Contributions
2,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAsylum Seekers: HotelsWe will uphold our international obligations. We have an international obligation, under international law, to accept and assess refugees. That does not decry the fact that we…20 Jan 2025HANSARDRegulated and Other Activities (Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse) Bill [HL]My Lords, child sexual abuse is a despicable crime. This Government are committed to taking action to keep children safe online, in our communities and around the world. In line…17 Jan 2025HANSARDRefugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]Well, we have had some fun with the Bill and the amendments. I start by reiterating what I said on 18 October when I responded to the Bill’s Second Reading on behalf of the…17 Jan 2025HANSARDRefugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]I will give way in a moment. Let us see whether the noble Baroness wishes to accept any of their amendments. I think the Government are in broadly the right place. We understand…17 Jan 2025HANSARDRefugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]Bruiser? Moi? Surely not. I will at some point potentially bruise the noble Lord once again, but today I am trying to find the sensible middle way. Let me say to the noble Lord,…17 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationThe Government are committed to reducing hotel use through reform of the asylum system, including streamlining asylum processing and establishing the Border Security Command to…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationI am pleased to inform the noble Lord that the current Government have removed in excess of 16,000 people who have no right to live in this country since we came to office in July…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationThe Government have an immigration White Paper due to be published shortly and I hope that all parties and Members can contribute to the discussion around that.16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationI am grateful and I realise that this is a live discussion point. The downside of asylum seekers working is that sometimes asylum claims are not upheld or found to be fraudulent…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationI remind the House that there were no hotels in 2015 and 400 when the noble Lord was in office. We are recruiting those 1,000 staff and have improved the return rate, the…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationI will update the noble Lord in due course. As a rough estimate from memory, around 90 children are still unaccounted for. The importance of safeguarding in asylum accommodation…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationIt is vital, as my noble friend says, that we ensure continuity. The key point is that we get people out of asylum hotels and into dispersed accommodation as quickly as possible…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationI think I recall answering that it was a policy submission that we would reflect on. The important point for the Government is to do three things: first, speed up agreement on…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationMy noble friend gives me the opportunity to say that in 2015 no hotels were housing asylum seekers. That figure rose to 400 at its peak just over a year ago. It has now dropped…16 Jan 2025HANSARDAsylum Seekers: AccommodationThe noble Lord is a fair gentleman and I understand the challenge we face with hotel accommodation. He will know that, although hotel numbers are stable now, the Government have a…16 Jan 2025HANSARDImmigration: Human RightsI am grateful to my noble friend. The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the refugee…13 Jan 2025HANSARDImmigration: Human RightsAny foreign national in the United Kingdom can make an asylum or human rights claim should they be unable to return to their country of origin. The UK has a proud history of…13 Jan 2025HANSARDImmigration: Human RightsThe noble Lord makes an extremely important point. It is not the Government’s intention to drag out the appeals procedure, or indeed the claims procedure. We have been trying…13 Jan 2025HANSARDImmigration: Human RightsThe total number of asylum claims waiting for an initial decision has fallen by 22%, from 125,173 at the end of September 2023 to 97,170 at the end of September last year. That…13 Jan 2025HANSARDImmigration: Human RightsThe Government want to secure a decision on asylum claims. In doing that, we also want to ensure that the security of the United Kingdom is paramount. Therefore, security checks…13 Jan 2025