Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Organised Immigration Crime

Tuesday 28 October 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister thanked Daniel Francis for raising concerns about illegal migration from the western Balkans and announced new sanctions against gang leaders and forgers.
  • Carla Lockhart asked if foreign nationals convicted of serious drug offences should be deported without delay.
  • Minister confirmed over 5,000 foreign national offenders were deported in the first year of government, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Francis Lab Bexleyheath and Crayford
Immigration Migrants & Borders
Context

The question pertains to the issue of people-smuggling gangs operating across borders, affecting constituents in Bexleyheath and Crayford. This follows last week's west Balkans summit.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer; I know this is an issue of great concern to my constituents across Bexleyheath and Crayford. Following last week’s west Balkans summit, could he provide an update on the measures that are being taken to reduce the number of illegal migrants being brought to the UK via the western Balkans?

Answer from Stephen Doughty (Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I thank my hon. Friend for his very important question, and he is absolutely right: tackling illegal migration is vital to our strategic relationship with the western Balkans. Last week, we announced new sanctions against gang leaders, passport forgers and illicit financiers, many of whom have ties to that region, and we are enhancing collaboration between our countries—for example, through the Border Police Chiefs’ Forum, the expansion of the joint migration taskforce and the deployment of UK border security officers to the western Balkans.

Answered
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Q2 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
Immigration Justice & Courts
Context

The question concerns the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of serious drug offences in Northern Ireland, an issue affecting public safety.

Question

Does the Minister agree that foreign nationals convicted of serious drug offences in Northern Ireland should be deported without delay? Will he ensure that his Department works with international partners and prioritises swift removal agreements to stop those involved in organised immigration and drug crime re-offending on our streets?

Answer from Stephen Doughty (Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I absolutely agree with the sentiment of the hon. Lady’s question. She will know that in our first year in government, we deported over 5,000 foreign national offenders—a 14% increase on the previous 12 months. We are speeding up the early removal scheme so that most foreign prisoners can be deported after serving 30%, rather than the previous 50%, of their custodial sentence.

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