Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Suella Braverman and Paulette Hamilton

Monday 3rd July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Suella Braverman]

My hon. Friend raises a really important point about illegal encampments and Travellers who blight communities by causing a nuisance and who, in some cases, threaten communities—it is unacceptable behaviour. That is why we legislated in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to toughen up the powers and measures available to the police, so that they can take more robust steps in relation to this issue, but I am very happy to speak to my hon. Friend about what more can be done locally.

[Mrs Paulette Hamilton (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab)]

10. What recent progress her Department has made on reducing the use of hotels as contingency asylum accommodation.

Illegal Migration Bill

Debate between Suella Braverman and Paulette Hamilton

Tuesday 7th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Suella Braverman]

We are introducing the Bill today and we hope that the parliamentary authorities will allow us to move swiftly on its progress. We want to start scrutinising and voting on the measures put forward as quickly as possible, because we want to get them on the statute book and operationalised as soon as possible. It is an urgent challenge and we need to move quickly.

[Mrs Paulette Hamilton (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab)]

I am the daughter of immigrants. My parents’ generation faced injustice through the mistakes made by the Windrush scheme, which are taking years to unravel. Last year set a record high for small boat crossings, with 46,000 arrivals. Why on earth should our constituents trust the Conservative Government, when under them, small boat crossings are going up rather than coming down?

[Suella Braverman]

I am glad that the hon. Lady mentioned Windrush, because I am proud of our achievements to date to right the wrongs that were committed. More than £60 million has been offered or paid out to the claimants and we are resolving many of the outstanding cases. I have engaged closely with members of the steering group and with Bishop Webley, and I am encouraged by the progress that we are making to resolve the issue.