Migrant Crossings: Role of the Military

Bob Stewart Excerpts

Tuesday 18th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[James Heappey]

In answer to the right hon. Gentleman’s suggestion that there may be some disagreement between Departments, I can only reflect that my great friends the Under-Secretaries of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friends the Members for Corby (Tom Pursglove) and for Torbay (Kevin Foster), work with me all the time, not just on this matter but on Op Pitting and all sorts of other issues where Home Office and MOD interests align. The right hon. Gentleman is right to note that I was clear that Border Force is developing a tactic. It may well be that the commander is comfortable with that tactic being employed, and there is a difference between the reason why the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines will not deploy that tactic and the reason why Border Force may. Border Force has the appropriate vessels, potentially, to do so safely; the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines do not.

[Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con)]

Does the Minister consider that use of the Royal Navy will reduce the number of migrants who land in the United Kingdom?

[James Heappey]

I believe that it could, as part of a wider system that is under development.