Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contributions the Government made to the Mare Nostrum rescue program before the decision to no longer support it.

Mare Nostrum is an Italian search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean. The UK has had no involvement in, and made no contributions to, the operation.

We continue to work with Italy and other EU Member States to address migratory pressures in the Mediterranean, for the sake of law abiding citizens and in the best interests of those tempted to make this dangerous journey. This includes providing support to Frontex, the EU external borders agency, and finding ways to address the causes of illegal migration and organised crime in countries of origin and transit.