Contributions
2,600 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy Lords, there has been a considerable amount of progress. In March 2023, we signed a deal with France which, as noble Lords will be aware, has more than doubled the number of…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy Lords, I think the noble Lord has asked that question before—and last time I got myself into a bit of hot water by sort of agreeing with him, so I will not do so again.25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsI suspect it is not a particularly binary answer. Obviously, some of the cases we are looking at will involve people from Afghanistan, as the noble Lord will be aware, and we…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy Lords, those who arrive illegally and fall into scope of the Act will be banned from obtaining any form of lawful immigration status in the UK. So, since 7 March 2023, anyone…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy noble friend makes a very good point. On the subject of productivity and the processing of claims, the decision output has increased significantly over the past 24 months. In…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsAgain, I am afraid that is rather outside this department’s remit, but I will endeavour to find out the current status and come back to the noble Lord.25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsI point the noble Baroness to Scotland, where of course the Green Party is propping up the SNP Government. Are we safe there?25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsWe debated that at some length last week and I will not go over the reasons again. I am afraid that I do not have those statistics.25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy Lords, at the end of December 2023, there were 95,252 cases in the asylum system, 28% fewer than at the end of December 2022. Claims lodged on or after 28 June 2022 and before…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsI cannot answer that question in its entirety, but I can say that the number of complex legacy cases that remain has declined from about 4,500 to 3,900. Some of those are still in…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy Lords, the Government’s long-term strategy is a current subject of discussion via various other Bills. We will be closing all our hotels; we will have closed more than 100 by…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsMy Lords, there were 3,412 asylum applications from unaccompanied children in the year ending December 2023. That was 41% fewer than in 2022. They make up about 5% of total asylum…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsI remind the House that the previous inspector was let go because he broke the terms of his contract, so I would argue that he has been somewhat discredited. Withdrawals can…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsI have to say to the noble Lord that his question is best directed to the MoD, but he will know that it is also an ongoing discussion we are still having in the context of the…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum ClaimsWell, I will certainly commit to read it, but I wonder how on earth it can arrive at a conclusion that they will have no deterrent effect. The Bill has not been operationalised or…25 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum Seekers: RwandaMy Lords, as I have also said many times from the Dispatch Box, this scheme and the Rwanda scheme are uncapped, so there is no finite number of places.21 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum Seekers: RwandaAs the scheme has only just begun, I do not know what the numbers are likely to look like in the end. However, as this is governed by a separate agreement, I imagine that the…21 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum Seekers: RwandaMy Lords, as I said, this will be offered to individuals with no right to remain. They are visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers, who are offered this option as part of our…21 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum Seekers: RwandaThe noble Lord makes a good point. I am afraid that I did not see Minister Tomlinson because—noble Lords may be surprised to know—I was in the bar after yesterday’s efforts.…21 Mar 2024HANSARDAsylum Seekers: RwandaMy Lords, I am afraid that I do not have the numbers to hand, because the Question that I am answering is of a very different nature. I will have to come back to the noble Lord.21 Mar 2024