Contributions
733 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (First sitting)Q As a follow-up, how do you think a reduction in those dangerous journeys would be better achieved? Jon Featonby: There is no simple answer to that; as the Home Secretary said on…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (First sitting)Q Moving on to clause 11, on asylum accommodation, I know in the past the Red Cross has been critical of the Government’s using Napier Barracks to house asylum seekers. What are…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (First sitting)Q Mr Featonby, I am going to ask you some questions about the Bill in which the Red Cross has indicated some interest. According to the Government, the main objectives of the Bill…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q On dispersal and asylum accommodation elsewhere, many councils, including those of many of the Members sitting around the table here, take asylum seekers and they are resettled…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q But the Bill does not distinguish between the genuine victims and those who are trying to evade the system. Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby: No, it does not, and again, it…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Councillor Robathan, you mentioned the pressure of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children on Westminster City Council’s resources. Can you give me an idea of those pressures and…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q I thank both witnesses for coming today to give evidence. I just wonder about your experience of the pressures of having to look after asylum seekers in your respective…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Is there not a danger, with some of the clauses, that you will also catch genuine victims of trafficking if they do not disclose something early on? Assistant Chief Constable…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Thank you.21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q On the issue of how often the slave defence is being used, how much of a problem do you see it as being? Does it happen all the time, not at all, by many people, or a few?…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Final question from me. Do you not think it is right that somebody who claims to be a victim of trafficking should be treated as a victim and that if they choose to disclose…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)How often is it occurring? How much of a problem do you see it as being? Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby: I think it is occurring a lot, but whether I would classify it as a…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q I have some follow-up questions to that. You mentioned the Balkan states, in particular Albania and Lithuania. Is it generally the Balkan states which are involved in the…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q What international co-operation do you have with Europol or countries such as Albania in trying to stop international gangs trafficking people in the first place? Assistant…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Mr Kirby, I want to ask about the issue you raised of people raising a defence and there being a delay. The national referral mechanism is meant to make decisions quite…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Thank you. I will let other Members ask questions now. If there is time, I would like to ask some more later.21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Clause 10 treats people differently based on how they arrive. If you arrive via regular routes, you are given protection. Lucy and Zoe, do you think that achieves the aims of…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q I would like ask you some questions about the work of the National Crime Agency in breaking the crime gangs that are smuggling people into the country. Clearly, a lot of those…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q On the Border Force issue, what the Bill suggests doing is pushbacks, which many people would agree would be a dangerous activity. What are your thoughts about pushbacks and how…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q You mentioned the juxtaposed controls from 2001. That was done in co-operation with France, but clearly things seem to be very different now. I just wondered what your take was…21 Sept 2021