Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the likely effects of construction of a fence by the government of Hungary along their border with Serbia on attempts at illegal immigration into the United Kingdom.

We continue to monitor the migration situation from the Western Balkans closely, including the Hungarian Government’s plans to respond to increased migrant flows by building a fence along its border with Serbia.

It is vital that all EU Member States ensure the full functioning of the external EU border. That is primarily the responsibility of the Member State concerned, although it is right that the EU and other Member States support those whose borders are under particular pressure. Member States also need to work jointly to address secondary movements of illegal migrants within the EU.

While it may help address the immediate situation, strengthening EU borders will not be sufficient to address current pressures. Instead, the EU must enhance joint efforts with third country partners, including the countries of the Western Balkans, to combat organised immigration crime, deter abuse of Member States’ asylum systems, and address the root causes of illegal migration. That is what Her Majesty's Government is pressing all Member States to do.