Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to include protections within the Illegal Migration Bill for those claiming asylum from a country where they are at risk of persecution on the basis of their sexual orientation.

The Illegal Migration Bill provides the Home Secretary with a legal duty to remove people who have entered or arrive in the UK illegally, having travelled via a safe country. In these circumstances, they will be detained and removed back to their home country or a safe third country such as Rwanda. This will send a clear message that people should not make dangerous, unnecessary and illegal small boat crossings to the UK.

Everyone considered for relocation to a safe third country will be screened and have access to legal advice. We would not relocate someone where it would be unsafe to do so.

Our Migration Partnership with Rwanda will provide protection to those who need it and will provide individuals relocated with support to build new lives there. Rwanda is a fundamentally safe and secure country with a track record of supporting asylum seekers, including working with the UN Refugee Agency which said the country has a safe and protective environment for refugees.