Contributions
2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsIt is not the Government who require persuading; we have tabled a detailed legal text providing for reunification, and we would like the EU—the European Commission—to engage with…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsSafe routes from Europe are not the answer to this problem because, by definition, people in Europe are already in a safe country. Transporting people from one safe country in…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsNo one is detained in a hotel: they are given free hotel accommodation. In relation to modern slavery, the national referral mechanism provides extremely comprehensive protection…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsYes, I agree with my hon. Friend’s sentiments. We understand and share the anger that his constituents feel, and he is a very effective advocate for them. We are doing work at the…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsWe hear that message loud and clear. We understand the anger at those illegal, dangerous and unnecessary crossings, and we will do whatever it takes to stop them, including…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsFormer Royal Marine Dan O’Mahoney has been appointed, as the hon. Member describes, and has overall operational and policy responsibility for this rather unique and very serious…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsMy hon. Friend raises a good and interesting point. I have already pointed out that the UK is scrupulous in discharging its obligations in international treaties to look after…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsWhere people have a genuine fear of persecution, where they are fleeing to our shores and need our protection, or where we encounter them directly in dangerous areas, we are of…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsMy hon. Friend has been a tireless campaigner and advocate on this issue—I can testify to that as a Home Office Minister—and her analysis is essentially correct. The three strands…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsI have repeatedly outlined the safe passages or safe routes that already exist, which many tens of thousands of people have availed themselves of. In relation to legal processes,…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsMy hon. Friend is right in his analysis. NCA officers are embedded in law enforcement units around Europe and beyond to track down these criminal gangs. It is not just an issue in…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsI have already pointed out that last year we received 3,500 asylum applications from unaccompanied children—the highest number of any European country. That is our contribution to…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsIn the last 18 months, about 185 people have been physically returned. There are getting on for a further 1,000 people whose cases we are currently progressing where there is…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsIt strikes me as surprising that the hon. Gentleman’s analysis made no reference to the fact that we are the only G7 country contributing 0.7% of GNI in overseas aid. We were the…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsThe Home Secretary and I and the Government completely understand and fully accept the depth of anger that is felt right across the country at the crossings that are occurring…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsSome of the largest source countries include Iran, Eritrea and Sudan—countries in which the United Kingdom has had no previous military engagement. On the question about being a…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsThe hotel situation that my hon. Friend describes is a very short-term, temporary measure that was a response to the coronavirus epidemic. It is certainly not intended to be…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsOf course we agree that dealing with issues in source countries—economic issues and others—is a vital part of fixing this problem. Migration trends across the world, and into…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsThere are dozens of investigations under way into these criminals who are facilitating illegal immigration. I have mentioned the 24 convictions and prison sentences given already…02 Sept 2020HANSARDChannel Crossings in Small BoatsThe hon. Gentleman, frankly, has a cheek to talk about hostile environments in this context. We have one of the most accommodating asylum systems in Europe. When people arrive and…02 Sept 2020