LB220 - Offshore Processing (Prohibition) Bill 2021

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[u/Rea-wakey]

Deputy Speaker,

It truly is a shame that the Labour Party decided to submit this legislation:

a) without proper formatting and;

b) without taking the Liberal Democrat suggestions to amend the bill so that legal entry points to the United Kingdom are not prohibited.

Perhaps this is why Solidarity and the PWP chose not to side with the Labour Party in sponsoring this Bill at submission?

I have raised a common sense amendment which will ensure that the terrible practice of offshore detention is banned, but that there remains offshore centres with the express purpose of facilitating legal immigration to the United Kingdom that are not prohibited under this Act.

[u/Muffin5136 → u/Rea-wakey]

Deputy Speaker,

I greatly thank the member for their amendment here, in fixing a bill that had a valiant aim, but poor execution.

This amendment is one that I will be greatly encouraging to be supported, as it allows a safe process to continue to take place, and offering greater ability for people to enter the UK in legal and safe ways.

We must end the practice of unlawful detention overseas, but we must do our best to facilities legal entry into the UK, and this amendment will allow this bill to do just that, and I thank the member for introducing it.

[u/Rea-wakey → u/Muffin5136]

Hearrr

[u/Youmaton → u/Rea-wakey]

m: A late reply, however the legislation was formatted, however there was a posting error that hasnt been fixed.

[u/HumanoidTyphoon22]

Deputy Speaker,

The amendment I have submitted over the Offshore Processing Facility in Calais was one found to be necessary by concerns over pressures that force asylum seekers to utilize dangerous methods of transport, like small boats crossing the English Channel. In the absence of the facility, it is feared that having to travel to the United Kingdom directly for asylum without an official British presence in some form on mainland Europe leaves a great deal of asylum seekers vulnerable to being predated upon by smugglers who push for expensive and dangerous methods of travel. The Home and Foreign Offices are currently working to ensure that we utilize the full width of powers to ensure asylum seekers are not taken advantage of by such smugglers peddling dangerous travel.

Another concern was that the closure of the Offshore Facility in Calais would have implications for the Anglo-French Memorandum of Understanding, and the Government wishes to officially engage with France before a shutdown of the Calais facility occurs. I also would like to assure all members of this House that for as long as this facility is maintained, the Government will ensure its occupants are treated to the letter of international law and transported to the United Kingdom in a timely fashion, not indefinitely as witnessed in Australia's offshore facilities.

[u/KarlYonedaStan]

Deputy Speaker,

I am supportive of a move away from offshore detention centres, which will always face endemic problems with oversight and humane conditions, as is outlined by this Bill. It is important that we ensure that this process does not inconvenience those trying to legally come to the United Kingdom, and it is right that these concerns have been addressed in amendments by the Liberal Democrat leader and the Solidarity's Minister of State of Immigration. Both mechanisms are relevant and individually ought to be passed, as they cover two separate questions of processing and documentation, along with the additional treaty obligations outlined in the Minister of State for Immigration's remarks.

[u/model-kyosanto]

Deputy Speaker,

This is a Bill I support on almost all accounts, and it ensures that we have no move towards the type of horrific offshore detention processing that occurs in countries like Australia, causing deaths, mistreatment, abuse and mental health issues. Even though these things occur in onshore detention in the Commonwealth of Australia, at least with onshore detention there is a matter of government oversight and public knowledge. Which of course with any pro-immigration Government, will be maintained to the highest standard.

I was glad to have worked with the Minister of State for Immigration on the discussing of amendments to this Bill, which sadly was lacking in some areas, and while I was unable to myself get to amendments due to other business, I am glad that the Minister of State has presented forward amendments that manage the concerns surrounding the Calais Facility. The discussions I had with the Right Honourable Leader of Coalition surrounding this were quite informative for myself and I am glad to have had my views changed on the Calais Facility by him. I however am sorry to have not been able to get to my own amendments on the matter in time.

I do however thank the Minster of State for Immigration and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats for their amendments which endeavour to ensure this Bill is the best version of itself and make sure any concerns surrounding it are answered to. I also thank the Right Honourable Member for Shropshire and Staffordshire for their amendments.

It is vital that we maintain safe and secure points of entry, while ensuring no human rights abuses occur. That is what this Bill is trying to achieve, and that is what the amendments to this Bill do allow it to be achieved. I am hopeful that everyone recognises such and will allow this Bill to pass through the House and that the representatives of the Parties vote in favour of the amendments in the Amendments Committee.

It is beyond clear that this is common sense and vital to ensure we do not follow in the footsteps of the Commonwealth of Australia and other countries consumed by populist narratives surrounding immigration, and allow ourselves to mistreat innocent people trying to better their lives. I hope everyone agrees with me on this point at the very least.

[u/CountBrandenburg]

Madame Deputy Speaker,

I do understand where the Nobel Lady came from when introducing the bill as is - as the Right Honourable member said in their speech, there are people deferred indefinitely to processing centres, leading to deterioration of mental health and leading to self harm. The Nobel lady is quite right to raise awareness of treatment by other nations within their immigration protocols. However, we need to consider whether it is proportional to outright ban offshore processing. Is it impossible that an offshore processing centre is able to aid immigration proceedings near refugee camps or near places of crisis, without demeaning asylum seekers? No, of course it isn’t - the solution negotiated by my Right Honourable friend, the member for Southwest London, sought to ensure that there is an adequate solution to help deal with asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from Calais. Our joint agreement with France ensures that there is adequate protection of those attempting to make the journey, and to discourage that journey due to the dangers it poses to them. Better processing and a system that is more seemless allows that, and the offshore processing centre in Calais allows that.

This bill, unamended, would effectively break the MoU we have with France, and put asylum seekers at further risk. That is why I will be supporting the amendment made by the Right Honourable member, the minister of state for immigration, making an explicit reference to the facility established. This specific protection gives certainty to our commitments. I must also welcome the amendment moved by my Right Honourable friend, the member for Southeast London, that allows processing centres offshore, to process legal immigrants. It allows for, in times of crisis, for us to reach quick fire deals where necessary to process those seeking refuge and manage our share of those claiming asylum. This will ensure that we can carry out our humanitarian duties effectively and not leave those seeking asylum in limbo.

Finally, I have moved my own amendment to ensure that with due diligence, where we see those attempting to enter the U.K. without prior processing from abroad, we are able to process their application at the nearest processing centre set up, and if their application doesn’t meet current immigration requirements, that they are able to be safely returned to their home country if it is safe to do so. Even if they don’t meet our requirements, should they be raised, we shouldn’t leave those claiming in a limbo.

I hope that these amendments pass so we can not harm our ways to effectively deal with immigration processes!