Asylum Seekers: Hotel Accommodation

Julian Lewis Excerpts

Wednesday 20th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Dame Angela Eagle]

My hon. Friend will be comforted to know that I am thinking of precisely those things.

[Sir Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)]

I do not envy the hon. Lady in her job. Does she agree that no amount of hotel accommodation will ever suffice as long as there is no effective way of preventing large numbers of people from coming into this country without permission? As a form of interception near the French coast will probably be the only deterrent, will she at least keep open the possibility of negotiations with France as to how we could work together to do that?

[Dame Angela Eagle]

We have a relatively new Government in France just bedding in. I reassure the right hon. Gentleman that we are working closely with them to see how we can strengthen and deepen our co-operation and partnership.