Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
7
Conclusion
First Report - Channel crossings, migra…
Acknowledged
The greatest deterrent to perilous crossings of the channel on unseaworthy vessels with actively dangerous ‘life-jackets’ would be to prevent such crossings ever leaving France. Alternatively the French authorities with or without British assistance could intercept the boats once in French territorial waters and return them to French land whence …
Government response. The government states it continues close working with France and other partners to prevent channel crossings and break smuggling models, aiming to conclude a package of measures this Autumn and agree to collective action with international partners.
Home Office
11
Conclusion
First Report - Channel crossings, migra…
Acknowledged
We welcome the joint action plan between the National Crime Agency and major social media companies to hinder organised immigration crime and urge the Government to persuade more social media providers to participate in action aimed at preventing trafficking and saving lives, though given the previous experience of the Committee …
Government response. The government highlights that the NCA is working closely with social media companies and has removed over 1,600 posts related to organised immigration crime, committing to further increasing its impact.
Home Office
14
Recommendation
First Report - Channel crossings, migra…
Acknowledged
We note that the Government no longer intends to pursue a policy of pushing boats back to European countries. We urge the UK Government to continue instead to press the case for enhanced information-sharing and close co-operation with European governments and agencies. In particular, the Government should seek to investigate …
Government response. The government states it already works closely with European countries on border security and intends to deepen this work, including in areas like information sharing and cooperation, with discussions underway.
Home Office
16
Conclusion
First Report - Channel crossings, migra…
Acknowledged
The Government’s stated purpose of the Migration and Economic Development Programme with Rwanda is to deter people from seeking to arrive in the UK by irregular means. It is not clear as yet whether it will have that effect. We invite the Government to set out its evidence base for …
Government response. The government states that as a new policy, the deterrent effect of the Rwanda partnership cannot be quantified with certainty yet, but suggests it stands to reason it will deter and cites Australia's experience, promising to provide more details in …
Home Office
19
Recommendation
First Report - Channel crossings, migra…
Acknowledged
Following the Minister’s admission that from January to November 2021 the UK returned only five people who had arrived on small boats, it is clear that the UK’s arrangements for the return of failed or inadmissible asylum seekers to Europe have collapsed. We consider that there is no prospect of …
Government response. The government states it remains committed to securing effective returns arrangements either bilaterally with EU Member States or at the EU-level, and continues to press the EU to work with the UK on shared solutions.
Home Office
24
Recommendation
First Report - Channel crossings, migra…
Acknowledged
The Government should also commission an independent end-to-end review of the asylum system as it is applied to, and experienced by, children. The report of this review should be published no later than 15 December 2022.
Government response. The government will commit to looking at current projects and research to determine their suitability in fulfilling the request for an independent end-to-end review of the asylum system for children, rather than committing to commission a new review.
Home Office