Small Boat Crossings Debate

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Department: Home Office

Small Boat Crossings

Karen Bradley Excerpts
Wednesday 6th November 2024

(3 weeks, 6 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Karen Bradley Portrait Dame Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con)
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Everybody in this House wants an end to small boat crossings and the risks that people take to cross the channel. The Minister has announced a number of measures this week. When does she expect those measures to start producing a reduction in crossings? Will she commit to keeping the Select Committee informed on progress?

Angela Eagle Portrait Dame Angela Eagle
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It is my first chance to congratulate the right hon. Lady on her election as Chair of the Select Committee. I look forward to coming before her Committee whenever she wishes to talk to me. The Department certainly wishes to keep her informed about what is going on.

There has been a significant shift in international co-operation, what with the G7 collaboration on smuggling and the dialogues of the European Political Community, of which there is a meeting tomorrow, at which we hope there will be some announcements. The Government have also been working on bilateral memorandums of understanding and action plans across Europe to achieve a step change in cross-border co-operation, which is the key to beginning to tackle the awful criminal smuggling activity.