Contributions
1,278 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeI will gladly take another intervention, but then I must make some progress.13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeI would argue that no hon. or right hon. Member should in any way give credence to the business model of evil people-smuggling gangs, who are frankly taking people’s money and…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeThere would have to be agreement around that. The hon. Gentleman raised the issue of deferral in his speech. What I can say on that is that we have agreed to predetermine a small…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeI refer the hon. Gentleman to the point that I made earlier. It may well be that he wishes to encourage his constituent to make an application, reflecting on that point that I was…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeI did not have the opportunity to finish the point I was making, but the hon. and learned Lady will appreciate why I am not in a position to be able to give authoritative…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeIt is a fact that all those individuals leaving French shores in small boats are leaving what are fundamentally safe countries. There is no justifiable reason for anybody to be…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeI will want to go and pick up that point with colleagues in the Foreign Office and understand the specifics around it, but I will refer the right hon. Gentleman to the point that…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeWhat I am not going to do is, again, casework on specific, individual cases in the Chamber this evening. The point that I was able to make about deferral may be something that the…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeI am afraid that I have to say to the hon. Gentleman that, as he will appreciate, given the position that he holds as a shadow Minister, I am not in a position, with regard to…13 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeThe commitment, and what the law requires, is for the Government to come forward with the figure around the cap, and that is precisely what we will do. It will set out the places…13 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageI am very grateful to the shadow Minister for the tone with which he has approached today’s statement and the response on behalf of His Majesty’s Opposition. I reiterate the…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageI thank the SNP spokesman for the constructive tone he has taken in asking his questions. He has raised a number of points. I can absolutely guarantee him that a thorough…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageI know that my hon. Friend recognises the importance of the digitisation that we are undertaking of our border from a security, efficiency and customer service perspective. All of…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageMy hon. Friend the Chairman of the Transport Committee is right to raise those concerns about passengers and their experiences. As I say, this was a highly regrettable situation,…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageOn the first part of the hon. Member’s question, what a load of rubbish. E-gates were an important part of our border infrastructure when we were a member of the European Union,…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageMy hon. Friend speaks with real authority on these issues, having been the architect of so much of the change we are introducing at the border. He is right that the possibilities…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageI think my hon. Friend will recognise that there are proper checks in place when people arrive at our airports, as there were last night. Those people were arriving in our country…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageI rather wonder whether the SNP reshuffle is on the minds of SNP colleagues here this afternoon, and their prospects, because we have heard some rather bizarre angles in some of…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageWith permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement about disruption at the border. At around a quarter to eight last night, the Home Office became aware of a significant IT…08 May 2024HANSARD Passport e-Gates Network OutageThat is always the priority of the Government. I have set out the focus on security, efficiency and ensuring that passengers have the best possible experience of the UK border. I…08 May 2024