Contributions
1,438 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Asylum Seekers: Hotel AccommodationFor the integrity of any asylum system, it is important that a person who is not granted asylum recognises that they do not have the right to stay in the country. Hopefully they…20 Nov 2024HANSARD Asylum Seekers: Hotel AccommodationWe are processing asylum claims, which were at a standstill when we came into government, not least those that are extant in Northern Ireland. I hope that will lead to a process…20 Nov 2024HANSARD Asylum Seekers: Hotel AccommodationSince we came into government, we have done much more to co-operate across Departments, and I will certainly take that issue up with my opposite numbers in the Department for…20 Nov 2024HANSARD Asylum Seekers: Hotel AccommodationWe certainly want those who gain status to be usefully employed, and my part of the system is ensuring that we get those asylum decisions up and running as fast as possible.…20 Nov 2024HANSARD Asylum Seekers: Hotel AccommodationNo, I do not. I noticed the revelations at the weekend about why the Conservatives decided to call the election earlier than some of us had perhaps thought. One reason set out in…20 Nov 2024HANSARD Asylum Seekers: Hotel AccommodationWe have a relatively new Government in France just bedding in. I reassure the right hon. Gentleman that we are working closely with them to see how we can strengthen and deepen…20 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsI agree very much with my hon. Friend’s observations, and so do the figures. Between the date of the announcement of the Rwanda scheme and the date of the last general election,…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsThey are indeed, and perhaps they should also be reminded that returns collapsed on their watch as well.06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsYes, it is advisable to try to deal with the immediate causes of the problem—organised immigration criminality—as well as bearing down on the longer-term causes, which often are…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsI can give my hon. Friend that assurance. Some areas have suffered particular pressure from this phenomenon over the years, and Kent is one of them, so I am acutely aware of the…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsThe way to deter the small boat crossings is to deal with those who are organising and profiting from that immoral trade. That is what we are doing.06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsMy hon. Friend makes an intriguing point, given that Conservative Members have said repeatedly that they were about to start the Rwanda scheme the week after the election, and…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsThose countries are not considering a Rwanda scheme; they are all saying that they will stay within the confines of international law. The Rwanda scheme definitely tore up…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsI said earlier that safe routes would not stop all the channel crossings. There is now an industrialised system run by organised immigration criminals. The Vietnamese would never…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsI could not have put it better myself.06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsI said in an earlier answer that there are no magic wands in this area. Tough operational processing and international co-operation will begin to bear down on this, and work by…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsWe are ensuring that the enforcement part of the Home Office that deals with returns is given the resources it needs to do that job, but to make it even more successful, we have…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsThat is certainly the balance that this Government are aiming to achieve.06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsYes, but the House has to have patience. There are no magic wands to wave in this policy area, and there are no fantasy policies now that we have got rid of the Rwanda scheme.…06 Nov 2024HANSARDSmall Boat CrossingsI am not getting into a numbers game in the House. We are trying to deal with and dismantle a trade that was allowed to become established and industrialised on the previous…06 Nov 2024