Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 19 June (HL8185), whether there is any way in which boats “disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors” could be reused by people smugglers.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided to Question HL7826 on 23 May.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they have taken (1) to identify the source of boats used for people smuggling to the UK, and (2) to stop the supply of boats used for such smuggling from being obtained by the smugglers.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office works closely with international partners and with manufacturers to tackle the supply of the small boats used in these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings.
However, it would not be in the interests of operational security to detail the specific activities being undertaken.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 30 May (HL7826), whether there is any way in which boats "disposed of by Border Force's approved contractors" could be reused by people smugglers.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
All vessels that have been subject to seizure are held by Border Force until completion of any criminal investigation activities.
The majority of boats are not fit for re-sale and unseaworthy, as they arrive in very poor condition and may be damaged during the recovery process.
The boats are disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors and, where appropriate, any suitable materials are recycled. There are no plans to revisit these arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to dispose of boats used to bring illegal migrants across the English Channel; and whether they plan to revisit these arrangements.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
All vessels that have been subject to seizure are held by Border Force until completion of any criminal investigation activities. The majority of boats are not fit for re-sale or to ever go to sea again, as they arrive in very poor condition and may be damaged during the recovery process. The boats are disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors and, where appropriate, any suitable materials are recycled. There are no plans to revisit these arrangements.