Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on defence and security cooperation between the UK and France of his decision to give the Navy primacy in tackling illegal Channel crossings.

The UK and France enjoy a strong defence and security relationship with many areas of shared interest, from operations in the Sahel to tackling the criminal networks behind people trafficking. The decision to give our Navy primacy over countering illegal Channel crossings will contribute to the common goals of both the UK and France to tackle this abhorrent activity.