Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emily Darlington and Angela Eagle

Monday 24th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Emily Darlington (Milton Keynes Central) (Lab)]

T2. I thank the Minister for her previous answers, and for her commitment to reducing the number of asylum claimants in the UK. As she will know, the UK is spending 27% of its official development assistance on housing asylum claimants—almost double the OECD average. Our overseas spend was cut by the previous Government. Does she agree that in order to reduce the number of claimants coming to the UK, the Government should increase the spend on building peace and security abroad?

[The Minister for Border Security and Asylum (Dame Angela Eagle)]

My hon. Friend is right to say that asylum costs make up the bulk of Home Office spend classified as ODA spending and that we are committed to reducing them, including by ending the use of hotels, which will mean that we can return that ODA resource so that it can be used upstream to prevent migratory flows from happening in the first place.