Covid-19: Support and Accommodation for Asylum Seekers Debate

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Department: Home Office

Covid-19: Support and Accommodation for Asylum Seekers

James Sunderland Excerpts
Monday 29th June 2020

(3 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Philp Portrait Chris Philp
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I look forward to meeting Glasgow MPs next week and the leader of Glasgow City Council shortly.

James Sunderland Portrait James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
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I am generally reassured that asylum seekers receive the necessary support, but it is clear that the process of coming illegally to the UK is fraught with danger. Are we doing enough to disincentivise migrants from making the perilous journey and to bring people traffickers to justice?

Chris Philp Portrait Chris Philp
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My hon. Friend is right. As I said a few moments ago, people should claim asylum in the first safe country that they reach, which very often is not the United Kingdom. Many of the arrivals here have travelled through Italy, Germany, France or many other manifestly safe European countries. They should claim asylum in one of those countries first. They should claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in. Many of the people who cross the channel on small boats, for example, are facilitated by ruthless and dangerous criminals. We are cracking down on those, prosecuting them and arresting them. We are determined to stop dangerous illegal entry to the country.