Contributions
2,176 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentMy hon. Friend makes some important points. We have removal centres for very good and strong reasons. They are for people with no legal right to remain in our country, and we have…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I thank him for his comments. He has summed up the totality of the challenge that confronts us all. It has existed for a long time, and…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI take issue with the hon. Lady’s comments. Let me say first that the Immigration Minister met representatives of COSLA on Monday and these issues did not arise. Secondly, I have…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentMy hon. Friend makes a highly relevant and important point. In terms of global migration crises, we need only to think back to not that long ago, in 2014-15, when our…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI certainly think that more needs to be done, so Ministers would be happy to meet my hon. Friend.25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentThe answer is yes, there is a role. The Home Office has been tasked to look at private sector companies and support. In fact, I put the offer on the table to my French counterpart…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI would like to put on record my thanks to the London Borough of Hillingdon and to many other local authorities across the country, although they are predominantly in London.…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI can absolutely reassure my hon. Friend, but I think that the approach we are taking is more than “grip”. We have just been speaking about language, and “grip” is quite a…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentThe hon. Gentleman has made a reasonable point about the language that is being used. We see a lot and we hear a lot, and even during the Afghanistan operations, such as Operation…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentThe hon. Gentleman misses a fundamental point about the asylum system and the whole issue of people who come to the country who are not genuine asylum seekers—who are masquerading…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentWe do know it, actually. There are many cases. There also has to be a recognition—this shows how detached the hon. Gentleman is from the real world—that we cannot have a policy…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI think I have spoken in this House a few times about bilateral returns agreements and the difficulties with getting them. I state again for the record that I have today put on…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentThere are lots of options that we could all look at, but we need the legal frameworks as well. That is why I am bringing forward the Nationality and Borders Bill.25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentFirst and foremost, there is a great deal of work. I should emphasise that the right hon. Gentleman’s comments are presented in a light that is actually quite unfair and…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentThe hon. Lady makes very important points about the Afghan resettlement scheme. It was announced in August at a time of great crisis, with Op Pitting taking place at the time. The…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI echo my right hon. Friend’s frustration fully. In terms of toughness, I have been very clear—I know that this does upset some right hon. and hon. Members—that I have not ruled…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentMy right hon. Friend will know what is in the Bill. He mentions offshoring and third countries; all those options are under consideration, and our new plan for immigration covers…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentAs ever, my right hon. Friend hits the nail on the head. He is absolutely right about the wider issues across EU member states, and we recognise that. I will be speaking to…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI have to say that I am very disappointed by the hon. Gentleman’s tone and comments, and by his inability to understand what is taking place or the issues and challenges of global…25 Nov 2021HANSARDEnglish Channel Small Boats IncidentI would like to begin my remarks by echoing some of the comments that the right hon. Gentleman made, in particular the direct reference to our operational partners, who day in,…25 Nov 2021