Illegal Immigration Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Illegal Immigration

Chris Grayling Excerpts
Tuesday 13th December 2022

(1 year, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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Our legislation will ensure that if someone comes to this country illegally, they will not have the right to stay here. It is a simple proposition; it is a fair proposition; and it is one that is supported by the vast majority of people across our country.

Chris Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling (Epsom and Ewell) (Con)
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I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. This is a huge step in the right direction. I am particularly encouraged by what he says about Albania and tighter guidance for those processing decisions. Will he extend that process of tightening guidance to other countries from which people arrive and too often simply get through the system? I am thinking particularly of countries such as Vietnam, which is a fast-growing, prosperous country, making the case for claiming asylum considerably weaker than in the past. Will he also strengthen guidance for such countries?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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Yes is the simple answer. Section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 already gives the Home Secretary the ability to designate safe countries. Many are already there, and we will continue to add to them as appropriate.