Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Safe Routes Debate
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Lord Singh of Wimbledon
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Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Safe Routes
Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts(1 year, 1 month ago)
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Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
I am afraid I do not have those statistics. I will write to the noble Lord.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, I have seen figures that suggest that those who come in small boats to seek asylum constitute less than 5% of net annual immigration. Can the Minister explain why the Government are obsessed with trying to exclude those fleeing persecution and seeking refugee status in this country, while ignoring the Christian teaching of welcoming refugees?
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
The answer is twofold. First, we have welcomed over half a million people, so that is very much a vindication of the Christian principle. Secondly, we are not obsessed with the asylum seekers themselves; we are obsessed with putting criminal gangs out of business, and I make no apology at all for that.