UK Nationals returning from Syria Debate

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Department: Home Office

UK Nationals returning from Syria

Carol Monaghan Excerpts
Monday 18th February 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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What my hon. Friend highlights is that this is not a new problem. We understand why it is so prominent right now in the press, but people have been going to join terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq for a number of years. He is right to point out that with the weakness of Daesh at the moment it is possible that more will seek to return. He asks me how many. We only have estimates. There is no accurate information, but as I mentioned earlier we think approximately 40% of the 900 who we estimate left the UK to join those groups have returned. In every case, we seek to manage that. He also asked me how many are under certain measures, such as TPIMs. That is not something that would be appropriate to discuss.

Carol Monaghan Portrait Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West) (SNP)
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The case of Shamima Begum is of course highly emotive and any of us who have read the interview will find it difficult to be sympathetic. However, I have grave concerns that vulnerable young children or vulnerable young people who have been groomed by extremists could be left stateless. Can the Home Secretary assure us that that will not happen? Will he also detail to the House the steps his Department is taking to tackle online grooming by extremists?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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I can assure the hon. Lady that we would not knowingly make anyone stateless.