Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the transfer of asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda could undermine efforts to establish bilateral return and readmission agreements with Council of Europe member states.

We remain fully committed to the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda. Any person who has arrived in the UK illegally, or by dangerous or unnecessary methods from safe countries since 1 January 2022, will be considered for relocation to Rwanda.

The Joint Political Declaration between the EU and UK agreed in December 2020 noted the UK’s intention to engage in bilateral discussions with the most concerned Member States to discuss suitable practical arrangements, including on asylum and illegal migration. These discussions are continuing and the partnership with Rwanda does not change this.

We are determined to send a clear signal that it is unacceptable for individuals to travel through multiple safe countries to claim asylum in the UK. Those who fear persecution should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – this is the fastest route to safety.