Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Tapp Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd October 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Member for her very important question. I am sorry to hear about what Charlie and many other children with special educational needs have gone through. We inherited a really dire situation and many Members across the House have raised this issue. I am sure the Chancellor has heard what she has said about the upcoming Budget.

[Mike Tapp (Dover and Deal) (Lab)]

Q12. This morning we woke to more tragic news of deaths in the channel, something we are hearing far too often. Just last month, we saw the death of a pregnant woman and children—children, Mr Speaker. What are the Government doing to take on the evil smuggling gangs who are trading in human misery?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend and welcome him, and his expertise in the National Crime Agency, to this place. He knows that we inherited an asylum system in chaos. As he rightly says, these are people—women and children. We are putting in place a credible plan to protect our borders and remove those with no right to be here by setting up our border security command, backed by £75 million of investment. We are working with our international partners to target and disrupt the criminal smuggling gangs.