The problem of illegal immigration must be addressed effectively. The present situation is unsafe and unacceptable.
We know that the volume of illegal small boats arriving in the UK has escalated. Travel across the Channel in small boats is life-threatening. No one should be encouraged to undertake this perilous journey. In the year ending June 2023, 52,530 people entered the UK illegally. This is up 17% from the previous year, and 85% of those who arrived did so via small boats.
The Government has already made significant progress in stopping small boats, with crossings down by a third. In December 2022, the Government reached a returns agreement with the Albanian Government, to combat the rise in illegal migration from Albania. In 2023, there has been a fall of 90% in the number of Albanian citizens migrating to the UK.
The success of this policy highlights the importance of international cooperation to tackle the complex problem of illegal migration and people-smuggling networks.
I will continue to support the Government in making return agreements with governments of other nations.
The business model of people-smuggling networks must cease in the interest of the safety of refugees; it will ultimately save lives. This is not to say that I disagree with safe, legitimate forms of legal migration to the UK.
Do not believe there is an easy solution to what is a complex challenge for us in the UK and for our neighbours.
The Government’s policy is one of deterrents to save lives. The passing of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act on 22 April marks significant progress in stopping small boats.
It would have been better for the proposed scheme to have come in without delay and at a proportionate cost. Now the bill has passed, the Government can deliver.
The new act intends for those entering this country illegally, to be swiftly removed back to their home country if it is safe, or to a safe third country such as Rwanda.
Following the November 2023 ruling by the Supreme Court that the Government's plan to deport individuals who arrive in the UK illegally to Rwanda is unlawful, the Rwandan Government recommitted to ensuring the safety of people relocated to Rwanda in a Treaty signed in December 2023.
I have signed a number of amendments that arose at the Committee Stage of the bill which intended to set out the need for safe and legal routes that are available to adults and unaccompanied children and regarding the time limit for detaining pregnant women and children.
These amendments also seek to establish provisions for refugees in genuine need, including unaccompanied children and separated families.
The hope is that certain knowledge of swift removal from the UK to a third country will encourage all to use the safe and legal routes available as it has done for Syria, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine, and deter those who use illegal and unsafe routes. I encourage the government to continue to set up more safe and legal routes to encourage those wishing to come to the UK to apply in the proper way.
Many will share in disbelief that so many would be willing to take such extreme, unsafe measures to reach the UK from an already safe country such as France. I welcomed the announcement that the UK will be providing France with £500 million in funding over the next three years, to prevent people crossing the Channel illegally.
The funding will provide an extra 500 officers who will patrol French beaches and a new detention centre in Northern France with UK officers embedded in French operations for the first time, where we will also see a 40% increase in the deployment of French officers patrolling northern France. A new command centre will also be established which will bring UK and French enforcement teams together in one place for the first time.
These measures will be underpinned by sophisticated surveillance technologies, including drones which will help to ramp up the interception rate and save lives.
The Government wants to be fair to migrants but also tough in tackling illegal migration, to be fair to all those already living in the UK.
I hope this solution will encourage those seeking to arrive in our country to pursue legal and safe routes instead, saving lives and ensuring access to refugee provisions is fair and equitable.