Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral contribution of 19 April 2022, Official Report, column 41, what the evidential basis is for the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 putting safe and legal routes into statute; and to which clauses of that Bill she was referring.

The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 is part of our New Plan for Immigration, delivering the most comprehensive reform of the asylum system in decades. This Act strengthens the Government-backed routes available to those in need, so they do not have to put their lives in the hands of people smugglers.

As part of the New Plan for Immigration, we are continuing to provide safe and legal routes through the UK Resettlement Scheme, the Community Sponsorship Scheme, the Mandate Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and an Immigration Route for British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong.

This Government is committed to continue welcoming refugees and others in need of protection from around the globe through resettlement as capacity allows in the years to come.

It is through the New Plan for Immigration we have been able to support the brave people of Ukraine, with over 100,000 visas being issued allowing them to come to the UK.