Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take following the correspondence on the use of non-compliant equipment during Channel crossings sent to the Home Office by Charles Sharrod.

The Home Office previously engaged with the French on this issue of the applicability of French maritime regulation to migrant vessels and will continue to do so. However, any decision on when, where and how to apply French law in this area must be a matter for the French, in their jurisdiction.

Our New Plan for Immigration and the legislation to implement it will bring root and branch reform to the asylum system. We will take tougher action against anyone who facilitates illegal entry, such as by piloting a small boat. We plan to increase the maximum sentence for people smuggling to life imprisonment.

Border Force will be granted additional powers to stop illegal migration, including the ability to stop and redirect vessels at sea. These reforms will break the business model of criminal trafficking networks. They will deter illegal entry into this country and make it unviable.