but even sedating them to ensure they are compliant during the crossing. My hon. Friend is right that the dangers faced by people, particularly children, when they cross the channel are extremely grave. This Government are absolutely determined to break the business model of the people smugglers, so protecting our borders and stopping lives, including young lives, being put in such danger.

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Q4 Joshua Reynolds Lib Dem Maidenhead
Migrants & Borders Justice & Courts
Context

The questioner requests transparency regarding the number of cases that have been dropped before trial and reasons for their collapse.

Question

Will the Solicitor General commit to working across Cabinet to publish the number of people smuggling cases that have collapsed before trial over the past five years, and the reasons why they have collapsed?

Answer from The Solicitor General (Lucy Rigby)

I think this is important to look at, and I want to highlight that the CPS is taking considerable action to prosecute these offences. We have given the CPS extra funding to increase its capacity to work on Border Security Command cases, and the money will allow the CPS to recruit additional staff in the areas at the frontline of combating organised immigration crime.

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Q5 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

The questioner raises concerns about the porous border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which smugglers are exploiting.

Question

I thank the Solicitor General for what she is personally trying to do, and indeed the rest of the Government. If we are to prosecute people smugglers effectively, we need global action. May I focus her attention on the Republic of Ireland? We have a porous border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, and the people smuggling gangs are using that without any inhibitions whatsoever. What has been done with the Republic of Ireland to ensure that that does not happen?

Answer from The Solicitor General (Lucy Rigby)

I am more than happy to look at that, but the point the hon. Member makes about international co-operation is extremely important. That is why I highlighted our groundbreaking deal with France—it is a deal that the Conservatives were unable to do—which will be absolutely key to stopping people crossing the channel.

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