Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to realise the Prime Minister's aim stated on 3 June, that "we need to break the link between getting on a boat and achieving residence in Europe" (HC Deb, col 583).

The perceived likelihood of illegal immigrants being able to remain in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean plays into the hands of the criminal gangs who are exploiting them. While the Government remains committed to saving lives at sea, it is clear that this link needs to be broken if the EU is to tackle the current situation successfully. That can be achieved only through concerted EU and international action, ensuring that Member States’ asylum systems are not exploited by people smugglers and traffickers or by economic migrants, and that those found not to be in need of protection are swiftly removed.

Ministers and officials are working closely with our counterparts in other European States and EU institutions to try to break this link, focusing on four key areas: conditions in migrants’ country of origin; availability of protection and economic opportunities in the region; tackling the criminal gangs; and ensuring the return of those who do not need to remain in the EU.

The UK is playing a leading role in practical EU efforts, including the development of joint work in transit and origin countries to combat people smugglers and traffickers and to enhance protection for those who genuinely require it.