Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Rachel Maclean Excerpts
Monday 19th December 2022

(1 year, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Suella Braverman Portrait Suella Braverman
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I welcome the High Court judgment, which states that the overall policy relating to Rwanda is lawful. It is in line with our international law agreements, and it is a rational policy choice that the UK Government have taken. We look forward to working more closely with Rwanda to deliver it.

Rachel Maclean Portrait Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)
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I warmly welcome the legal ruling on the Rwanda plan, and also the reforms to the modern slavery system as part of the overall work to deter those involved in small boat crossings. Does the Home Secretary agree that another way of tackling the backlog would be to speed up the local authority pilot programme for processing claims relating to child victims of modern slavery, many of them vulnerable county lines drug gangs children? Would that not improve support for those children as well as helping to clear the backlog?

Robert Jenrick Portrait Robert Jenrick
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My hon. Friend has been an eloquent and knowledgeable campaigner on this issue. She has spoken to me about how we can better ensure that young people who are exploited by criminal gangs are looked after properly. We will take forward more pilots with local authorities next year. I will take her advice under consideration as we design them.