Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership was designed to operate through a Memorandum of Understanding rather than an agreement that is binding in international law.

The UK has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rwanda for the provision of an asylum partnership arrangement and to address the shared challenge of illegal migration. An MoU is a common mechanism for establishing an arrangement or partnership between countries.

The MoU was negotiated with close care and attention to ensure that assurances were in place to ensure the partnership operated appropriately, with a strong regard to the welfare of those it concerns, and in line with both parties’ international obligations. While not legally binding in international law, the terms of the MoU – including the monitoring arrangements – give the assurances we need that the arrangement will be operated in line with our international obligations and in a manner which ensures the safety of those relocated.