Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Jack Brereton Excerpts
Monday 15th January 2024

(3 months, 2 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Heather Wheeler Portrait Mrs Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con)
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20. What recent progress he has made on ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.

Jack Brereton Portrait Jack Brereton (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Con)
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22. What recent progress he has made on ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.

Alexander Stafford Portrait Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)
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25. What recent progress he has made on ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.

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Tom Pursglove Portrait Tom Pursglove
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the representations she made on this issue. The situation in her constituency demonstrates that the Government’s plan is working and we are seeing hotel exits happen. That is a direct consequence of getting on and making decisions, bringing forward alternative accommodation and also, crucially, reducing in-flow into the system in the first place.

Jack Brereton Portrait Jack Brereton
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I welcome the progress that has been made on tackling illegal small boat crossings, which has meant it has been possible to end the use of the North Stafford hotel in Stoke-on-Trent. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is only through the most unequivocable legislation on Rwanda that we can deliver proper deterrence that will mean that numbers will come down further?

Tom Pursglove Portrait Tom Pursglove
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The point that my hon. Friend makes gets to the nub of the issue. One of the most important factors in sustaining the progress we have made is reducing the number of in-flows into the UK, particularly via small boat crossings of the channel. That is why my message to the House is clear: if Members want to see hotels close and the progress sustained, they need to be in the Lobby to support the Bill this week.