Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that (a) women and (b) people who are assessed to be vulnerable will not be offshored under the Government's plans to offshore refugees to Rwanda.

With the exception of unaccompanied children, any individual who has arrived in the UK since 1 January 2022 by unnecessary and dangerous means from safe countries – including those arriving by small boats, hidden in the back of lorries - may be considered for relocation to Rwanda

An individualised assessment of each suitable person’s circumstances will be undertaken prior to any decision to relocate them to Rwanda. Any vulnerabilities will be taken into consideration and every individual who is suitable for relocation under this policy will be able to make representations where they are concerned the country in question would not be safe for them. We would not relocate someone where it would be unsafe or inappropriate to do so. More details are set out in our inadmissibility policy guidance on GOV.UK.

Our assessment is that Rwanda is a safe and secure country with respect for the rule of law.  Our Country Policy Information Note, published on 9 May on GOV.UK, provides further information on the basis by which we have determined that Rwanda is a safe place for refugees.

In a case where someone is claiming to be under 18 years old, they would not be relocated until the appropriate age assessment process has been completed. Where an individual has no credible evidence of their age and where there continues to be doubt, a thorough age assessment process will be followed. They will be treated as though they are a child until a decision on their age has been made.