Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to paragraph 53 of the UK–EU Summit – Common Understanding, published on 19 May, what discussions they have had with the European Union about improving the reciprocal exchange of biometric and criminal records data, including fingerprints, DNA and vehicle registration data.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is continuing to work at pace alongside our European counterparts to implement the agreement reached at the UK-EU Summit, including enhancing data exchange with the EU to respond to shared threats and support police investigations.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken under part 6 of the UK–EU Summit – Common Understanding to strengthen cooperation with European partners in addressing irregular migration.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Common Understanding signed on 19 May was a significant further step in our efforts to increase international cooperation to tackle the global challenge of organised immigration crime; a comprehensive partnership that will address all elements of the global challenge of irregular migration.
The first meeting with the Commission on Irregular Migration took place on 16 July. We discussed delivery options for each commitment and officials will use this information to work up delivery plans over the summer, anticipating further work with the EU from the Autumn.
We now have a formal structure in place to work jointly on this with the EU; to realise our ambition to coordinate actions in source countries, enhance cooperation with EU agencies, support information sharing and returns, and develop innovative approaches to stop small boat crossings and other forms of people trafficking across Europe.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a UK–EU agreement on the return of asylum seekers, and whether they have had discussions with the EU on that topic in the light of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As set out in the Common Understanding from 19 May, our priority is to work with the EU to strengthen our cooperation to tackle people smuggling gangs, coordinate in our approach to upstream migration, explore innovative solutions, and enhance information sharing between our respective border agencies.
This Government is already getting on with the work of returning people who have no legal right to be here. Nearly 30,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and other immigration offenders were returned from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 18 May 2025. Of these total returns, 7,893 were enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. This compares with 6,414 enforced returns over the same period 12 months prior, an increase of 23%.
A key part of reducing irregular arrivals is deterring those from making dangerous journeys in the first place.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made regarding the United Kingdom's access to the European Asylum Dactyloscopy Database; and how that access will enhance the United Kingdom's ability to manage immigration and asylum processes.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European partners, including the EU, which will support us in tackling organised immigration crime and small boat crossings.
We have already enhanced our work with EU agencies, having delivered an immediate 50% uplift in NCA officers to be based in Europol. Wherever the UK and European partners can better jointly tackle shared challenges, including through enhanced information sharing, the Government will consider options to facilitate that cooperation further.
Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to seek a returns agreement with the European Union to tackle small boat crossings.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European partners, including the EU, which will support us in tackling organised immigration crime and small boat crossings.
We have already enhanced our work with EU agencies, having delivered an immediate 50% uplift in NCA officers to be based in Europol. Wherever the UK and European partners can better jointly tackle shared challenges, including through enhanced information sharing, the Government will consider options to facilitate that cooperation further.