Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports Group Ltd on proposals to house asylum seekers in the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
In order to address the significant pressure on the asylum accommodation system, Home Office officials have had discussions with organisations across the UK to identify suitable locations for accommodation.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to engage with (a) local authorities and (b) other relevant stakeholders on locations which are being considered for vessels to house asylum seekers to be berthed.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We engage with relevant local authorities and other key local stakeholders before making a decision whether to proceed.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues on local (a) consent and (b) support as factors that may be considered when making decisions about where vessels for housing asylum seekers should be berthed.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We engage with local authorities and other key local stakeholders before making a decision whether to stand up asylum accommodation.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with Wirral Council on the potential use of a vessel at the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey to house asylum seekers.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Extensive engagement has been undertaken with senior Home Office Officials. A multi-agency forum is being established.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports on the potential housing of asylum seekers on a boat at its Wirral Waters development.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We do not routinely comment on individual sites or proposals that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to house asylum seekers on a boat in the River Mersey at Wirral Waters.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We do not routinely comment on individual sites or proposals that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the projected cost of plans to house asylum seekers on a boat on the River Mersey at Wirral Waters.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation and other support whilst their claim for asylum is being considered.
Ongoing work across government is being undertaken to identify and secure more appropriate, cost-effective accommodation options. In exploring potential alternative large sites, we continue to consider all available options to source appropriate and cost-effective temporary accommodation, including the option of the usage of vessels. Considerations regarding design, usage and cost are ongoing.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 4 to 4.5 per cent real terms cut to the National Crime Agency’s budget on its ability to tackle fraud.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government is increasing law enforcement investigative capacity to tackle fraud. Last year we invested £63 million, and over the next three years the Spending Review has allocated a further £400 million, in tackling economic crime including fraud. This includes establishing a new fraud investigative function in the NCA, meeting a manifesto commitment to create a new national cyber crime force focused on fraud.
In addition, we are creating new fraud investigation teams in Regional Organised Crime Units. These new capabilities, driven by a new tasking and coordination process run by the National Economic Crime Centre, will target the most serious and harmful frauds.
Later this year, we will publish a new approach to address the threat of fraud. This will further set out how we will work with law enforcement to tackle fraud and bring offenders to justice.