Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of cooperation with the government of Belgium in deterring the illegal crossing of the English Channel by migrants.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is working closely with European partners, sharing intelligence and disrupting organisers upstream to prevent further launches and deter illegal crossings of the Channel.
The Border Security Command has been designed to rapidly pivot to new threats and gang tactics as they emerge. The rise of small boat launches from the Belgian coast is evidence of smugglers adapting and the UK Government is determined to provide any necessary support to prevent Belgium becoming a viable launch location.
The UK works closely with Belgian authorities and on 12 December 2025, our respective Prime Minister’s signed a joint statement which committed to stepping up our joint action to prevent irregular migration through closer UK–Belgium cooperation, including on returns, information sharing, security technology and operations.
Minister Norris visited Belgium in March and held discussions with the Belgian Government and law enforcement agencies to tackle small boat launches. We continue to deepen our bilateral, regional and multilateral engagement to tackle root causes and strengthen law enforcement cooperation.
Law Enforcement teams have already been bolstered along the Belgium coast and along the French-Belgian border. Alongside this, the NCA has increased its overseas presence - including officers deployed across Europe and within Europol - ensuring faster intelligence flow and stronger joint operational effect.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the cost of the associated overheads related to the reconnaissance aircraft which are involved in monitoring and identifying small boats carrying migrants, per annum, since the contract was signed.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office contracts an aerial surveillance capability in order to detect and monitor people making dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings of the Channel in small boats, rather than paying for the individual costs for this capability. Part of this capability is for manned surveillance aircraft provided by PAL Aerospace. This service was contracted on 29 October 2024 and lasts until 30 November 2026. The total value of the contract is £54m. Since 29 October 2024 nearly 56,000 lives have been saved as a result of these Channel crossings being detected at the earliest possible opportunity.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the cost of the reconnaissance aircraft, which are involved in monitoring and identifying small boats carrying migrants, per annum, since the contract was signed.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office contracts an aerial surveillance capability in order to detect and monitor people making dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings of the Channel in small boats, rather than paying for the individual costs for this capability. Part of this capability is for manned surveillance aircraft provided by PAL Aerospace. This service was contracted on 29 October 2024 and lasts until 30 November 2026. The total value of the contract is £54m. Since 29 October 2024 nearly 56,000 lives have been saved as a result of these Channel crossings being detected at the earliest possible opportunity.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what estimate she has made of the proportional reduction in small boat crossings resulting from that agreement over each year of its duration.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Illegal small boat crossings are driven by organised criminal gangs and have cost lives. The result is a severe strain on both our asylum system and our wider social contract. Since 2021, over 400,000 people have claimed asylum in the UK. At its peak in 2023, there were 400 asylum hotels across the country, at a daily cost of £9 million, paid for by the taxpayer. This Government’s determination to crack down on small boats is clear. No one should be making dangerous journeys, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. We must restore order and control to our borders. That means bearing down on these dangerous crossings and bringing people smugglers to justice. The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the UK with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources.
The new multi-year partnership with France represents a necessary step-change. French beaches will see a surge in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down illegal migrants and stop them boarding boats in Northern France. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year.
The new agreement reflects sustained ministerial and operational engagement, including the UK-France Leaders Declaration and close working between the Border Security Command, the NCA, and French law enforcement and maritime authorities. Our close engagement with France since the general election has led to improvement of the law enforcement response in northern France, such as the introduction of specialist, dedicated police units. It has also led to an improved understanding of what delivers the most impact.
Joint action is already delivering results. Over 42,000 crossing attempts have been prevented since the election. Joint law enforcement operations have also seen 480 migrant traffickers arrested in 2025 alone. However, despite these successes, we must not be complacent. I acknowledge that there is no silver bullet in tackling this crisis. We must go further and faster to tackle this issue together with France, which is why this deal is so important.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the productivity and operational outputs of the additional personnel.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. The new funding arrangement represents an evolution from previous iterations. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3.
This new deal is underpinned by robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure every intervention is evidence-led and responsive to changing circumstances. The innovations in the flexible fund will be reviewed annually. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year. Every pound spent will target results, maximising the effectiveness of UK investment to reduce small boat crossings.
We are working with France to develop the right metrics to evaluate success – including measures like arrests and disruptions. This is a partnership – we are working together on a shared problem.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what data her Department will collect to measure the operational effectiveness of the dedicated French unit to combat illegal immigration.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. The new funding arrangement represents an evolution from previous iterations. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3.
This new deal is underpinned by robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure every intervention is evidence-led and responsive to changing circumstances. The innovations in the flexible fund will be reviewed annually. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year. Every pound spent will target results, maximising the effectiveness of UK investment to reduce small boat crossings.
We are working with France to develop the right metrics to evaluate success – including measures like arrests and disruptions. This is a partnership – we are working together on a shared problem.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, how much of the funding is contingent on performance-related outcomes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. The new funding arrangement represents an evolution from previous iterations. For the first time ever, the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing illegal migration. Of the total £662 million that compose the new funding arrangement, the UK has committed to a foundation fund of £501m over three years and a new flexible fund of £50m in year 1 and £110m in years 2 and 3.
This new deal is underpinned by robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure every intervention is evidence-led and responsive to changing circumstances. The innovations in the flexible fund will be reviewed annually. If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year. Every pound spent will target results, maximising the effectiveness of UK investment to reduce small boat crossings.
We are working with France to develop the right metrics to evaluate success – including measures like arrests and disruptions. This is a partnership – we are working together on a shared problem.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what proportion of the additional personnel will be engaged in (a) coastal patrols, (b) inland enforcement and (c) intelligence-gathering activities.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. Under the previous funding arrangement, around 750 law enforcement personnel were deployed to French beaches. The actions of these personnel have contributed to 42,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election. French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats and bring people smugglers to justice.
The priority of these officers is to stop small boat crossings, and the nature of their deployment will be on the operational need and nature of the threat. It would be incorrect to strictly categorise the officers into coastal patrols, inland enforcement and intelligence-gathering activities.
This uplift in resource will be front-loaded. This includes five specialist police units who will be in place this summer, including a permanent riot squad to respond to escalating migrant violence. This deal will also provide enhanced surveillance, expanded French maritime tactics, and new detention capacity to increase removals from France. The new arrangement will increase the number of officers deployed daily up to nearly 1,100 by year 3 of the funding arrangement.
The additional personnel will be directly employed by the French government. The Home Office is not in possession of data on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.
All of the additional units will be operational on a full-time basis. In addition, the Compagnie de Marche, a specialist unit with elite public order powers, will be surged during the summer months, historically the busiest time for small boat crossings.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, what the planned deployment timetable is for the additional personnel.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. Under the previous funding arrangement, around 750 law enforcement personnel were deployed to French beaches. The actions of these personnel have contributed to 42,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election. French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats and bring people smugglers to justice.
The priority of these officers is to stop small boat crossings, and the nature of their deployment will be on the operational need and nature of the threat. It would be incorrect to strictly categorise the officers into coastal patrols, inland enforcement and intelligence-gathering activities.
This uplift in resource will be front-loaded. This includes five specialist police units who will be in place this summer, including a permanent riot squad to respond to escalating migrant violence. This deal will also provide enhanced surveillance, expanded French maritime tactics, and new detention capacity to increase removals from France. The new arrangement will increase the number of officers deployed daily up to nearly 1,100 by year 3 of the funding arrangement.
The additional personnel will be directly employed by the French government. The Home Office is not in possession of data on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.
All of the additional units will be operational on a full-time basis. In addition, the Compagnie de Marche, a specialist unit with elite public order powers, will be surged during the summer months, historically the busiest time for small boat crossings.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK-France agreement to reduce illegal crossings, published on 23 April 2026, whether funding and shift patterns will be biased towards months with the greatest historic levels of crossing attempts.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The United Kingdom and France have signed an agreement to strengthen operations to combat illegal migration in northern France to prevent crossings to the United Kingdom with a significant increase in dedicated law enforcement, technological and intelligence resources. Under the previous funding arrangement, around 750 law enforcement personnel were deployed to French beaches. The actions of these personnel have contributed to 42,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election. French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats and bring people smugglers to justice.
The priority of these officers is to stop small boat crossings, and the nature of their deployment will be on the operational need and nature of the threat. It would be incorrect to strictly categorise the officers into coastal patrols, inland enforcement and intelligence-gathering activities.
This uplift in resource will be front-loaded. This includes five specialist police units who will be in place this summer, including a permanent riot squad to respond to escalating migrant violence. This deal will also provide enhanced surveillance, expanded French maritime tactics, and new detention capacity to increase removals from France. The new arrangement will increase the number of officers deployed daily up to nearly 1,100 by year 3 of the funding arrangement.
The additional personnel will be directly employed by the French government. The Home Office is not in possession of data on retention rates of personnel deployed under previous UK-funded border enforcement arrangements in France.
All of the additional units will be operational on a full-time basis. In addition, the Compagnie de Marche, a specialist unit with elite public order powers, will be surged during the summer months, historically the busiest time for small boat crossings.