Illegal Migration Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Home Office

Illegal Migration

Greg Smith Excerpts
Tuesday 24th October 2023

(1 year, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Robert Jenrick Portrait Robert Jenrick
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I wish to put on record the Government’s thanks to the French authorities for the work they have done over the course of this year. Of course, there is more to be done. We are always encouraging our French friends to go further, but they have put in place a number of significant steps, including the infrastructure that my hon. Friend describes, which is making it hard for so-called taxi boats to go through the canals and estuaries and out into the English channel. We are also working with Belgium, which is another important partner through which a number of migrants, engines and boats pass. The Prime Minister announced recently in Granada a new partnership with the Government of Belgium to deepen our ties in that regard.

Greg Smith Portrait Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

I very much welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement, particularly the news that, although there is a long way to go to completely stop the boats, there has been a significant reduction. Likewise, I welcome the news on the first 50 hotels and was grateful to receive confirmation from his officials this morning that the Best Western in Buckingham would close on 23 November. However, given that I had previously been told that it would close on 9 September, may I ask him to confirm that these new dates are final and cannot be delayed, postponed or changed, and that the hotel will absolutely close on 23 November?

Robert Jenrick Portrait Robert Jenrick
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

Absolutely. I hope the letter he has received is written in blood. That hotel will close on the date in the letter.