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Written Question
Undocumented Migrants: English Channel
Thursday 23rd September 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost of each illegal migrant that is picked up by Border Force having crossed the English Channel by boat.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

Data on the costs of migrants from this specific group is not collected. The cost of the asylum system to the taxpayer was published in the New Plan for Immigration policy statement.

New Plan for Immigration policy statement

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/972517/CCS207_CCS0820091708-001_Sovereign_Borders_Web_Accessible.pdf

Immigration and Protection data

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q1-2021


Written Question
Undocumented Migrants: Deportation
Thursday 23rd September 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been deported from the UK in each of the last 12 months.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in each quarter in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly release’. The latest data on enforced returns (of which ‘deportations’ is a subset) go to the end of March 2021 and are published in Ret_D01 of the Returns detailed tables.

The term 'deportations' refers to a legally-defined subset of returns, which are enforced either following a criminal conviction, or when it is judged that a person’s removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily. Figures on deportations, which are a subset of enforced returns, are not separately available.

The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have any legal right to stay in the UK, which includes people who:

  • enter, or attempt to enter, the UK illegally (including people entering clandestinely and by means of deception on entry);
  • overstay their period of legal right to remain in the UK;
  • breach their conditions of leave;
  • are subject to deportation action; for example, due to a serious criminal conviction and
  • have been refused asylum.

Written Question
Undocumented Migrants: English Channel
Thursday 23rd September 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many migrants are known to have crossed the English Channel by unauthorised or irregular sea transport and landed in England in each week during 2021.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

The Home Office collates figures of channel migrant arrivals for management information purposes, and weekly arrivals data is therefore held. However, the Home Office preference for validation and assurance of data is for monthly figures as weekly data are not representative of trends and other factors that we deem important to understand small boat crossings.

The following figures for both monthly and weekly arrivals of migrants by small boat in 2021 are from a live database, and are subject to revision following those data validation and assurance processes.

Week commencing

Week ending

Total arrivals by small boat

28/12/2020

03/01/2021

58

04/01/2021

10/01/2021

161

11/01/2021

17/01/2021

36

18/01/2021

24/01/2021

0

25/01/2021

31/01/2021

17

01/02/2021

07/02/2021

62

08/02/2021

14/02/2021

0

15/02/2021

21/02/2021

23

22/02/2021

28/02/2021

223

01/03/2021

07/03/2021

150

08/03/2021

14/03/2021

115

15/03/2021

21/03/2021

10

22/03/2021

28/03/2021

327

29/03/2021

04/04/2021

259

05/04/2021

11/04/2021

49

12/04/2021

18/04/2021

82

19/04/2021

25/04/2021

272

26/04/2021

02/05/2021

594

03/05/2021

09/05/2021

130

10/05/2021

16/05/2021

592

17/05/2021

23/05/2021

29

24/05/2021

30/05/2021

528

31/05/2021

06/06/2021

732

07/06/2021

13/06/2021

508

14/06/2021

20/06/2021

352

21/06/2021

27/06/2021

400

28/06/2021

04/07/2021

933

05/07/2021

11/07/2021

642

12/07/2021

18/07/2021

504

19/07/2021

25/07/2021

1529

26/07/2021

01/08/2021

160

02/08/2021

08/08/2021

1282

09/08/2021

15/08/2021

902

16/08/2021

22/08/2021

869

23/08/2021

29/08/2021

0

30/08/2021

05/09/2021

165

06/09/2021

12/09/2021

1862

Date

Total arrivals by small boat

Jan-21

224

Feb-21

308

Mar-21

831

Apr-21

750

May-21

1627

Jun-21

2177

Jul-21

3512

Aug-21

3053

Sep-21 (to 12 Sept)

2027


Written Question
Undocumented Migrants
Tuesday 21st September 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to show by nationality the number of illegal immigrants who have been taken into custody upon arrival in the UK in the 12 months from September 2020.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

The Home Office does not have plans to show by nationality the number of illegal immigrants who have been taken into custody upon arrival in the UK in the 12 months from September 2020.


Written Question
El Sharq
Wednesday 28th April 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for national security of reports that the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated El Sharq television channel will relocate from Turkey to London.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

The Government keeps under review the activities of those associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK in accordance with the five commitments included in the former Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament. The UK Government continues to assess the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities when appropriate to ensure our position is based on the latest information available and we will consider action against the review’s commitments if and where legal thresholds are met.

Broadcasting regulation is a matter for Ofcom, the UK’s independent media regulator. Ofcom sets clear rules and conditions for broadcasters who apply for a license to broadcast in the UK. The Broadcasting Code places standards around harmful and offensive material, incitement of crime, disorder, hatred or abuse, and responsible religious programming.


Written Question
Asia Bibi
Tuesday 9th March 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why they did not offer Asia Bibi asylum in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

I am not able to provide specific information with regards to Asia Bibi’s case as it is a longstanding Government policy not to comment on individual cases. Departing from this policy may put individuals and their family members in danger.

The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge.

Whilst we sympathise with people in many difficult situations around the world, we are not bound to consider asylum claims from the very large numbers of people overseas who might like to come here. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.


Written Question
Muslim Brotherhood Review
Tuesday 9th March 2021

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish in full the internal review of the Muslim Brotherhood commissioned in April 2014; what assessment they have made of the conclusions contained in the summary report Muslim Brotherhood Review: Main Findings (HC 679), published in December 2015, that the Muslim Brotherhood represents a "revolutionary challenge towards established states" and has "been contrary to national interests and national security"; and what plans they have to undertake a further review of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

There are no plans to publish the internal review into the Muslim Brotherhood. Our assessment of the Muslim Brotherhood remains as set out in the summary report published in December 2015.

The UK Government continues to assess the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities when appropriate to ensure our position is based on the latest information available and we will consider action against the review’s commitments if and where legal thresholds are met.


Written Question
Undocumented Migrants: English Channel
Thursday 6th August 2020

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many immigrants have been brought to the UK from the sea between France and England by ships controlled or owned by (1) the Government, or (2) their agencies, in each week during 2020.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

We do not routinely publish the information you have requested.


Written Question
Undocumented Migrants: English Channel
Thursday 6th August 2020

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances migrants seeking to travel by sea from France to the UK who are picked up in distress from international waters by UK ships can be returned to France.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

The decision as to where to take a person rescued in international waters is a matter for the Coastguard who are responsible for that rescue zone and the master of the ship which has picked them up.

Usually persons will be taken to the nearest safe Port or the home Ports of the rescuing vessel (particularly if a Lifeboat) but there are many factors which could come into play such as any immediate medical or welfare issues.


Written Question
Asylum
Thursday 25th June 2020

Asked by: Lord Marlesford (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements have to be fulfilled before a person who has been granted political asylum in the UK can (1) be granted UK citizenship and (2) be issued with a British passport; and what is the shortest period in which this process can be completed.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

The requirements for naturalisation as a British citizen can be found on gov.uk at:-

https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain

Before applying for citizenship, a person granted political asylum in the UK should normally apply for permanent residence after they have lived in the UK for five years.

To become a British citizen, you normally need to have held permanent residence in the UK for 12 months, before you submit your application to naturalise, unless you are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen. The service standard for applications for citizenship to be decided is six months.

After you have become a British citizen, you can apply for British passport which can take approximately four weeks to be processed.