Contributions
1,278 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)The hon. Gentleman is a crafty parliamentarian who will, I have no doubt, try to elicit that information from me, but I am afraid that he will be unsuccessful in that endeavour,…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I would make a few points in response. Obviously, removals and deportations generally have been much more difficult to organise during the last 18 months, as a direct consequence…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I am actually meeting the UNHCR tomorrow, and I am obviously looking forward to that meeting. No doubt we will cover a range of topics during that discussion and engagement, which…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)My right hon. Friend raises various points on the back of his experience covering at least part of the role that I now cover. I would build on that by making the point that we do…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I would argue that I have already set out those safeguards. The Government are clear that we must consider all options to break the business model of people smugglers and prevent…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I have been generous to the hon. Gentleman, but I will give way one more time.26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)Let me finish the point. We have regularly made additional aid available in crisis circumstances to help relieve particular pressures that have arisen, and UK aid has been…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)No, I am going to make some progress because I am conscious that we have still got some way to go. Schedule 3 aims to reduce the draw of the UK by working to make it easier to…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)Schedule 3 is designed to be part of a whole system deterrent effect to prevent illegal migration. Access to the UK’s asylum system should be based on need, and not driven by the…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)On 3 September, we announced £30 million of life-saving aid to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries to help those who choose to leave Afghanistan. That is part of the Government’s…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I will not take another intervention from the hon. Gentleman on that point.26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I have been very generous to the hon. Gentleman. I think that aside was a little bit unfair on his part, given the number of interventions that I have taken. I know that it was…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I hope that I can help the hon. Gentleman somewhat by making it very clear that children will not be transferred overseas for their claims to be processed.26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I will briefly pick up on a few points that have been raised during the debate on clause 26. The Government argue that the suite of measures are intended to have a deterrent…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I will give way, although I gave quite a bit of clarity in what I just said.26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I reject the hon. Gentleman’s characterisation of the situation. The truth is that a very particular point was raised about the United Kingdom establishing an offshore detention…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank hon. Members for tabling the amendments. I agree about the importance of the UK carefully assessing whether asylum seekers have a well-founded fear of persecution, as…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)Obviously, we are clear that our proposal is entirely consistent with our obligations under the convention. However, I will happily write to the hon. Member with further detail on…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)On the concerns around LGBTQ+ individuals, we have acknowledged that it may be more difficult to prove such claims compared with individuals making applications based on other…26 Oct 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Tenth sitting)I thank hon. Members for tabling the amendments. I have listened carefully to the arguments that they have put forward. I agree about the importance of the United Kingdom…26 Oct 2021