Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government is in negotiations with (a) France and (b) other European countries on a bilateral readmission agreement for the return of failed asylum seekers.

The Joint Political Declaration on Asylum and Returns between the UK and the EU agreed on 24 December 2020 noted the UK’s intention to engage in bilateral discussions with the most concerned Member States to discuss suitable practical arrangements on asylum and illegal migration, in accordance with the UK’s and EU’s respective laws and regulations.

The Government has not yet concluded any new bilateral agreements to facilitate the return of asylum-seekers from the UK to third countries. We are currently in discussions with several Member States but we will not provide a running commentary on the progress of specific negotiations.