Undocumented Migrants: English Channel
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the deterrent effect of returning small boat arrivals to France under the UK–France returns agreement.
Answered by Home Office
The UK-France agreement seeks to undermine the organised crime group business model by returning individuals who arrive in the UK via small boats. This demonstrates both to smuggling gangs and to migrants that the small boats route is not a viable option for those seeking to enter the UK, with more than 1400 people returned through the UK-France agreement so far. The Government continues to monitor implementation closely and assess the agreement's impact as part of our wider strategy to deter dangerous Channel crossings and disrupt organised immigration crime.
This UK-France agreement has already been extended until Autumn to ensure the return of migrants who arrive on small boats over the Summer which tends to be a high crossing period. This extension reflects the strength of the UK-France partnership and our shared commitment to breaking the business model of the criminal gangs that profit from dangerous Channel crossings. Further details about the progress of the UK-France agreement will be set out in the usual way.
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