Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposals by the French Government to allow the interception of small boats up to 300 metres from shore on the number of small boats crossing the Channel.

The Government acknowledges France’s commitment to review its maritime strategy and it will continue to engage with French counterparts to support any changes arising from that review with the intention of reducing the number of dangerous small boat crossings.