I know that the Government takes the welfare of people in Home Office care extremely seriously and is fulfilling statutory duties to ensure decent, safe and humane conditions, including in detention centres.  As you will be aware, the Home Office is required by law to provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation, paid for by the taxpayer.

However, it is clear that we are living through a global migration crisis. The UK has seen an unprecedented number of attempts to illegally cross the Channel in small boats. Indeed, over 40,000 people crossed the Channel in 2022. Not only is this unnecessary, because many people have come from another safe country, but is it lethally dangerous and lines the pockets of international criminal gangs who are behind this trend.

As such, I welcome the passing of the Illegal Migration Act which means that someone who enters this country illegally will be swiftly detained and removed back to their home country if it is safe. This will help the break the business model of people-smuggling networks, and ultimately save lives.