Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make a statement on the failure of the prison estate to protect staff from serious and sustained violence by high-risk inmates

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their important work? I'm aware that there are concerns across the charity as a whole. I

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would be delighted to work with him to address this. We will let the Frontbench change

15:46

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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We have an urgent We have an urgent question.

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We have an urgent question. To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if she will make a statement on the failure of the prison estate on the failure of the prison estate to protect staff from the serious and sustained violence by high-risk

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inmates. I thank the right honourable gentleman for his question I'm shocked and saddened to hear about a shocked and saddened to hear about a serious assault against the person prison officer that took place, my prison officer that took place, my thoughts are with the families of thoughts are with the families of this brave and hard-working prison officer at this time. Prisoners were officer at this time. Prisoners were violent towards staff will face the full consequences of their actions. full consequences of their actions.

full consequences of their actions. And we cannot comment further in any level of detail at this stage. The prison service has also commissioned an investigation, terms of reference are being finalised, this will include details of what happened and why, and recommendations to prevent re-occurrences, we will provide updates to Parliament in due course, secondly, 22 April, we announced a parliamentary independent review on a terrible incident where staff were assaulted at HMP Frankland, we will make announcements in the coming days.

Our prison officers are some of the hardest working and brave public servants this country has. We are committed to making sure they are safe at work and able to keep the public safe. We also announced at last justice or rules that the prison service has commissioned a rapid review of access to and use of self cook areas across the prison estate, including the use in special units. This review will report back with recommendations in June. We recently announced a review of conductive energy devices, Tasers, there is a trial involving a small number of the responsible unit staff.

Body worn video cameras, Mr Speaker, batons, spray, rigid bar handcuffs, currently available for use by staff and protective body armour is already worn by specialist business staff and by officers in cases where there is planned use of force or safe systems of work for the management of high-risk prisoners dictate. We have also announced a review into whether announced a review into whether protective body armour should be made available to frontline staff, which will report in June. I repeat, Mr Speaker, that the safety and Mr Speaker, that the safety and security of our frontline frozen -- Prison staff is our no one priority.

15:48

Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Newark, Conservative)

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Mrs people, let me place on record our sympathies to the prison officer injured at HMV Belmarsh, we wish him a full recovery, and we thank all prison officers for their courage in the face of growing danger. Let us be clear about what is happening in our prisons. Violence against officers has spiralled out of control. In just the past month, two of Britain's most dangerous terrorists, Axel Rudakubana, and Hashem Abedi, have launched vicious attacks on officers, in two of our prisons.

The Secretary of State has ordered a snap review into the attack at HMP Franklin. Weeks later, no action. The longer it goes on, the safety of forces is at risk. I ask the Minister, when will it conclude? Why hasn't every prison officer exposed to dangerous inmates already been provided with a stab vest? Not in June, but now. Today. I have spoken to officers who say attacks with boiling water and not uncommon. Will he commit today to order the removal of every cattle from high-risk prisoners? Not in June, but now, today.

Mr Speaker, this goes deeper than one review. Men like Rudakubana and Brady glorify violence, the dream of martyrdom, and still, governments pander to them, I couldn't care less if Rudakubana never had a hot drink again. Note the British public. This culture of appeasement and protecting the rights of convicted terrorists and criminals, over the safety of our officers, must end and it must end now. If that means keeping them in cells with just a bed, so be it. If it means no contact, no privileges and certainly, tea, so be it.

Let segregation truly and finally mean segregation, because, Mr Speaker, I want to say this as clearly as I want to say this as clearly as I can, I am owning the House now, if the government doesn't get a grip, a prison officer will be killed. We have had enough reviews, we need action. That is the least prison officers deserved.

15:51

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Mr Speaker, we are managing the most complex people in the most complex system. Our prison staff have to manage extremely dangerous people, and they do it with real bravery. We will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. And that is why we have taken the actions we already have. All prisons carry out regular risk assessments and implemented associated safe systems of work. If a risk is identified regarding kettle use or intelligence , what might be used in an assault, , what might be used in an assault, the cattle will be withdrawn.

For 14 years, kettles were used under the previous government's watch, they trusted, they rightly trusted the professional skill and expertise of professional skill and expertise of those running our prisons and working in our prisons, and that is what we are dealing with now. what we are dealing with now. Last week, the Justice Select Committee visited Wandsworth Prison, with improvements, but with a very low base. We heard the poor reputation of some prisoners, including rise in violence, makes recruitment more difficult. This is the legacy of 14 years of starving prisons of resources.

What is the current government doing to improved recruitment and retention of prison officers.

15:52

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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We inherited a prison system in crisis, prisons on the edge of collapse, reducing violence in prisons is a key priority and that is why we have taken the actions we have, in terms of building new prisons, and also, the sentencing review, to make sure we all have got prison spaces to lock dangerous

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people up. No prison officer should go to work in fear that they may leave in work in fear that they may leave in an ambulance. I therefore send my sympathies, the Liberal Democrats sympathies, to the officer injured sympathies, to the officer injured sympathies, to the officer injured at HMP Belmarsh, but the assaults on prison staff have doubled since 2015, the reality for which the Conservatives should hang their heads in shame. This government must

15:53

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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heads in shame. This government must now get a grip. The prison officers Association who are holding their conference in my constituency this week, have requested more protective equipment, will they accelerate the review to ensure they get that support now? Not next month. Recruitment and retention issues also comprise prison safety, when it comes to prison officers, so what is the government doing to address this? And won't discontinue in prison officer grabbed schemes compromise this? Finally, how are compromise this? Finally, how are

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Prisoners? I thank him for his question for staff immediately after the incident at HMP Frankland, the Lord at HMP Frankland, the Lord Chancellor, myself, and the prison officers may met with the prison officers may met with the prison officers Association and I know that was a very significant discussion, and commitments were made, to make sure that things were addressed properly and correctly, at the properly and correctly, at the prison as minister in the other place will be speaking at the prison officers Association conference shortly.

So, the reviews that were shortly. So, the reviews that were in place are being done in fast time, but they need to be done time, but they need to be done properly, so you can learn the lessons and take the appropriate lessons and take the appropriate actions, and have what we know is going on, which is the people that manage our prisons.

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I confirm my interest as a member of the Justice Select Committee. Does the Minister agree that overcrowding in prisons is a cause for the increased violence towards for the increased violence towards our prison officers? And that this is a direct result of the way the is a direct result of the way the previous government dealt with our prison system. Therefore, can the Minister please outline what steps are currently being taken to reduce overcrowding in our prisons.

15:55

Rt Hon Esther McVey MP (Tatton, Conservative)

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My honourable friend is completely right, prison overcrowding makes addressing these issues far more difficult. This is why the government has pledged to continue building the remaining 20000 Prison Pl programs, which the last government failed to deliver. In 10 months, this government has In 10 months, this government has already added over 2,000 prison places, whilst the government the members opposite supported added 500 members opposite supported added 500 places in 14 years. places in 14 years.

15:55

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Surely, as a minimum, any prisoner who assaults a prison officer should automatically forfeit any right to early release and all privileges. Does the Minister agree? privileges. Does the Minister agree? And if so, when will he introduce change? And if not, why not? change? And if not, why not?

15:56

Kim Johnson MP (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)

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The honourable member is right that anything that happens should be dealt with immediately by the prison authorities. That is exactly what is happening. That's why these reviews are in place,: The lessons, so appropriate action can be taken to learn from this and put appropriate steps in place for the future, taking into account the issues she

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raises amongst other issues. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This

15:56

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government inherited violent squalid prison estate, which makes the job of prison officers much more of prison officers much more difficult and dangerous. The privatising of maintenance has contributed to overcrowding, and the spiralling violence towards prison officers. Can a minister explain why contracts are being pretended, and will the recent report recommending more privatisation, so we can all understand the logic behind this decision?

15:57

Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP (Skipton and Ripon, Conservative)

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My honourable friend raises a question about prison maintenance and that is always under review. Contract were in place when this government came into place, that needed to be taken forward, in order to make sure our prisons are kept as safe as possible. Those who assessed proposing the raise violence, centred around the individual, and addressing the underlying causes of addressing the underlying causes of their violence, including specific risk factors and needs to help them manage and move away from violent behaviours.

15:57

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Can support the shadow Secretary of State's requests for accelerating the supply of stab vests and can I ask the Minister for more details on the government's thinking on the use of Taser, because there is a long of Taser, because there is a long track record of Taser use in the UK, and it will seem we can also accelerate the use of Taser in prisons as quickly as possible. prisons as quickly as possible.

15:57

Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington, Independent)

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I agree with the honourable member that this needs to be looked at as quickly as possible. That is why this summer, an operational trial into Tasers will be launched for specialised officers, to help staff respond to high risk incidents more effectively. The findings of this trial will inform any future this trial will inform any future decisions rather use of Tasers in decisions rather use of Tasers in the prison estate, so we need to learn what we can do so we get it right in the future.

15:58

Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)

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Can I declare an interest as an honorary life member of the Prison Officers Association, can I thank the Minister on a day working relationship is established with the union, since coming into office, but can I ask him to meet with the POA and bring forward urgently and report on prison staffing levels, and also the timescales set aside for training staff, particularly, to deal with violent prisoners, and how deal with violent prisoners, and how they are dealing with it at the moment. ARM my right honourable friend for his question and I am happy to work with the Prison Officers Association, and other staff associations were in the prison sector to try and address the issues he rightly raises.

15:58

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Minister very graciously found time in his busy schedule to meet with me, and colleagues, recently, to discuss the campaign, would he agree recent events prove the tremendous pressures on our prison officers and staff and will he give an undertaking to me at the House during the course of this Parliament, the terms and conditions of prison officers could be

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reviewed, especially with a view to the 2H campaign? I thank the honourable member for

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I thank the honourable member for his question and meeting with me earlier in this Parliament to discuss these issues, these are things that need to be rightly kept under review, and the conversations are taking place with the prison officers Association, and other bodies, and will continue to make progress on this matter.

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progress on this matter. Violence in prisons escalated four years under the previous government, that left our prisons at breaking point. What is the Minister breaking point. What is the Minister doing to bring down levels of

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violence in our jails? My honourable friend is right to

16:00

Sir Ashley Fox MP (Bridgwater, Conservative)

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My honourable friend is right to point that out. Violence training module is available to all staff to help them better understand the drivers of violence and how to drivers of violence and how to mitigate and manage those risks, including the case management model for those with a raised risk of being violent. These are vital for improving prison safety, as we know that crowded conditions can fuel violence in prisons. At the recent years, prisons have expanded years, prisons have expanded security measures, such as X-ray body scanners, and airport style enhanced to gain security, to tackle the smuggling of drugs, mobile the smuggling of drugs, mobile phones, and other contraband, which can drive violence in prisons.

We always have to be alert and moving things forward, because the situation is forever changing.

16:00

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Does the Minister accept that the safety and security of our prison officers should always, before protecting the rights of convicted criminals? And will he provide stab vests and Tasers to all those officers who request them?

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Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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Yes, I agree with him wholeheartedly that the safety and security of our prison staff must always, first and foremost. I have already indicated that the reviews going on, in order to address the other part of his question, that needs to be done properly and effectively and we will come back to this House, to inform in due course.

16:01

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr Speaker, violence in prisons rose sharply as investments in staffing fell under the previous government. I spoke to a prison officer who got an award for his bravery, dealing with one of many incidents at the prison. He took his daughter to receive the award. Afterwards, his daughter begged him to stop the job. He no longer was a prison officer after that. What is the government doing to help the levels of violence and

16:01

Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP (Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Plaid Cymru)

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I congratulate that police officer for the award that he got. The act 2018 requires the court to consider that acts were committed against the emergency worker. The act in 2020 to double the maximum penalty for up to two years. So there are actions in place but we need to be ever vigilant on this. That is why he was right to bring this question because we need to be ever vigilant and working ever harder with those brilliant people who run our prisons and work within them.

16:02

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Is co-chair of the Justice Parliamentary group, I know that unions have in raising the problem of safety and violence staff in prisons for years. Under the previous governor to underfunded them and let them down. Will the Minister today commits to meet with unions at the launch in July of the newly updated Safe Inside Prisons Charter developed by a coalition of nine unions representing workers in prison, and that HMPPS will accept the recommendations of that charter? the recommendations of that charter?

16:03

Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)

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I am happy to meet with those unions and with herself around that charter. Until we see the charter, it is difficult to know where things are going. I'm sure that HMPPS will be proactive in working with all the associations on getting the charter

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right. Thank you Mr Speaker. Ministers will recall that the horrific attack will recall that the horrific attack on prison staff at HMP in Durham on prison staff at HMP in Durham last month. While I was grateful for the Minister from Prisons replying to my correspondence, I did note the

16:03

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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lack of commitment around the issuing of stab proof vests on the high security estate. This is a key ask from the prison officers Association. Whilst I welcome the Minister's words today that that will be looked into, can I please get me assurance that this will be done with some pace? There are too many prison officers worried that will they come out of work in their own vehicle or in the back of an ambulance?

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Where the assessment is needed for stab proof vests, they can be deployed. Following the recent incident, HMPPS has commissioned a incident, HMPPS has commissioned a review to establish whether it is necessary for prison officers to wear detective body armour wear detective body armour routinely. This review will inform any decision on the use of protective body armour in the prison

16:04

Simon Hoare MP (North Dorset, Conservative)

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protective body armour in the prison estate, and will report in June. That is next month, so it is pretty quick and rightly so because this is an urgent issue.

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We all understand the need to strike the right operational atmosphere and balance in prison, but in the interests of retention and recruitment of prison officers, it is absolutely key if a prison

16:04

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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it is absolutely key if a prison estate is to work effectively, I do hope that, irrespective of what the review might advise, that the Minister and the Department will move very speedily to a position whereby the wearing of anti-stab clothing and the carrying of tasers and other equipment becomes de facto and routine rather than merely a response to cleaned internal intelligence. Otherwise there will be a crisis in both retention and

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recruitment officers. It is crucially important that prison officers are equipped with prison officers are equipped with the right protective equipment to do the right protective equipment to do their job safely and securely. That is what the purpose of these reviews is to do, to ensure that is got right.

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right. Thank you Mr Speaker. Many of my constituents work at HMP Franklin constituents work at HMP Franklin which is located in the member for

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which is located in the member for the city of Durham's constituency. I met with representatives from the prison officers Association last week. Two of the concerns they raised were about equipment, they said that during the horrific terrorist attack they were unable to use patterns because the space was too small to wield them in. And that he was so enraged that pepper spray had no effect. So clearly they need additional equipment. Whether Mr Tubby what steps have been taken on that? And secondly, if it is the that? And secondly, if it is the case that as the POA told me, it is activist lawyers and courts that are insisting these dangerous terrorist prisoners have access to kettles and prisoners have access to kettles and the ability to use kitchens, the government consider changes to government consider changes to primary legislation to enable these privileges to be removed from that category a prisoner?

16:06

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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Can I say straight away that access to kitchens as immediately been withdrawn. In terms of equipment, the review of equipment is taking place. The point my honourable friend makes about the honourable friend makes about the intelligence he has had from prison officers from HMP Franklin, indicates the complexity around that indicates the complexity around that issue which is why we need to take our time to get this right, fast our time to get this right, fast moving at pace and coming back to the House quickly.

the House quickly. Mr Speaker, 32 prison staff were killed in Northern Ireland by terrorists and criminal associates. What steps is the Minister taking to What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that prison staff are both safe inside the prisons but also safe inside the prisons but also outside, as we see an escalation in terrorist activity across the United Kingdom as well? Will he also raise this issue at the five Nations for this issue at the five Nations for prisons? I can certainly commit to make sure this is raised at the make sure this is raised at the forum.

He raises a very sensitive serious issue which needs to be properly addressed. I thank him for his question.

16:07

Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)

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I have met with constituents who are prison officers, and they agree with the former justice secretary who said prison officer cuts were who said prison officer cuts were too much. It has led to overcrowding and unsafe conditions will stop the and unsafe conditions will stop the and unsafe conditions will stop the government is giving a 5% pay award while conservatives ran away from making such an award. But the list outlined to me what engagement is outlined to me what engagement is having with prison officers to understand what safety changes they want making particularly around tasers and stab proof vests?

16:08

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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My honourable friend makes a good point about the way this government easily recognised the need for an uplift in pay in line with the independent pay reports. We took action straight away on that. As I said previously, immediately after said previously, immediately after the HMP terrible incidents, the Lord Chancellor, the prison officer in Chancellor, the prison officer in the other place and myself met the prison officers Association. There are lines open to all the other are lines open to all the other associations involved.

It is important that we work with them to address this issue properly.

16:09

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Thank you Mr Speaker puzzle can I thank the Minister for his answers. He always comes to the chamber with appropriate answers was not it was shocking to read of the violent attack on prison staff, and highlights the need for greater supervision and security measures. What steps will the Minister and What steps will the Minister and government take to tighten the prisoner privilege system, takeaway prisoner privilege system, takeaway parole for example? If that doesn't work, put them in solitary work, put them in solitary confinement.

Those evil killers have confinement. Those evil killers have forfeited all of their rights to privileges in this world and I think privileges in this world and I think it is time the government took steps to ensure high-risk offenders do not have access to the same freedoms that could potentially be used to that could potentially be used to fiercely harm those working in our prisons. Thank you.

16:09

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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The individual he refers to is Killy part of a police investigation, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on that at this point. General points he makes about the management of are dangerous people in our prisons is a very good one. That is why we rely on the expertise and experience of the prison staff and the prison officers and prison governors.

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Prison should be a rehabilitation place for the vast majority of place for the vast majority of prisons. It is good for society, and lowering crime and our economy. But there are a small number of prisoners in our prison system for whom it should not ever be about

16:10

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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whom it should not ever be about that. It is about punishment. The Southport murderer should die in jail. And if he cannot be in jail without threatening police officers, then he has forfeited his right. Does the Minister agree?

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What I do agree with is that punishment and public protection are two very important part of the two very important part of the reason why people go to prison. As I said to the honourable Member

16:10

Sir Nicholas Dakin MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Scunthorpe, Labour)

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said to the honourable Member opposite, I cannot comment on live police investigation and he will understand the reasons why.

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I thank the Minister for the response to the Urgent Question was not that everyone in this House my thoughts with the officer who was thoughts with the officer who was attacked. Speaking to friends of mine who worked the prison service and the last couple of years, it is clearly a problem and vital that we clearly a problem and vital that we tackle this issue. Can the Minister echo's commitment to ensure that everyone, be they prison officers in

16:11

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make a statement on the US-UK trade deal, with particular reference to the impact on Northern Ireland

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everyone, be they prison officers in Belmarsh or retail workers, are safe at work? I give that commitment that this government will do all it can to government will do all it can to make sure people are as safe as possible when they go to work. No one should suffer what happened to these very brave wonderful prison officers doing their duty. That

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should not happen to anybody when they go to work. That completes the Urgent Question. We will let the Frontbench Question. We will let the Frontbench change over. Next Urgent Question,

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change over. Next Urgent Question, To ask the Secretary of State for business and trade if he will make a

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business and trade if he will make a statement on the US UK trade deal with particular reference to the impact on Northern Ireland.

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Secretary of state. With your permission Mr Speaker I am grateful to be able to give a statement today following that given statement today following that given by my right honourable friend on Thursday. We will update the House on the agreement we have reached with the United States, and the important circumstances of Northern important circumstances of Northern Ireland. At the outset, I can confirm that we have closely considered the impact of the agreement on Northern Ireland. I agreement on Northern Ireland.

I personally have spoken to the First Minister, Deputy First Minister twice, one negotiating this deal. The first time was alongside the prime minister. I want all Northern Ireland colleagues to know the importance of Northern Ireland in this deal and all trade deals is something which is paramount to me personally and I commit to working with any colleague from Northern Ireland on the implementation of agreement of this sort. Firstly, as Northern Ireland is part of the U.K.'s customs territory and

16:14

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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internal market, Northern Ireland exporters can access the US market exporters can access the US market under this deal on the same preferential basis as the rest of the UK. Secondly, this deal does not the UK. Secondly, this deal does not affect how imports to Northern Ireland are treated. US origin goods will be able to benefit from this will be able to benefit from this deal, where they are not at risk of entering the EU. As a result, of the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland businesses importing eligible US goods under the steel can avoid any goods under the steel can avoid any unnecessary duties with established schemes.

Such as the UK Internal schemes. Such as the UK Internal Market scheme. Thirdly, there is also a comprehensive tariff also a comprehensive tariff reimbursement scheme. The difference between the UK and EU duty can be claimed back, so long as it can be demonstrated that the goods did not enter the EU single market. The customs duty waiver scheme also customs duty waiver scheme also customs duty waiver scheme also allows risk duties to be there subject to an overall limit. As we said all along, if continuing to act in the best interest of all you pay businesses which includes those in Northern Ireland.

More broadly I can confirm that this is an agreement that saves thousands of jobs, gives the UK an advantage over other countries in relation to trade with the US, and confirms a process of potentially securing a much wider trade agreement between our two countries. The UK-US trading relationship already worth £350 million is important and growing. We have 1.2 trillion invested in each other's economies employing around 2.5 million people across both of our countries. That is why the deal was so important.

Throughout the was so important. Throughout the negotiations, businesses have consistently praised outcome had a pragmatic approach to working with President Trump's administration. I President Trump's administration. I would like to thank them for their engagement, their support, and advocacy. Turning to the detail of the agreement, in no industry with the agreement, in no industry with the potential impact of tariffs more acute than automotive. If therefore negotiated 100,000 vehicles were tariffs will be reduced to 10%. As it is in Urgent Question today meant to be three minutes.

You have quite a few pages, I'm happy to take them because I think it is important that the House knows. But we do need to understand what we have granted and not granted. I don't want to go back over Thursday when nobody seemed to understand the procedure of the house. I recognise how important this is to other members but we should know the rules. I just

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Mr Speaker, I am grateful for your forbearance on this, I will your forbearance on this, I will continue, given how important it is to members across the House.

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If it is important, why didn't it come as a statement? I never quite

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come as a statement? I never quite understand, with a day, couldn't convert them quickly enough, today we do not want to. I would be more than happy to

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I would be more than happy to make a statement. Mr Speaker, we have negotiated 1/4 of 100,000 have negotiated 1/4 of 100,000 vehicles were vehicles are reduced to 10%, and associated car parks, to 10%, and associated car parks, recognising the vital role, the sector plays in the economy. For sector plays in the economy. For steel and aluminium, the steel will remove the 25% additional tariffs, put in place earlier this year, reducing US tariffs on all steel reducing US tariffs on all steel products to zero.

This will require products to zero. This will require a lift for the steel industry, brought back from the brink of collapse, to allow steelmakers to continue exporting to the US. This follows our intention last month to broaden British Steel and save thousands of jobs. Pharmaceuticals and life sciences, this deal provides assurances we will receive significant preferential access, in case of any new US tariffs in the future. Something that so far, the UK has secured. A pharmaceutical manufacturing sector contributes £20 to the UK economy a year and applies around 50,000 people, this was a priority for us.

One aerospace, we agreed that UK aerospace exports And plays will have zero tariffs as a result of this deal, this will be a huge boost to the sector, which supports 450,000 jobs in the UK, to secure this deal, we have made agreements with the US on beef, ethanol, security. On beef, we have agreed one quarter of metric tons, and a tariff on exports, limited to 1,000 metric tons. Crucially, I can confirm this will be SPS compliant, in accordance with the commitments we have always made.

The increase in the quarter of 13,000 tons compared, for instance, to the 110,000 tons in the Australian deal, negotiated by the last Conservative government. And, even more importantly, it is reciprocated, meaning our UK beef farmers will have unprecedented market access to the US. Our farmers will be able to export their high- quality beef through an exclusive UK quarter, to a million people, allowing unparalleled access to the world's largest consumer market. On ethanol, we are already importing a significant amount of ethanol from the US and we have agreed a duty three at 1/4 of a million litres, we are working with the sector to understand their concerns and impact on their businesses, including what more the government can do to support them.

Finally, Mr Speaker, the UK and US will threaten our cooperation on economic security and work together to combat duty evasion. We will continue to use investments screening measures already in place, and will work together to protect our existing supply chains from any third country investment that concerns either one of us. This government will have consistent and long-term pragmatic approaches to managing the U.K.'s relationship with countries, rooted in our UK and global interests. As we have made clear, however, the aspiration on both sides is that this is just the beginning, with the US agreeing to deepen transatlantic stage further, and allowing discussions towards a transformative US technology partnership.

This is seen jobs saved and jobs one but is seen jobs saved and jobs one but is by no means job done. The siren voices of the extremes can claim all they want to be the voice of working people, but we know there are people, but we know there are matters of action wages, security and opportunity, and it is this government that will make the difference. It comes on the back of difference. It comes on the back of our India trade deal earlier last week and only promises many week and only promises many governments have made to secure trade agreements with the US, but as many people have talked about these, Mr Speaker, it is this government Mr Speaker, it is this government that has got them across the line for every bit of the UK, including Northern Ireland.

16:19

Jim Allister KC MP (North Antrim, Traditional Unionist Voice)

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Mr Speaker, for all his verbosity, the Minister came nowhere close to addressing the issues which arise from the fact this government and this House does not control the trade laws of a part of this United Kingdom. Namely, Northern Ireland. Because under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland was placed under the EU's customs code and therefore, it is its tariffs, not the UK's tariffs, which govern the imports to Northern Ireland. And with the EU having no trade deal, with the US or with India, the resulting tariffs on imports under this deal will be higher when the goods come to Northern Ireland, back to GB.

For manufacturing and for consumers. This creates huge disadvantage. And fundamentally, contradicts the equal citizenship which is supposed to denote a united -- United Kingdom. I add, as the Minister referred, to a convoluted and tardy system of tariffs. The onus there is on those applying, to prove that anything they produce will never go into the they produce will never go into the EU. And it is no answer to Northern Ireland's objection to foreign trade laws that we do not make and can change.

The Minister contemplated change. The Minister contemplated for his own constituents but expects us to suck it up in Northern Ireland. Can the Minister address three specific issues. In terms of steel, under the deal, what now may be easier for US manufacturers to buy steel from Great Britain, tariff free, and for manufacturers in Northern Ireland to buy the same steel from their own country, to steel from their own country, to bring it into their own country in Northern Ireland.

That steel will be Northern Ireland. That steel will be subject to EU tariffs. How can it ever be compatible with Northern ever be compatible with Northern Ireland supposedly being part of the EU's internal market? And in terms EU's internal market? And in terms of beef, and the tariff free trade within the quota being set...

16:22

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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Order, please. I am sure the honourable member must be coming to an end. Just because the Minister has taken advantage of the chamber, I certainly don't expect every other member, frontbenchers yes, obviously, you know, you are limited

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to two minutes but I'm sure you are now coming to the end. In terms of beef, where there is

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In terms of beef, where there is a set code for imports of beef, how can Northern Ireland participate in that? If the UK cannot offer a that? If the UK cannot offer a reduced tariff rate in Northern Ireland. Does that mean our beef exporting farmers in Northern exporting farmers in Northern Ireland will be excluded? Surely, all these trade deals expose the all these trade deals expose the folly of surrendering part of our territory to foreign customs

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control. I am grateful to the honourable member for bringing this urgent question and the concerns of his question and the concerns of his community on the record, and I understand how strongly he feels about those. But there is much I can say, much I can criticise, about the approach the previous Conservative government talk to a lot of things. But the fundamentals of the Windsor Framework, the Windsor agreement, to Framework, the Windsor agreement, to balance both the realities of exit leaving the single market when Ireland is within the EU and the customs union, balancing those obvious real-world practical problems, alongside our commitments into the Good Friday Agreement, to observe what we have all signed up to, and will want to support, the approach the previous government took a Windsor agreement I think is fundamentally about A1 then the period of time which existed when they were threatening to break all kinds of international laws and agreements with key partners.

It was the better way to find a way through them. And yes, it is difficult, except that, complicated, I understand that as well. But I can tell, not just from a UK government perspective in terms of working with our colleagues in making sure these issues are affected in the agreements but actually, what we hear on the other side of these agreements, the US will explain what we need to see happen around agreements like this, is itself absolutely committed to peace in the Good Friday Agreement & working of the Windsor agreement.

He has raised a number of questions here, I will make sure we are dealing with that, we will meet with him, the we will meet with him, the delegation of MPs, will make sure we have respondents with him about that, as he promised to do with the that, as he promised to do with the first Minister and 51st Minister. I will say to him, yes, it is, guys, but this is a far better approach but this is a far better approach than what we briefly saw Graham sat in a difficult period where the Conservative government hasn't got the Windsor agreement in place.

Fundamentally, there is a Fundamentally, there is a differential between goods entering Northern Ireland when they are entering the UK, and entering the Northern Ireland, when there is a Northern Ireland, when there is a risk of entering the single market more widely. I think that is a sound system. In order to deal with it. In order to make it work. We recognise that the previous government was trying to do. I will give him, whether he wants the offer or not, an unequivocal agreement work we an unequivocal agreement work we will work with him for any concerns on what his immunity has get this right to the maximum degree possible.

16:25

Greg Smith MP (Mid Buckinghamshire, Conservative)

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Cannot the Minister update the House on the engagement the government is doing with the chemicals industry? raised, there will obviously be domestic impact, if there have been requests for other trading partners for further access to the UK market, particularly in relation to the agreement on ethanol for some senior officials from my department have been meeting with the domestic industry photo I have a personal meeting setup, I believe, for Wednesday of this week. There are lots of issues that we need to address more widely, then that what has been agreed in this trade agreement but I'm working with the industry to help manage any trade

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deal is absolute. Thank you, Mr Speaker and I congratulate the honourable member for securing this urgent question for securing this urgent question although I quite agree it was really, it should have been the case that the government should have that the government should have offered this important subject as a statement to the House. The House, of course, has still not yet seen of course, has still not yet seen the full detail of the trade the full detail of the trade agreement with the United States of America.

The Secretary of State has said this is just the beginning, but what we have so far, there are a great many questions unanswered. Including on what are clearly ongoing negotiations around pharmaceuticals. The Secretary of State says in his answer just now that the UK will have significantly that the UK will have significantly preferential rates, but what does that actually mean in practice? Where is the actual detail about what significantly preferential rates actually means? And likewise, rates actually means? And likewise, similar questions on the digital services tax.

Last week, my honourable friend the shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, asked the trade minister a straight question. Will this trade agreement protects the special status of Northern Ireland? The Minister was unable to provide an answer then, and I remain unconvinced by what the Secretary of State has had to say today. Still with lots of talk of risks of goods entering the European union. Clearly, this is a far more complex situation and the Secretary of State would like us to expect.

As the honourable member follow and remain clear, the EU were still hugely influential in Northern Ireland trade law and the points he made, for example, on steel, were very accurate and deserve clear answers. It is clear this deal would have a number of implications on the precise function on the customs regime. Yet, businesses in Northern Ireland have been left in the dark too long, by the lack of detail from last week's announcements. I would therefore, Mr Speaker, be grateful if the Minister could confirm what discussions he has had with his US and EU counterparts on rule of origin and the green line in Northern Ireland? What specific measures are the government implementing it to ensure that Northern Ireland businesses are not disproportionately burdened by increased costs and administrative complexities, as a result of this complexities, as a result of this trade agreement? Finally, Mr Speaker, given the Prime Minister is gearing up for his surrender summit gearing up for his surrender summit with the European Union next week, can the Secretary of State confirm can the Secretary of State confirm there will be no backsliding on there will be no backsliding on Northern Ireland's integral, absolute, and total part of our United Kingdom.

16:29

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr Speaker. That was a fairly stream of consciousness, if I am being totally honest. It appears I have given a stronger defence of the Windsor agreement negotiated by the Conservative party, then the Conservative party has managed today. He gave detailed life knowledge, particular when dealing with the US and the style of the US system, there is a pace, there is a pulse of those negotiations, they are different, perhaps, to how we will present the detail of a complete trade agreement, like the one we agreed with India, but I think you will acknowledge the importance of the announcements last week, costing such a significant part of our exports to the US, covered by sectorial tariffs in the US, those businesses would have had to stop planning this week for a world of 25% tariffs in some cases, which would have had wager repercussions on jobs, businesses and growths in the UK.

Am I able to give him that reassurance with a clear indication of the ongoing negotiations, that is a significant win for British business and I hope the opposition would recognise that. He asked specifically about preferential rates on pharmaceutical products, the issue here is about, and some of the sectorial tariffs the US indicated, they have not completed yet their own investigations, they haven't announced what they are putting in place, so the nature of the agreement, given it covers six oral tariffs, is to recognise what the UK to be in a position where he won the preferential position on those as well, not the agreement we have already agreed on sectorial tariffs, and the terracing arts in the future.

Yes digital services tax, not in the agreement, that is absolutely clear, not a part of what was announced last week. Getting onto the special status of Northern The The agreement The agreement of The agreement of the The agreement of the Conservative party struck, it is one that manages to very difficult pressures, we might say the Conservative party might have thought more about this during the Brexit process, but it didn't, it had to resolve this after single market, that is it. That is what the Conservative party agreed.

And I do think that is not a new degree of complexity. The complexity comes from differentials, between the EU's approach to trade and trade defence, and our own, but surely we all recognise part of what we are talking about here reflects the fact we are not part of the European Union, and he again, engaged in some language around the European Union. I will just say this, this country did a trade deal with India last week, only Conservative party promised many times and never delivered, we have reached an agreement with the US, the same way, and we have EU summit coming up.

Everything we have said, Mr Speaker about how this country doesn't have to pick between one trading partner, it can be the best connected market in the world. It is brought up by the agreement we signed, and every member of this House should get behind the UK, which is strong on the world stage are connected to each of the market we need to be

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partners with. Can I congratulate the Secretary

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Can I congratulate the Secretary of State in a couple of things, first of all, anyway I don't like, second of all, a twice in a week, upholding our world leading upholding our world leading environmental for standards and can I here show me that as these conversations develop on trading partners, further deals will always prioritise high food standards to

16:32

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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prioritise high food standards to protect our farmers and consumers at

16:32

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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It was a good week last week on football and trade matters. My voice is a little horse as a result of all of those things, but we promised in of those things, but we promised in our manifesto that we were elected on a position to not change our on a position to not change our standard. Some said a deal wasn't possible with the US, but we did and we have an agreement and that is proof of everything we said about why that is so important to us.

why that is so important to us.

16:33

Clive Jones MP (Wokingham, Liberal Democrat)

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Please bear with me because I think I am losing my voice. Parliament must be given a vote on the US trade deal and all future trade deals which must be properly scrutinised by Parliament. Let me remind the Secretary of State that Labour Party policy was to have a vote in Parliament on trade deals. What a massive U-turn has taken place in the last few months. Trumps trade deal threatens jobs across the UK, especially in Northern Ireland. There is heightened uncertainty because of the Tories Brexit deal.

What is the Minister's assessment of the impact of trade war on our small businesses and living standards, and businesses and living standards, and what will he do to address these impacts? In Wokingham, Shinfield impacts? In Wokingham, Shinfield studio employs hundreds locally. We are the Hollywood of the UK. What steps the government taking to protect the UK film industry from protect the UK film industry from potential tariffs and therefore protect jobs in Wokingham, other parts of the UK and in Northern Ireland.

16:34

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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I am grateful to him for his question. Firstly, we discussed this across the chamber on several occasions, but we are not proposing as a government any changes to how the UK ratifies treaties. I have never given those promises that he mentions. I have not change my position. It is as it always has been. We have a key role in scrutinising treaties full stop any changes that require legislation or changes to our domestic laws go through Parliament in the usual way, I think you would recognise this.

This week, there would have been announcements that would have been very difficult for a whole range of important sectors of the economy and restructuring. I don't think any Member of Parliament will have wanted to see that happen because of the parliamentary process, and I do understand the position of the Lib Dems as to rejoin the customs union and therefore trade deals with the US or India would not be possible. It is consistent and fair, but it would have been painful if that was our permission going into this.

He asks about the impact on small business in the wider economy with any potential issues in the global training citizen. They are important and he will know that the UK is very exposed to those wider relationships because we are an outward facing because we are an outward facing economy, so that is why we have to be on the pitch, sleeves rolled up, trying to find solutions for ourselves and that other countries ourselves and that other countries can look at, and he asked about the film industry.

Anywhere where there film industry. Anywhere where there has been a suggestion or tariff that is not yet in place and it isn't entirely clear what you are tariff entirely clear what you are tariff on the face of the film, we have language in the agreement that we would cite as an existing area of a would cite as an existing area of a really strong mutually beneficial trade deal between us and the United States. States. I welcome this trade deal I was pleased to have the Secretary of State mentioned his discussions around ethanol where concerns are raised, but I have spoken to the industry and they are competent they have a solution that will work well with the trade deal.

Notwithstanding the emphasis on Wednesday, when my friend meet with me and senior representatives to the bioethanol producers to discuss this deal and producers to discuss this deal and how we can make the trade deal a major success. major success.

16:36

Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith MP (Skipton and Ripon, Conservative)

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Grateful for that question and the expertise. I promise to do that, and if there is any impact, we are working as a partner to industry to do that. He says there is substantial bioethanol plans that may be enacted, and we are setting up a process to do that.

16:37

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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With the India deal, this is good for the UK, and it is good for Northern Ireland which can access the single market. Where the question has some merit is that the reimbursement scheme is quite owner us, and I would urge him and his team to look into where efficiencies could lie, and also I would be interested in how the department could help businesses expand in the

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US and take advantage of this deal. I am grateful to him for pointing

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I am grateful to him for pointing out that they should be across this house that trade agreements with the US and with India RN every one of US and with India RN every one of our interest. I have been dismayed by some of the feedback from the by some of the feedback from the Conservative benches. I thing we should all recognise that not only is this important bilateral relationships with these key markets and potential growth that can come from that, they send a message to from that, they send a message to the rest of the world about free fair and open trading and time is very much needed.

The performance of very much needed. The performance of reimbursement scheme has been

16:38

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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significant. It is fair to say that we are working with partners with the Treasury to see how we can improve that. We will recognise fundamentals as there are complaints on how easy it is to access, so I commit to working with that, and in relation to exports, we have a whole range of exports, but how exciting it will be to take businesses from Northern Ireland and every part of the UK and takes advantage of some of the new liberalised trading relationships we have in place.

They are preferential to what other countries have. Access to Indian procurement that no other country in the world has. I'm excited by that and I hope colleagues are too.

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I thank the Minister for his work on this trade deal. I feel more and

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on this trade deal. I feel more and more like Jim Shannon all the time. The honourable member for Strangford.

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Strangford. Apologies. Can the Minister give some additional details of the house some additional details of the house about his trade deal and how that and others will protect jobs in Northern Ireland and in Harlow and what the Minister agree that these what the Minister agree that these trade deals mean we avoid a trade

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war which is good for everybody. I thoroughly endorse that. There are some headline wins for these trade agreements. We all focus on

16:39

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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trade agreements. We all focus on headline and tariff weather with whiskey or whether it is the removal of the sectorial tariffs in relation to the US but in relation to that, there are things I have mentioned and part of what helps me is and part of what helps me is reductions for the industry, greater access, trade and free trade is one access, trade and free trade is one of the absolute certainties for growth, jobs, for investment. I want all colleagues to be behind these all colleagues to be behind these deals.

I think there has been times where there is a genuine consensus where there is a genuine consensus on the benefits this can bring and I want to see every colleague selling the benefit to businesses in their own communities. This trade deal with the US doesn't even touch the sides of the trade deal that was promised by Brexiteers. Nor does it touch the sides in terms of the damage done by being ripped out of the customs union and the single market. I have had the Minister about the challenges.

There was a compromise that Labour used to back remaining parts of the single market and the customs union. What is it about reform and Tory Brexit that he has embraced so well?

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That has never been our position. It has never been our position in It has never been our position in our manifesto after the introduction of Brexit. I am not accountable for of Brexit. I am not accountable for those things, and I am relieved for that, but I would say to him that that, but I would say to him that can and economy contract out trade can and economy contract out trade policy to a customs union that are not a part of the plate arrangements not a part of the plate arrangements that sit behind that? I don't see that as a realistic thing, and to be honest, to hear the honourable honest, to hear the honourable gentleman not get behind that reduction in the tariff on Scotch reduction in the tariff on Scotch whiskey, I think he has got to promote some of his own interests a bit more strongly, to be honest.

We have got a situation where regardless of how you vote in the referendum or in the EU, you should be able to get behind benefits for every part of the UK, whether it is for India, the US, and it will not for India, the US, and it will not be the same as being part of the single market. That was a decision taken in the referendum, but we can build within that the best possible position for every bit of the United Kingdom.

I think we should look to the future, rather than real if those battles of the past, and I know this won't mean much to the know this won't mean much to the SNP, but the political uncertainty that really did cause harm to the UK after we had the new arrangements in after we had the new arrangements in place, it was a detriment. It is exactly why the constitutional position is in the interest of Scottish businesses. We are looking Scottish businesses. We are looking to the future with deals that benefit every part of the UK, and if the gentleman can't get behind that, the gentleman can't get behind that, so what? We will make sure they get better access to every market and every bit of the world.

It pains me but I have to concede that whiskey is produced in Northern Ireland. Now, when the member made the statement in relation to the Indian trade deal, understandably, he puts great emphasis on the benefits to the Scotch whiskey and UK whiskey industry from that deal, but when he gave the statement in relation to the US deal, he said precisely nothing about whiskey, so can the Secretary of State clarify exactly what the current position is with whiskey in the US and what is

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his aspiration? While we would all recognise the

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While we would all recognise the superiority of the Scotch whiskey and the quality of it, this also covers India exports of gender. I covers India exports of gender. I was in the B factor

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Beefeater factory this week. Bushnell says part of this as well. The question of the US is in relation to the sectorial tariffs relation to the sectorial tariffs put in place with anything that would affect whiskey production of would affect whiskey production of this kind. That would be part of the wider discussion, the ongoing discussion about the 10% that discussion about the 10% that reciprocal tariff. I believe there is no need for that. It can come

16:44

Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP (East Antrim, Democratic Unionist Party)

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down. I think we could reach agreement with product areas that would further deepen the trading relationships between ourselves and the US, and that is where we are committed to continuing this conversation. The UK is not a high tariff country. We have to make sure that what we agree is in both of our interests, but that will be part of the ongoing conversation as well as the conversation about the digital agreement we are seeking to strike and other areas we are looking at across the chamber.

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The Minister has spent about five minutes of the statement evading a question that was asked. What will be impacted this trade deal BR Northern Ireland? The fact of the Northern Ireland? The fact of the matter is, and he has already said it, it will be difficult, it will be it, it will be difficult, it will be complicated, we have got to remember that the EU has a single market to that the EU has a single market to protect. It seems that he is more interested in protecting the EU from interested in protecting the EU from the goods which goes into the EU rather than protecting the internal rather than protecting the internal market of the United Kingdom.

And the fact of the matter is that while

16:45

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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the fact of the matter is that while you may say that providing business can prove that these parts and these things don't go into the EU, then they can get the taxes back on them. The process of doing that is so complicated and so convoluted and so time-consuming that very often, the businesses are out the money for a long time with cash flow problems and then Treasury. They spent an age getting the taxes. Any difficulty or complexity is not caused by this trade agreement per se, there is an arrangement in place it when this government supports, it's what I believe all sides of the House are dear to that manages the particular situation Northern Ireland was put into as a result of Brexit.

That's the reality. When you have a lot of tension in the global trading system with differentials between ourselves and the EU but there are going to be a time differentials, is incumbent on all of us to manage those to make sure that Northern Irish businesses and consumers are getting at the consumers are getting at the benefits of the trade agreements we are seeking and whether there is that relationship to wider European Union we have all of those schemes Union we have all of those schemes in a way that is their maximum utilisation.

I recognise there are utilisation. I recognise there are complaints with workers around that. It's not the trade deals the course complexity, it's the situation the complexity, it's the situation the previous government either for an need to find a solution to want to be fair some did find a solution to be fair some did find a solution to and we all sides are committed to honouring and making sure this is working.

16:47

Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)

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Skilfully drafted though the Windsor framework certainly was it could possibly have fully anticipated President Trump and his tariffs or the prospect of an EU US trade tariff war. Does he understand how concerned small and medium-sized businesses in Northern Ireland are, businesses in Northern Ireland are, because suddenly they are placed potentially at the epicentre of that potentially at the epicentre of that trade war. It's all very well to say that they can claim back the that they can claim back the differential tariffs but the bureaucracy involved in such an exercise as the Minister will exercise as the Minister will understand is substantial and significant, what will he now due to mitigate it?

16:47

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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I understand the reasonable point he is making, perhaps large parts of the global trading system didn't anticipate the position we find ourselves in today, I do believe it was drafted recognising that there would likely be divergent in trade policy between the United Kingdom and the European Union. That's what I I understand I understand this I understand this this I understand this this is I understand this this is the feedback we received as well, he mentioned things like the complexity and the functioning of the duty reimbursement scheme and how that needs to work better, I hear that needs to work better, I hear that from businesses in Northern Ireland and clearly in the chamber today, that relates to HMRC and the Treasury has responsibility but I give him assurance we are listening give him assurance we are listening and committed to doing this.

It's incumbent on all of us to make this work. I thank the Minister for his extended answers. In his original answer he said he had spoken with the first and deputy First Minister twice. I ask, were they supportive of the government approach? Did they raise any concerns, however those concerns mitigated and did they agree to the final deal? The EU negotiations on 19 May is the government engaging with the

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Northern Ireland Executive? I regularly meet with all

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I regularly meet with all colleagues across the United Kingdom to keep updated on matters of trade, these were specific meetings in these were specific meetings in relation to what was being negotiated with the US. A final decision on any trade agreement is with myself and the Prime Minister

16:49

Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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with myself and the Prime Minister we don't seek formal agreement say from colleagues in devolved government but we keep you informed as to what we are negotiating and the issues that are coming up on the other side and how we deal with that. It's not for me to reveal the content of those conversations but the kind of reasonable concerns being aired in the chamber today about rings like the reimbursement system, feedback from Northern Ireland businesses were of course part of that conversation.

We committed again as I done so today to work on effective solutions to

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the problem. The Minister says free trade is essential for growth, what a shame that the trade across the UK is still so badly affected by us not being part of the customs union. When Labour were in opposition they called for a proper role for Parliament in how trade deals are ratified and argued there needed to be a much higher level of scrutiny be a much higher level of scrutiny that we are seeing now under the previous government. There are clearly many questions about this

16:50

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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clearly many questions about this deal will affect businesses in Northern Ireland that we have seen how the Australian trade deal has been allowed to undermine which farmers across the UK, animal welfare and food standards ranks to a lack of parliamentary scrutiny. Under the Conservatives. Farmers my constituency are worried that American agribusiness will undercut

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them with inferior meat and I hear what the Minister said about upholding SPS... Can the honourable lady get the

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question please? Will the Minister provide

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Will the Minister provide reassurance that members of this House will be given the opportunity to fully scrutinise and vote on the new trade deal with the United States? She will have had my earlier

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She will have had my earlier answers, yes I believe Parliament should play a role in scrutinising trade legislation indeed any international agreement, is not the case in the eye to kingdom that we case in the eye to kingdom that we have formal up or down votes in the treaty week vote on the implementation of agreements and the Responsibility for negotiating those undergoing those as with the government rather than Parliament government rather than Parliament and am not aware of any particular substantive proposal to change that.

It's not something the UK government today is committed to doing. She today is committed to doing. She talks about the impact of leaving our existing trade relationships and the customs union, that was part of that referendum and I understand how that referendum and I understand how people feel intensely, people have different interpretations of why, we different interpretations of why, we can relive this argument forever, or we can focus on the future, focus on reducing barriers to trade, focus on the kind of agreements delivering advantages for every part of the UK advantages for every part of the UK and that's exactly what we are and that's exactly what we are doing.

Had we in this case still been part of the customs union there would be no breakthrough with the US or the India trade deal so please all colleagues need to balance the two things alongside and in particular in relation, that would have meant significant job losses to have meant significant job losses to this we can United Kingdom and that would have been very painful for all of us.

16:52

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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In what I'm sure is going to be a

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very the final question Jim Shannon. Is that a challenge? Can I thank the honourable member for the

16:52

Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Stalybridge and Hyde, Labour )

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the honourable member for the question, it's important to be talking about this place, this has caused problems for my Strangford constituents in particular I mentioned a few discoveries, many businesses, how does the Minister plan to address the tariff differentials that may arise for Northern Ireland from UK US trade deals which may see any EU retaliatory tariffs on US goods being applied to US goods entering Northern Ireland, and potentially

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creating an IRIS-T border for US goods? That only one member for

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That only one member for Strangford no one would mistake him for anybody else asking a question for anybody else asking a question of this sort. The asks about the of this sort. The asks about the Of entering the single market when they come into Northern Ireland that is basically the percentage is basically the percentage differential in the tariff between United Kingdom tariff rate for good or tariff line and that for the EU and I believe it's three% differential, makes a good coming into Northern Ireland potentially at risk and therefore considered for Or Or the Or the EU Or the EU one Or the EU one in Or the EU one in this Or the EU one in this case Or the EU one in this case which would then be reimbursed.

I understand, businesses in his constituency that's a more compact constituency that's a more compact position than for many other things but we have to make this work, we have to be committed to working with businesses in his area and the wider United Kingdom and Northern Ireland specifically political leaders to make sure we are getting this right will stop I'm hearing many times about how we can make that system smoother, more reliable, more efficient as part of that, we will take that away and work with colleagues in order to do that.

The system in place is balancing many different competing pressures and there are no obvious or easy solutions as a parliamentarian we went through all the potential outcomes when there was a different party in charge, so let's make it work let's listen when we need to improve things and let's recognise this is an agreement that fundamentally addresses some of the core problems that did exist in this

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country chose to leave the European Union. Can I thank the Secretary of State for his very detailed answers State for his very detailed answers this afternoon and I'm going to allow a few moments the Front

16:54

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP (Romsey and Southampton North, Conservative)

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Before Before I Before I call Before I call the Before I call the Home Before I call the Home Secretary Before I call the Home Secretary to make a statement, the speaker has noted the details of the white paper have been reported in the media since Sunday morning. As Mr speaker has said previously, it's important these policy announcements are made in the first instance in this House and not the media. The Speaker does not understand why the government persists in making announcements in this way when the ministerial code is absolutely clear and I quote, is absolutely clear and I quote, that when Parliament is in session the most important announcements of government policy should be made in the first instance in Parliament.

It the first instance in Parliament. It is clear that the Speaker for whatever reason this principle is no longer routinely observed by the longer routinely observed by the government and he will be giving further consideration as to what might be possible to regularise the might be possible to regularise the situation. Statement to the immigration system, the Home Secretary.

16:55

Ministerial statement: Restoring control over the immigration system

Thank you, with your permission I will make a statement on the government's white paper on restoring control over the immigration system. Five months ago the figures were published that showed that migration had reached a record high of more than 900,000 under the last Conservative government. A figure that had quadrupled in the space of just four quadrupled in the space of just four years. It was the consequence of specific government choices made from 2020 onwards including introducing what was effectively a free market experiment in immigration, encouraging employers to recruit from abroad, loosening controls in different areas but without any requirement to tackle skills and labour shortages here at home.

Choices which undermined the immigration system and the economy as well. This government is making very different choices. We made clear at the time just as we have set out in our manifesto this government would restore order and control to the immigration system of bringing net migration substantially down but also boosting skills and training here at home. The white paper we are publishing today does exactly that and it's built on five core principles. First, that net migration must come down so the system is properly managed and controlled.

Second, that the immigration system must be linked to skills and training here in the UK so that no industry is allowed to rely solely on immigration to fill it skills shortage. Third, the system must be fair and effective with clearer rules in areas like respect for family life to prevent perverse outcomes that undermine public confidence. Fourth, that the rules must be respected and and -- enforced including a tackling illegal and regular migration and deporting foreign criminals. And finally, that the system must support integration and community cohesion including new rules and the ability to speak English and the contribution that people can bring to the UK.

Our United Kingdom is an interconnected and outward -looking nation, our history and geography mean that for generations British people have travelled overseas to live and work and people have come to the UK to study, work, invest or seek -- seek refuge with British citizens drawn heritage from all over the world and that has made us the country we are today. Through many years our country has been strengthened by those who have come here to contribute, doctors in the NHS, entrepreneurs standing some of our visit -- biggest businesses, to vote again through generations to work jobs from coalmining to caring for loved ones to serving in our Armed Forces.

People often coming to do some of the most difficult jobs of all. Our trading nation global leading universities and strong historic international connections mean migration will always be part of our country's future as well as past. But that is exactly why immigration needs to be properly controlled and managed. And it hasn't been. Overseas recruitment shot up while training in the UK was cut. Lower skilled migration sword while the proportion of UK residents in work plummeted. In 2019 10% of skilled work visas weren't two non- graduate jobs.

By 2024, that had risen to 60%. Employers were even given a 20% wage discount if they recruited for shortage jobs from abroad actively discouraging them from paying the going rate or training here at home. Education institutions were allowed to substantially expand the number of overseas students without proper compliance checks, social care providers were encouraged to recruit from abroad with no proper regulation, so we saw a serious increase in excitation deeply damaging for those who came to work here in good faith -- exploitation.

And also for other workers and responsible companies being undercut. Rules and laws supposed to underpin the immigration system were often ignored and by 2024 returns of people with no right to be in the UK were down over one third compared to 2010. Of course criminal gangs were allowed to build an entire smuggling industry along our borders, undermining security and creating a crisis in the asylum system. This later this year we will set out further reforms on asylum and border security and on tackling illegal and irregular migration building on the new counterterrorism powers in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill before the act this evening.

Because no one should be making these dangerous crossings in small boats. But this white paper sets out how we restore that control to the illegal migration system so it is sustainable, fair and works for the UK. First we are overhauling the approach to labour market policy fits over the first time we properly link the immigration system to skills and training here in the UK. So that where there are skills or labour shortages in the UK immigration should not always be the answer to which employers turn because that's long-term failure to tackle skills shortages bringing proper workforce planning to get UK residents back to work or improve pay, terms and conditions here at home it's bad for the economy as home it's bad for the economy as We will have the threshold back to graduate level and above, removing up to 180 different jobs from the list increasing salary thresholds.

Access to the points-based system for lower skilled jobs will be limited to areas in a temperate shortage list including jobs which are critical to the industrial strategy access will be time- limited. There must be a domestic workforce strategy in place and employers must be acting to increase domestic recruitment. We will expect workforce strategies to be drawn up more widely in other higher skilled areas where there is overreliance on recruitment from abroad. And support that work, we will establish a new labour market evidence group, bringing together skills bodies from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Department for Work and Pensions, the industrial strategy Council and the Migration Advisory Committee to gather and share evidence on shortage occupations in different parts of the country, and also, to highlight the role that skills training pay and conditions and other policies can play in improving domestic recruitment so that increased migration is never again the only answers to the shortages the economy faces.

This new approach means we also need to act on social care. The introduction of the social care Visa lead not only to a huge increase in migration but also to a shameful and deeply damaging increase in abuse and exploitation. When proper checks were finally brought in, 470 care providers have a licence to sponsor international suspended, and 39,000 care workers were displaced. Overseas recruitment care jobs has since dropped but it must not search like that again and it is time that we address the domestic issues including a domestic fair agreement to show respect to people who do some of the most important jobs in the country.

We are therefore ending overseas recruitment of care workers. It will continue to be possible to extend existing visas and to recruit displaced care workers and people already in the UK with working rights on other visas. Alongside the new visa controls and workforce strategies, we will also increase the immigration skills charge paid by employers who recruit from aboard by 30%. That money will be invested through the spending review in supporting skills and training here in the UK. And we will ensure that Britain continues to attract the brightest and best global talent by enhancing the roots for very high skilled individuals, top scientific talent and people with the right experience to support growth in key strategic industries.

International students bring huge benefits to the UK, supporting universities and bringing in top talent and investment. But we will strengthen compliance requirements and checks to prevent Visa misuse. In currently two people are not doing graduate jobs so we will reduce the unrestricted period from two years to 18 months and those who want to stay will need to get a graduate job or a skilled worker Visa to ensure that they are contributing to the economy. And just as there are works on visas based on the contribution we expect people to make, we will consult later this year on new and settlement for the approach.

Extending the principles of the point-based system, doubling the qualifying period to 10 years and qualifying most were free to take account of the contribution people have made. Because the ability to speak English is integral for everyone to contribute and integrate, we will introduce language requirements across a range of Visa routes for both main applicants and their content and so people can work and contribute. And the system has to come overly complex for people around case law rather than a coordinated framework set out by Parliament so we will set out a new clearer framework to be endorsed by Parliament including clarifying how article 8 rule should be interpreted to prevent confusion.

be interpreted to prevent confusion. We will review sponsorship for trafficking and modern slavery. And we will shortly appoint a new windrush Commissioner to ensure the windrush lessons continue to be learned and the Home Office make sure its standards are upheld. But rules must be respected across-the- board so we will also bring in stronger controls where there is evidence of Visa misuse. We are rolling out visas and digital ID including better used to monitor when people are overstaying on visa or to support the increase in illegal working rates.

Since the election, we have increased returns and we will go further. Those who come to our country must abide by our laws so we will develop new procedures to make sure the Home Office is informed of all foreign nationals convicted of offence not just those who go to prison so that we can also revoke visas and remove other offenders in a wide-ranging crimes who are abusing our system. Already we are reducing the number of visas being granted this year and of visas being granted this year and updated figures will be included.

The impact of the changes to skilled worker visas, settlements, students and English language is expected to reduce visas around 100,000 a year, and the new workforce strategies, family and asylum reforms will further bring numbers down on top of that. And as the prime minister has said, where we need to go further to restore sustainable systems, we will. Throughout our history, Britain has been strengthened by people coming to start new businesses through sporting excellence to do some of the toughest jobs in the industry, but toughest jobs in the industry, but to be fair, our immigration must be properly controlled and managed.

properly controlled and managed. This White Paper sets out how we will restore control, fairness and will restore control, fairness and order to the system, how we will continue to bring net migration down continue to bring net migration down and how it will turn the page on the chaos and failure of the past. I commend this statement to the house. commend this statement to the house.

17:08

Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)

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I thank the Home Secretary for advanced sight of her statement, not that it was necessary given the extensive leaks and pre-briefing. The prime minister claimed this morning that all of a sudden, he wants to control immigration. I must say that came to me as something of a surprise. The prime minister seems to have undergone a miraculous conversion. He is apparently repudiating everything he has ever believed or the Prime Minister is perhaps doing what he always does, saying whatever he thinks people want to hear at any given point in time.

Perhaps the prime minister sees his -36 approval ratings and this paper is his desperate response. We know what the prime minister really thinks about immigration because he has often told us. The Prime Minister once described immigration law and border control as racist. He signed a letter opposing the deportation of dangerous criminals including murderers and rapists. He pledged he would reintroduce full free movement of people and he salmon nice enthusiastically about the benefits of migration. He even said the immigration removal centre should be closed down.

Perhaps the Home Secretary can tell us if she will be following advice on that one. So given what the premise to really think about immigration, it is no surprise that, in 2025, this Labour government has presided over the worst start to the year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel, up 30% since the election last year and the worst start to year ever under this Labour government. So, it is also no surprise that this plan is so weak that it barely scratches the surface.

On its very first page, it seeks to create a false impression. It says Visa applications are 40% down since the election, implying that is somehow down to this government. Why are these applications actually down by 40%? It is because of the changes made by the last government which came into force in April 2024, and from the previous peak, net migration is already forecast to reduce by round about half a million. And if the Home Secretary is now all of a sudden so keen on reducing migration, will she explain why she suspended the plan to increase the threshold to £38,000.

It was due to come in last month, but when will that change now be introduced? The truth is that this plan is weak and it will have little impact. The Home Secretary admitted on the programme yesterday the measures will only reduce net migration by 50,000 just 1/10 of the impact of the previous conservative changes. The honest truth is that we need to go much further than this paper does. Immigration needs to come down a lot more and under new leadership, the Conservative party is taking a new approach.

You can vote on this later if you are so keen. I immigration has put pressure on housing, on public services, on social cohesion and on the economy. Because mass low-wage migration actually undermines our economy's productivity and costs other taxpayers money because low-wage migrants consume services which cost the Exchequer more than they pay in tax where there are dependents. So we need to go much further and that is why later today, the House will vote on to Conservative proposals as amendments to the Borders about the prospect of doing.

The first of those amendments will create a binding annual cap on migration to be set and voted on democratically by this Parliament. It will allow full democratic parliamentary control over those migration numbers, deliver complete transparency and ensure immigration levels are reduced. I assume she minister will be supporting this measure, and secondly, we will vote on an amendment to repeal the Human Rights Act from all immigration matters, not just Tinker, not just matters, not just Tinker, not just Tinker with article 8.

This will foreign criminals and others with no right to be here from abusing human rights laws in UK courts including article 3. So I have a very simple article 3. So I have a very simple question for the Home Secretary. If she is really serious about she is really serious about controlling immigration, will she vote later on today for the immigration And will she vote to immigration And will she vote to repeal the human rights racks for all immigration matters?

17:13

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I must have missed a bit of the shadow Home Secretary's response. The bit at the beginning when he apologised to the house and to the country for his party's policies that quadrupled net migration in the space of just four years. He tells us his concerns about the level of migration. It was his party that was responsible for that huge increase in net migration. And I must have missed a bit where he confessed that, from the point at which he became an immigration minister in 2020, when all these policies were introduced, to the point at which the shadow justice secretary finished being immigration minister in 2023.

Net migration rose from 170,000 a year to 870,000 a year. But I must have missed that confession and that apology because that is what the shadow Home Secretary should have done. And frankly, until he admits his failure, until he apologises for the damage and the chaos that he and his party caused, frankly no one is going to take seriously a single word he says. And he refers to Visa changes that were made before the election. We supported changes that were made by the right honourable member for Braintree, but he had to reverse some of the changes of the shadow Home Secretary made when he was an immigration minister.

And as for the White Paper, it provides for Low Skilled Migration on the Tempe Shortage List. But His Targets and Caps Are As Meaningless for All the Other Ones That His Party Introduced When They Were in Government. From the Time of the Conservative Government's Reforms That Cause A Lot Of These Problems, I Thank the Home Secretary for Removing the Annual Limits and international students as a lobby for both. That was the current leader of the opposition.

So the idea that this lot have anything to offer is like people who burgled your house and then turn up the next day and offer to sell you a dog. If they are to sell you a dog. If they are serious about making changes, about tackling small boats, they should vote for our counterterrorism powers to tackle the smuggling gangs that repeatedly he and the other right- wing parties have voted against. That is not serious, this government That is not serious, this government

17:16

Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Labour )

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I am proud to represent a diverse and vibrant constituency Vauxhall and Camberwell Green for the place where some people from around the world have chosen to make their home. A spate does make a place where semi people contribute to our community day in and day out. Since this announcement I'd been contacted by several constituents who are currently on a work visa and looking currently on a work visa and looking at their path for a way to indefinite deep leave to remain they are understandably worried about are understandably worried about where this uncertainty leaves them, they are worried about their future plans, one even told me they are worried and they are considering worried and they are considering leaving the UK because their settled status here is under jeopardy.

Can status here is under jeopardy. Can the Home Secretary please outline whether this policy applies to people who already live and work in people who already live and work in the UK or will it just be the new these applicants?

17:17

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I thank her for her question and she is right to say that there are people working in all kinds of jobs across the country contributing to our economy and our communities who have travelled here from all over the world and that was hugely important. We set out further details of the earned settlement and citizenship reforms later this year citizenship reforms later this year and we will consult on them so there will be plenty of opportunity for people to comment on and consider the detail but it's important that the detail but it's important that we have extend the sense of contributions and the points basis as to those reforms as well.

We have as to those reforms as well. We have also said we will maintain the current five year route for those who have come on a dependence Visa who have come on a dependence Visa on a family be as well as part of maintaining families. maintaining families.

17:18

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Immigration is personal to all of us, whether we are immigrants ourselves, the descendants of immigrants or just benefit from the skills, talents or the cultural this that immigrants bring. For me I am immensely proud that our country took in my Nan aged 18 when she was fleeing the Nazis in 1939 and I'm That the senior surgeons that did my dad's kidney transplant operation brought his skills and talents to our country having been born elsewhere. And yes, the Conservative government made a total mess of our immigration system, their chaotic and dishonest approach of making and breaking headline grabbing targets shuttered public trust and love the system in tatters.

The line I agree with most of the governments white paper published this morning is that the immigration system must be fair and effective. What the Conservatives left behind was nowhere close to either. Change is needed and that means rebuilding an immigration system that works for our country and our economy while treating everyone with dignity and respect. Of course that must be coupled with a player my clear plan to make it easier to recruit British workers to fill these vacancies instead. I would welcome more details from the Home Secretary on how her government will achieve this to ensure these changes don't have unintended consequences for our economy and in particular for our health and social care systems will top will this include finally to the LibDem proposals for a higher carers minimum wage to reflect the skill minimum wage to reflect the skill level really involved in caring level really involved in caring We also need to move away from the chaotic chopping and changing of immigration rules we saw under the Conservatives, so will the Home Secretary provide further clarity on Secretary provide further clarity on when these changes will be brought forward, including a clear timetable for any changes to these rules so that employers and workers and their families that we are talking about families that we are talking about today can plan for the future

17:20

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Thank the Member for her points and she is right that we need to boost the training and skills here in the UK alongside the stronger controls. On Social care we will introduce fair pay agreement, it's really important that those vital jobs in Social care looking after our loved ones are properly respected and we are also on some of respected and we are also on some of the timetable issues some of these require primary legislation and further consultation others will be brought in more swiftly for example, some of the changes to skilled worker threshold will be brought in more swiftly, but to give her an example of the approach we want to take, something like construction workers for example will be on the temporary shortage list because it temporary shortage list because it is clearly crucial to growth in our economy, however it has to be alongside respect for this workforce strategy and that's why the education secretary has set out proposals to train 60,000 more construction workers here in the UK.

construction workers here in the UK. This Labour government is disorder at the border, broken system were criminal gangs dodgy employers and fake colleges too often decide who came into this country. Will the Home Secretary give the courts the power to deport, universities and colleges the resources to train our young people and have a system that encourages the brightest and the best to come to this country and rebuild Britain?

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He makes an important point, we do want to make the procedures

17:21

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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do want to make the procedures easier for deportations of foreign criminals for increasing returns of those you have no right to be in the UK and that's why we will be changing the perceived -- procedure that we have inherited, he is also right that we need to ensure that the best international talent is able to come swiftly to the UK and that's why we will be setting out further reforms for the highest talent groups as well.

17:22

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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In her statement Home Secretary said that the Visa changes she is putting in place will reduce net migration by 100,000 people per year. The House of Commons library has figures that say the Visa changes I brought in would reduce net migration by 300,000 people per year, so would she now concede that her proposals are only one third as

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effective as mine? I would just say to the right

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I would just say to the right honourable member nice try. He was in the Cabinet that massively increased net migration, that pushed increased net migration, that pushed the numbers up. The fact that he then belatedly had to attempt to then belatedly had to attempt to restrict and reverse some, but just some, of the changes that he and his colleagues had previously endorsed colleagues had previously endorsed and put before the country and the and put before the country and the He still never tackled this fundamental approach that the Conservatives had which was this free market experiment this encouraging people to retreat from

17:23

Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, Labour)

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abroad, never training, never supporting, the conditions on training here in the UK means that fundamentally he was just desperately trying to close the door and deal with problems for the without any proper strategy and actually understanding why it was that you need those links with skills, links with training in the first place, that's why what we have to recognise is the important way in which migration has always supported our economy and will continue to do so, but it has to be properly controlled and managed.

He didn't do that.

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The Tories promised net migration in the tens of thousands and left it at about one million. Reforms at about one million. Reforms predecessor you kip promised that Brexit would fix immigration. That Brexit would fix immigration. That didn't work out did it? So the Home didn't work out did it? So the Home Secretary is absolutely right to take a reasoned evidence-based approach to fixing the immigration

17:24

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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approach to fixing the immigration system. I welcome her emphasis on the contribution that immigrants make and I know that our National Health Service workers in Newcastle from different backgrounds and those starting up great businesses in the country must still feel welcome as a consequence. Which -- she is also right to critique our country's dependence on immigration for growth and the impact that has on productivity, can she say a little

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bit more about how she will break that link two She makes a really important

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She makes a really important point because if the response to often to any labour shortages or often to any labour shortages or skills shortages is simply to turn to migration without addressing what to migration without addressing what are the causes of those skills or labour shortages which might be around pain conditions, might be around lack of skills and training, it might be around like a workforce

17:25

Rt Hon Sir Andrew Mitchell MP (Sutton Coldfield, Conservative)

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it might be around like a workforce planning, might be a whole series of different things. If we don't address those causes then all that happens is that productivity here in the UK falls, so alongside ensuring we can get the skills that we need, ensuring we can benefit from international talent, we have to tackle those domestic training and skills failures and make sure we invest in those and that is what the immigration skills charge and the increase in the immigration skills charge will help us to do.

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Surely the most immediate challenge which is enraging our constituents is the illegal constituents is the illegal migration across the channel where migration across the channel where her government has kicked away the tough deterrent measures which they inherited from the last government? inherited from the last government? Are there not three critical measures she should be taken? The first is to work incredibly closely first is to work incredibly closely with all of our European partners,

17:26

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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with all of our European partners, the second is to look very hard at the international conventions particularly the Geneva Convention from 1951, and thirdly and in many ways most importantly to work on the upstream problems at source, increasingly people are migrating in very large numbers from the Sahel in North Africa, fleeing from violence starvation and extreme poverty, does she accept that she and her European counterparts must list their ambition and move towards the modern day equivalent of a Marshall plan if we are to solve this long-term and

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increasingly very serious issue? I do actually agree with the

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I do actually agree with the honourable member that we have to do more upstream to tackle some of the causes, some of the dangerous journeys that we've seen. We clearly journeys that we've seen. We clearly need to act on the criminal smuggling gangs who are exploiting people and undermining our border people and undermining our border security and that's why the legislation tonight on counterterrorism powers are so important but we do also need to do important but we do also need to do much more work with European partners, we have been working with

17:27

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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France for example to get France to agree to change their rules so that they for the first time will start to intervene in French waters to prevent dangerous crossings, but we also agree on the importance of the Sahel and working up stream. We have established a new joint unit between the Home Office and Foreign Office in order to do some of that prior

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work that he refers to. If I'm going to get as many members as possible in this members as possible in this afternoon we are going to need pithy questions and short answers please and a masterclass in that, the chair of the Education Select Committee.

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of the Education Select Committee. I represent a constituency which is enriched and sustained every day by people who have come from

17:28

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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overseas to make their home here. Especially those who came as members of the Windrush generation. It's important they hear from this place today that they are not only valued and appreciated, they are part of us. Last week the Office for Students published another report on the precarious situation facing universities and the announcement today entails a levy on universities in relation to international students. I want to ask the Home Secretary what engagement she has had with her counterpart in the Department of education on the impact on the financial sustainability of universities in the measures she is announcing today.

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My honourable friend is right that there are British citizens who

17:28

Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

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that there are British citizens who have heritage from all over the world, people who have come here as including part of the Windrush generation and that's why we will be shortly appointing the Windrush Commissioner to ensure that those Home Office standards are upheld and that contribution three generations is properly recognised and respected in our country. On the issue around the international students levy the white paper sets out we will explore that levy and that work is being led by the education secretary to ensure that we look at the way in which we can ensure that investment goes into supporting skills in the UK.

17:29

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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The Home Secretary spoke about attracting the best and the brightest of this country, one of the areas where universities do that is in the medical procession -- profession. During the COVID crisis and rebuilding after, a lot of people on the frontline were immigrants. When she looks at the resettlement and the reassurance given to existing migrants will she take them into account and perhaps consider indefinite leave to remain for those who worked through that crisis? crisis?

17:30

Tracy Gilbert MP (Edinburgh North and Leith, Labour)

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The honourable member makes an important point about the contribution made by those who saved lives, who cared for our loved ones through one of the most difficult periods during the pandemic and we need to respect and recognise those contributions. There will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to contribute to the consultation on changes to the earned settlement and

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citizenship rules. Report into the economic impact

17:30

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Report into the economic impact of the Edinburgh University universities education exports alone universities education exports alone amount to 1.8 billion and the 2002 /-- 2021/22 academic year, and she outlined what engagement you have with University of Edinburgh to ensure that proposals brought forward today do not have any adverse impact on the world class universities and also on the local universities and also on the local

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My friend is right that the international students make a huge international students make a huge contribution to our country, to our economy, and universities are often very important to local economy as very important to local economy as well. But it is really important that proper standards are met as that proper standards are met as well, and weather have been cases of some institutions not properly ensuring that they are meeting the right standards of compliance, where

17:31

Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (South West Wiltshire, Conservative)

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there was evidence that recruitment wasn't meeting high standards, where people were misusing visas and coming from reasons and not completing courses, we do need those standards to be met because that is how we will maintain confidence in international students and in our universities which is important to our economy.

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In the details of the paper that came out over the weekend, there was very little of substance and the very little of substance and the Home Secretary has confirmed that today. But there are two big ticket items that my local authority and training providers would like some answers on. Firstly, where is the uplift in training to be financed. When will that money arrive since

17:32

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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When will that money arrive since I'm sure the college will be very interested to hear on that. Secondly, on the fair pay agreement, she anticipates that authorities provide statutory services will be paying for this which means council tax payers will she be providing the money out of the block grant?

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On the point that he makes about training, this government is going training, this government is going considerably further than the previous government to allow previous government to allow training to be cut in adult education and adult skills at the

17:32

Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington, Independent)

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education and adult skills at the same time as the net migration figures were substantially increasing. We are funding training for 60,000 more construction workers as part of our growth plans and workforce strategies, and as I set out in the White Paper that I'm sure he will love the chance to be able to read and see all of the substance within the right paper, it sets out proposals for a 32% increase in the proposals for a 32% increase in the immigration skills charge that will go into skills and training in the UK.

17:33

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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When legislation is being introduced, it is critically important that we use careful language when the prime minister referred to an island of strangers, reflecting the language, tissue realise how shockingly divisive that could be?

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My honourable friend, the point that the Prime Minister has repeatedly made is that we need

17:34

Pete Wishart MP (Perth and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party)

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repeatedly made is that we need people to be able to integrate, to be able to be part of our communities, to be able to share with our neighbours, and that does mean being able to speak English. That is why we are increasing the standards, not just for these applicants but for partners, for spouses, adult dependency, is well because too often, they have been isolated in communities if they are unable to speak English. That could lead to greater exploitation as well.

well. Today's announcement of the dehumanising language from the Prime Minister could not be more contrary to Scotland's national interest. We to Scotland's national interest. We actually have population crises. We can get an adequate population to can get an adequate population to look after our older cohort. Why is look after our older cohort. Why is introducing a system that is contrary to everything that we need in Scotland? Why doesn't she give us in Scotland? Why doesn't she give us the powers for us to grow our economy and wider she not have a jot about Scotland at all? about Scotland at all?

17:35

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Let me say to the member that there are a series of labour market issues that need to be addressed. He will know that there were challenges at the same time as net migration was at 900,000, so that level did not solve the issues, so we have serious issues on different workforce strategies across Scotland, and that is why we have made clear that the skills bodies and devolved governments need to be part of the evidence group so that we can have a broader strategy to deal with challenges we face.

deal with challenges we face.

17:36

Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton, Labour)

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I welcome the Home Secretary's emphasis on the contribution of migrants. We are a city made up of migrants, I welcome the White Paper today, in particular linking today, in particular linking migration to labour market strategy because migration is a key economically for of the state. I hope she agrees that this is not a hope she agrees that this is not a standard issue. What we need from an standard issue. What we need from an asylum system is for it to have democratic consent.

17:36

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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My friend is right to raise the issue of trust and confidence because where people feel that there is a system that isn't under control and where they feel that there is a huge gap between the rhetoric, that huge gap between the rhetoric, that does undermine trust. For generations, people have valued the work of those who have come to the UK in order to work, to contribute, UK in order to work, to contribute, in order to study but it has to be controlled and managed, and it controlled and managed, and it hasn't been.

And that has undermined confidence as well. I think I know a gimmick when I see one and I do feel we have seen one today. The Home Secretary says net migration must come down but she doesn't say what to. So, I would like to ask her what she think the

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limit should be? I'm not sure her own Frontbench

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I'm not sure her own Frontbench can answer that question. We have made clear that net migration leads to substantially reduce. We have had

17:38

Cat Smith MP (Lancaster and Wyre, Labour)

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to substantially reduce. We have had years of targets from previous government that all failed, the wall over the place. But undermined confidence and that is why we will take a different approach and step- by-step, we will make progress and deliver rather than just all of the talk and the rhetoric.

17:38

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Lancaster University, like all of our leading universities relies on operating on a global market. That is not just for academic staff. Many of those have been in touch with me already today and they are feeling quite hurt and upset by some of the language that has been used, particularly the language of strangers, so can the Home Secretary say something to my constituents to contribute to the economy of

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enrichment. I draw her attention to the words

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I draw her attention to the words I said with part of the statement today. It is through generations in recent years that people have come recent years that people have come to the UK and been part of contributing to the country that we contributing to the country that we are today. That is who we are and it is important. It is also important is important. It is also important when people come to the UK, that they can speak English. That they can talk to each other, that they

17:39

Nigel Farage MP (Clacton, Reform UK)

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can talk to each other, that they can be part of communities because it is in areas where people haven't been able to speak English that we have seen some of the worst exploitation as well so that is why this is about recognising the importance of migration but also

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ensuring that the system is fair. The Home Secretary will be aware that five years ago, I warned that that five years ago, I warned that if we didn't leave the ECHR and deport immediately those that arrived in Dover, that there would arrived in Dover, that there would be an invasion. And sure enough, I

17:40

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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be an invasion. And sure enough, I was right. Today, a further 600 young men already today have been processed through Dover. Perhaps the odd Iranians terrorist among them, who knows. Does the Home Secretary accept that their policy of smash the gangs is a complete and total failure and if that is the case, why should we believe anything else they say?

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I say to the honourable member

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I say to the honourable member that no one should be making these dangerous boat crossings. They undermine border security and put lives at risk. Criminal gangs who are organising these dangerous boats are making a fortune and profiting from these dangerous boat crossings

17:40

Mike Tapp MP (Dover and Deal, Labour)

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from these dangerous boat crossings and that is why we need counterterrorism style powers to be able to go after the gangs. That is the opportunity for him and his party to vote for those counterterrorism powers tonight so that we can strengthen our border security. Previously he and his party voted against those counterterrorism powers. We need counterterrorism powers to counterterrorism powers to strengthen our border security in order to be able to go after those criminal gangs. Does he?

17:41

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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The opposition like to talk and abscess over limits. Does the Minister agree that it might be sensible for the previous government to place a limit on the number of home secretaries they had to churn through to deliver their failed to open border project? open border project?

17:41

Rt Hon Esther McVey MP (Tatton, Conservative)

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My honourable friend is right. I think they had eight home secretaries in the space of eight years, and two of them with the same person.

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Without 1/3 country Lycra Wanda,

17:41

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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can the Home Secretary tell the house where illegal immigrants whose country of origin cannot be established because they have destroyed the documentation will be deported to, or is it the case that they cannot be deported and so anyone who exploits that loophole

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can stay here with impunity? This government has increased

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This government has increased returns since the election. That includes more than 20% increase in

17:42

Luke Akehurst MP (North Durham, Labour)

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includes more than 20% increase in failed asylum cases and includes action that we are taking to deal with people who claim to have lost their papers and to ensure that we can deliver those returns. We will continue to support other policies on issues around return hubs. They had two years to run their Wanda scheme. They spent 700 They spent £700 million and spent four £700 million and spent four volunteers. That was a waste of money, a failure for the taxpayer and a failed delivery to.

and a failed delivery to.

17:43

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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17:55

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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to make sure that there is a proper strategy to value Social care and to deal with some of the causes of recruitment historically rather than always having the kind of impact with the Social care Visa recruiting from abroad at such a scale that it led to significant exploitation.

17:55

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Does the Secretary of State agree that far from being strangers, migrants are our neighbours, friends, family, and integral part and members of our communities and that moves to the customer strangers are both divisive and hostile and risk legitimising the same far right violence we saw in last year's summer riots? Have we learned nothing?

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As I set out in my statement, the

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As I set out in my statement, the

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As I set out in my statement, the Come here from abroad through very many generations contributing to our economy and to our country, being part of our community and making our

17:56

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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part of our community and making our country what it is that is who we are as a country because of that history and it will continue to be important for our future. We do want people to be able to integrate, to be able to share with neighbours and that is why some of the provisions around ensuring that we support integration and support English language are so important as well. Address the significant number of pull factors currently advertise online? The government's own websites asylum support what you will get is therefore any will get is therefore any aspirational English speaking asylum speaker to see just was worth running the risk of crossing the running the risk of crossing the channel.

You can get a flat, house, hostel, you can usually get £49.18 each person in your household now each person in your household now prepay Philip things like food clothing and toiletries, your allowance will be loaded onto a debit card each week.

17:57

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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Please can get to a question? system in complete chaos which is why we are reducing the backlog, is why we are also taking action to tackle some of the areas where there has been Visa misuse including some of the issues, issues around a series of countries where people series of countries where people have increased the applications for asylum even though they have come here lawfully on visas as well. We will continue to tackle those and we will introduce new reforms alongside will introduce new reforms alongside this white paper on illegal migration.

Last June the now Home Secretary visited a cafe in my constituency to discuss the very matter of overseas recruitment massively increasing, meanwhile the investment in our domestic workforce was drastically going down contributing to the quadrupling of the net migration figures between the periods of 2019 Does the Secretary of State agree with me that the best way to address soaring migration to specifically from work is to poppy train and up skill are domestic workforce, measures already present in our groundbreaking bell, and how will measures introduced today contribute to that work and the overall aim? to that work and the overall aim?

17:58

Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP (East Antrim, Democratic Unionist Party)

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She is right we do need proper training and skills to be in a situation where engineering visas could go up at the same time as engineering apprenticeships go down, that the system doesn't make any sense to anyone and that's why we need to make sure that not only have we got the training and skills but actually we link those with the shortages and we link them with the immigration system as well.

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The House is right to be sceptical about a policy which has been announced on a toxic issue after the government has suffered a after the government has suffered a significant electoral defeat where the main issue was immigration. But can she tell us how many of these policies, the hundreds of thousands who are in undergraduate level employment at present, what's going employment at present, what's going to happen to them? For the time period between recruiting and training people and getting them into jobs, how is that Going to be felled? Since the courts won't even allow the depredation of people who allow the depredation of people who served long prison sentences -- deportation, how does she expect the courts to comply with her wish to deport people who have served no prison sentence?

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prison sentence? We are implementing the policies and commitments made in our manifesto to restore control and order to the immigration system, to make sure that we bring net

17:59

Jo White MP (Bassetlaw, Labour)

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make sure that we bring net migration down and we have a system that is fair. As part of the changes we are introducing as a result of this white paper were identifying up to 180 occupations, lower skilled occupations that should not be recruiting from abroad, that should not be part of the temporary shortage list either so that we make sure we reduce the lower skilled migration that increased so substantially over the last four years and so that we need -- make sure we support skills and training and tackle those labour market challenges.

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With net migration figures of 1.7 million over the last two years of the previous government, when I

18:00

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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the previous government, when I speak to people in Bassetlaw they tell me that they are fed up with the pressures that uncontrolled immigration has put on our local infrastructure. The Prime Minister has recognised this today with a clear commitment to reduce net migration and take back control of our borders. Can I congratulate my right honourable friend on this landmark cross government white paper which will fix the mess left by the party opposite? Does she agree with me that we need to stop the reliance on imported workers from abroad and focus on properly from abroad and focus on properly

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My friend is right that this is a cross government approach, and it

18:01

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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cross government approach, and it links to the work that the welfare Sec is doing on the education secretary, that the business secretary is doing on building up industrial strategy so that we can plan in terms of the workforce in plan in terms of the workforce in the future. This is how we make sure that we both have control in the that we both have control in the migration system and boost productivity. productivity.

18:01

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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What was it about the local election results that first attracted the Home Secretary to the attracted the Home Secretary to the

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idea of rushing out a paper? I have to say to the honourable member, even I could not draw up a

18:02

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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member, even I could not draw up a White Paper in the space of two weeks. This is a White Paper that was announced by the Prime Minister before Christmas when we saw the scale of the huge increase in net migration that his party had presided over and it is also implement in the policies that we set out in our manifesto to properly link the immigration system with

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training and skills in the UK. I am proud to represent this

18:02

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I am proud to represent this country's only human rights city where everyone is welcome in every life is of equal worth. Our economy life is of equal worth. Our economy depends very much on our universities and international students. Employers will come to our country because of the diversity of our students, so will she ensure that she consults the higher education sector, the export from my constituency in higher education to ensure that we don't harm local economy and the opportunities of local students and home students as well.

18:03

Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)

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I strongly value this to the economy and she is aptly right to say how important international students are. That is why we need to make sure that standards are upheld in terms of universities to make sure that systems can continue to support international party.

18:03

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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One of the things I have appreciated is the government's approach by the moderate tone of language they have taken on really diverse of cultural issues. We all remember the debate that happened after the citizen of nowhere speech, and I'm concerned we're going the

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same direction. The approach that we have set out

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The approach that we have set out in our manifesto and this White in our manifesto and this White Paper is around how we properly manage the migration system so that it benefits the UK, supports

18:04

Jacob Collier MP (Burton and Uttoxeter, Labour)

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it benefits the UK, supports cohesion by supporting intervention to make people can speak English and make sure we can challenge exploitation as well. So, that is why the approach that we are taking is about embedding that fairness, about community cohesion at the heart of our system. Too often, those systems haven't been part of the immigration system. This White Paper make sure of it.

18:04

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I recently visited a care company that expressed serious concerns about bogus organisations registering as care providers in order to sponsor individuals through the health and care visa. This not only undercuts legitimate care providers who pay and treat their staff properly but also raises significant concerns about the potential exploitation of workers entering the UK. Can I ask the Home Secretary what Platt steps she plans to take to clamp down on these practices and support references for

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British companies? My friend is right that the exploitation scene has been deeply damaging for people who have come to this country in good faith and he this country in good faith and he will have spoken to people, I have spoken to people who have travelled spoken to people who have travelled from far overseas only to discover that there was no job for them when they arrived. They have sometimes they arrived. They have sometimes been charged money as well to do so, with those who have been at risk of with those who have been at risk of being exploitation as well.

As well as tackling exploitation more

18:06

Lewis Cocking MP (Broxbourne, Conservative)

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as tackling exploitation more widely, that is why we think it is right to end the overseas recruitment for care worker visas and to support the care sector through the fair pay agreement and through improving the support here in the UK.

18:06

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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I intend to continue the statement until 615 so I appreciate that many members will be disappointed.

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My constituency has a hotel that

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My constituency has a hotel that is used to house illegal asylum seekers. This is placed huge pressure on local GP surgeries and schools which are already overstretched and me and my constituents have had enough. The Secretary of State meet with me to discuss this issue, and can she tell discuss this issue, and can she tell me when the hotel housing illegal asylum seekers in my constituency will close?

18:07

Tulip Siddiq MP (Hampstead and Highgate, Labour)

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The honourable gentleman will know that the previous government introduced asylum hotels because it introduced asylum hotels because it lost control of the asylum system. This government is clear that we need to end asylum hotels. To do that, we need to clear the backlog. That includes making appeals to a broken system that we inherited on asylum appeals, and we are now taking reforms through as part of the border security bill. I hope he will vote for those reforms so that we can end asylum hotels.

18:07

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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My constituency has a history of welcoming refugees, whether migrants or people fleeing political persecution in Nazi Germany. More recently, they opened their doors to refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine. I welcome the government's measures to enable refugees to access skilled workers visas, because I asked the Home Secretary what is your plan for refugees whose work visas will expire but they cannot return to their countries of origin? Will they be eligible and how the government guarantee their safety in the UK?

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We have supported those here from Ukraine, from Hong Kong, from Afghanistan who have fled Afghanistan who have fled persecution on conflict or supported

18:08

Stephen Gethins MP (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Scottish National Party)

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and worked with our Armed Forces. But will continue to be important. We want refugees to be able to apply for the skilled worker visa in a way that other people are able to do, so there are people who will be in this country when circumstances in the home country change and in those circumstances, of course, there needs to be provisioned through the asylum system or through them being able to apply for their visas as well.

18:08

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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The Home Secretary will be aware that our education sector is world leading because it brings in the brightest and the best from around the world. Our researchers, scientists, medical staff. She will also be aware that universities are struggling because of Home Office rules, not least Dundee University which suffered millions of pounds worth of losses. Will she take my invitation to come to Dundee so she can see the direct consequences that we are having on universities?

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We have brought huge benefits and contribute bringing investment as contribute bringing investment as well as the skills and talent and universities are important to local economies right across the country. It is important that all

18:09

Andrew Pakes MP (Peterborough, Labour )

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universities meet the proper standards. Many do. The vast majority do. There are some that have not met those standards and we urge them to do so and will work with them including setting out action plans with them to do so. We do also want students who stay in this country after they finish their course to also get graduate job so they can properly contribute to our economy.

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Peterborough is a generous and

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Peterborough is a generous and warm place, and our city and public services have been made richer because of the people who have come

18:10

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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because of the people who have come and made their home in communities alongside myself and others. But for too many people, too many working- class families, they often feel the system is rigged against them when it comes to skills and wages. So can it comes to skills and wages. So can I ask my honourable friend to tell us a bit more about the work that the White Paper will do with skills the White Paper will do with skills England to ensure we boost apprenticeships and can I ask her if she will keep eye on her mind and she will keep eye on her mind and reiterated this house the desire to tackle illegal immigration as well to ensure that hotels at the to ensure that hotels at the dragonfly are stood down as soon as possible?

18:10

Nick Timothy MP (West Suffolk, Conservative)

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We need to increase apprenticeships and training. That is why we are supporting 60,000 more construction workers to be able to go through training to be able to support our economy alongside plans to make sure that we can end asylum hotels.

18:11

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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In answer to the honourable member for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, the Home Secretary refused to say whether her proposals to perform as a tough new crackdown will apply to immigrants who are already here. If it doesn't apply to people already here, it makes a mockery of the idea of reform, so will she answer very clearly if the new rules apply to existing immigrants or just those coming in future?

18:11

Jon Pearce MP (High Peak, Labour)

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We want the settlement rules to be amended as swiftly as possible but we will consult on the detail, and it is right that we do so. I would also say to him that this is one of just many things that we are needing to do to clear up the chaos that his party left. that his party left.

18:12

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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After 14 years of broken promises, I warmly welcome the Home Secretary statement to bring down net migration. With one in eight young people not in education, employment or training, will the Secretary of State set out to the families and young people in my constituency what this White Paper will do for them?

18:12

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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One of the most important aspects of the White Paper will be the increase in immigration skills charge which will mean that where employers are recruiting from abroad, where there are shorted applications, they are contributing more that can help support skills and training here in the UK, and that includes supporting our young that includes supporting our young people to be able to get the append ships and jobs they need.

18:12

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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The announcements today will deepen social care work shortages and risk harm to those who receive care. Has the government considered the impacts upon the sick, the frail, the elderly who rely upon care workers to provide vital support, and will the government publish and impact assessment setting out the effect of the reforms and what it will do for the quality and availability of care and on the work of the commission?

18:13

Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West, Labour)

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As I pointed out in my statement, the number of care workers recruited from abroad has fallen since the initial big increase. The important thing is to prevent that increase taking place again. As a result of introducing the higher standards, 39,000 care workers were displaced. They came here to do jobs that either didn't exist or didn't make the right standards he would urge care providers to recruit from a

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pool of people who are already here. I thank the Home Secretary for her statement and the steps she is

18:13

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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her statement and the steps she is taking to bring order to the chaotic immigration system we inherited. I want to ask a question within the context of a register of interest. Universities in Edinburgh are wrong there needs to change is the Tory government made to immigration and because of SNP cuts to the sector. Staff are keen to contribute to the economic growth in the UK but the economic growth in the UK but the concern will make that harder, so Shane can she commit to ensuring universities come out stronger so they can contribute to economic growth?

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The increase in student visas, the biggest increases in student

18:14

Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North, Independent)

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the biggest increases in student visas were often on the universities that were lower ranking in the league tables, and where we have also had people not doing graduate jobs. So we hugely support international students. He is right to refer to Edinburgh University and other universities across the country and we want to work with universities to ensure the high standards of compliance are being met and that where international students stay in the UK, they are

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also doing graduate jobs as well. Could the Home Secretary explain why, in the introduction of this White Paper, the language of Enoch Powell was used by the PM? There has been no speaking up about the enormous value of migration that has kept our NHS running, our education

18:15

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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kept our NHS running, our education service running, and so much more, and that there are 130,000 vacancies in the care sector. Does anything in her White Paper do anything to improve communications or deal with the now labour shortage within the NHS care service always at all about trying to please these people

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At the very beginning of my statement to this House I talked statement to this House I talked about the importance of those who about the importance of those who come to work in our NHS, those who come to serve in our Armed Forces, those who come to work in those who come to work in constituencies like mine in coal mining jobs, those who come sometimes to doom some of the most

18:16

Rachel Taylor MP (North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Labour)

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sometimes to doom some of the most difficult jobs of all, it's because migration is important that it needs to be controlled and managed. We need to tackle the underlying problems in the labour market so for net migration to quadruple in the space of four years at the same time as domestic training is being cut, at the same time as we haven't had the support for the skills and training in the UK think it shows

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the system that just is not working, we have to tackle those training and skills shortages alongside bringing that migration down. My constituents are sick and

18:16

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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My constituents are sick and tired of broken promises on immigration, five Conservative Prime Minister's promise to cut rivals Minister's promise to cut rivals without deliver -- Walti liberty letting numbers reach record highs letting numbers reach record highs can the Secretary of State state confirm the people of my constituency that the broken promises are over and when this government says we will cut immigration levels and invest in skills and training and good jobs for my constituents, that is exactly what we will do.

She makes a really important

18:17

Greg Smith MP (Mid Buckinghamshire, Conservative)

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She makes a really important On skilled working Visa, On skilled working Visa, practical plans on construction training jobs, practical plans on the immigration skills charge in order to be able to invest in that training, it's through those practical common sense plans step-by-step that we will have plans step-by-step that we will have an impact on restoring order to the immigration system and also bringing net migration down.

18:17

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)

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The white paper talks in vague terms about potential changes that terms about potential changes that terms about potential changes that The program can she be really clear with that house where she sees those changes going and more importantly what safeguards she will put in place to ensure that any such

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changes don't act as some sort of massive magnets for those who wish to illegally enter our country. I think actually the opposite is true from what he said, we talked true from what he said, we talked about having limited schemes and also ensuring that at the moment also ensuring that at the moment it's possible for people other parts it's possible for people other parts of the world to be able to apply for a skilled worker Visa if they have the talent, for example if they are an engineer, scientist, but often refugees recognised refugees are not

18:18

Points of Order Dawn Butler MP (Brent East, Labour)

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refugees recognised refugees are not able to apply for skilled worker visas as scientists or doctors or so on even though they have the skills and talent to be able to do so. That's why we should just ensure that we can do our bit to help refugees who also should be able to

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come to be part of the skilled worker Visa when they have the skills to do so. That concludes the statement.

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That concludes the statement.

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Point of order Dawn Butler. I wonder if I can seek some

18:19

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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I wonder if I can seek some advice on how I can withdraw my Ten Minute Rule bills which is due for its second reading on protecting the its second reading on protecting the title of nurse, because today the government has made an announcement that it will be adopting my bill and indeed protecting the title of nurse on international nurses day which has made me extremely happy. I would like, because I won't have the opportunity to thank some people like Francis banana, Alison Leary from the hashtag protect nurses campaign, Porter Iraq, former visitor, Anna Lynch, the RCN the union, I wonder if I could seek your advice on how I can withdraw my bill, thank you.

18:20

Points of Order Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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I'm grateful to the honourable member for giving notice of her point of order, the Public Bill Office will it be able to advise on how to withdraw her bill. Otherwise it is not a matter for the chair but she has put her reason for withdrawing the bill on the record. Point of order.

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On 10 February, 2025 the Minister

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On 10 February, 2025 the Minister for border security inadvertently misled the House. She stated that the latest figures showed that

18:20

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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the latest figures showed that Be be have been deported since we came into government was the Home Office defines deportations as a specific subset of returns which are enforced either following a coronal conviction or when it is judged that a person's removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. Latest figures available state that in the year ending 2024 there were just 4428 enforced returns as Labour came to government, the vast -- rest were voluntary returns most of which were classified as other verified returns in which the gunmen played no role.

Could the Minister please ask the Minister to break the record in Minister to break the record in accordance with the Ministerial Code during her next appearance at the during her next appearance at the Dispatch Boxes option four I thank him for notice of that point of him for notice of that point of order it is not a matter for the chair but the government frontbench will have heard his point. Point of order John McDonnell. order John McDonnell.

18:21

Points of Order Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington, Independent)

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It would be useful to know for the Member for Brent how she pulled that one off. Last week a number of honourable members wrote to the Foreign Secretary on the basis of research that was published which demonstrated despite the government's assurances that arms sales to Israel had ended the had been large-scale export of arms to been large-scale export of arms to Israel since those assurances were Israel since those assurances were given. We ask the Foreign Secretary to come to the stout make a statement, statement has not been made and I don't believe in indication has been given to the Speaker that it will be made and we haven't even received a response to haven't even received a response to the letter.

I wonder if we could impress upon the government that a response is required and that would be best done by a statement to the House.

18:22

Points of Order Jen Craft MP (Thurrock, Labour)

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I'm grateful to the honourable member for giving notice of his point of order, I have had no indication that minister intends to come to the House to make a statement on this matter but I know the Foreign Secretary will be announced tomorrow because it is FCDO questions so honourable members will have a chance to raise the issue than. Point of order Jen

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Craft. In last Wednesdays Adjournment Debate on ethics devolution the

18:22

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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Debate on ethics devolution the South Basildon said it was his understanding that there have been conversations between local councils of Thurrock joining London. I believe years aware that Thurrock Council have made it clear in response to a Freedom of Information Act last no such discussions have taken place will stop these rumours have caused considerable concern locally and as a lifelong Thurrock resident who agrees that our borrower is Essex through and through I would be grateful for your advice on how the Member for South Basildon and East Thurrock can correct the record.

18:23

Points of Order James McMurdock MP (South Basildon and East Thurrock, Reform UK)

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I'm grateful for her giving notice of her point of order. As she notified the honourable member for South Basildon and East Thurrock that she intended to raise the matter in house? The chair is not responsible for the substance of honourable members speeches she has honourable members speeches she has put her point on the record. Ways and Means motion, minister to

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move. Point of order James McMurdock. I will correct the record briefly

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I will correct the record briefly now. As the honourable member for Thurrock is aware I had received Thurrock is aware I had received multiple verbal notices that discussions were being had between Thurrock and other councils in the area so I put in a Freedom of

18:24

Judith Cummins MP (Bradford South, Labour)

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area so I put in a Freedom of Information Act request which they came back and concluded that had been discussions. It only turned out it was due to an Ines -- administrative error that they said there had not been so I received there had not been so I received verbal information in written confirmation that there had been which is why gave the speech I had. I would point out that the speech I gave I even made reference to the gave I even made reference to the fact that the conversations had been denied which again, I've also explained to the honourable member for Thurrock so I believe I've done all I can there, given the amount of all I can there, given the amount of strained relationships in this place I certainly hope this doesn't strain hours and we continue to work constructively together.

I thank the honourable member for his point of order can I remind members that point of order should be brief however I thank him for that point of order and he has put his point of the record. Ways and Means motion, minister to move. The question is as on the Order Paper. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye", and of the contrary, say, "Aye", and of the contrary, "No". The "Ayes" have it. The clerk will now proceed to read the orders

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of the day. Border Security, Asylum and

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Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill as amended in Public Bill Committee to be

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considered. We will begin with government new

18:25

Legislation: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Remaining stages

clause 5 with which it will be convenient to consider the other selected new clauses and amendments as listed on the Selection paper, I called the Minister to move government new clause 5.

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I beg to move that the clause be read a second time. Before I set out the key government amendments tabled for report I would like to recall why the government has brought

18:25

Dame Angela Eagle MP, The Minister of State, Home Department (Wallasey, Labour)

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