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Written question asked by Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 21 November 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 November 2022 (named day). It was answered by Robert Jenrick (Conservative) on Thursday, 24 November 2022 on behalf of the Home Office.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much will have been paid to the French authorities for assistance in dealing with illegal immigration using small boats between 1 January 2015 and the end of this financial year.

Answer

The UK and France maintain a longstanding relationship on tackling illegal migration at the shared border and the UK has committed several funding packages to supporting this work in recent years.

Previous funding packages include:

  • In 2015, the UK and France signed a Joint Declaration which committed £45.96 million towards security enhancements of the juxtaposed controls and to moving migrants into reception centres across France.
  • This was followed by payments in 2016 of £17 million and a further £36 million to strengthen the border and maintain the operation of the juxtaposed controls.
  • In 2018 the UK made a commitment of €50 million (£45.5m) to implement the terms of the Treaty.
  • This was followed in 2019 by the signature of the Joint Action Plan on Combatting Illegal Migration Involving Small Boats. The UK committed €3.6 million (approximately £3.25m) to tackling the issue. This was supplemented with a further €2.5 million (£2.25m) dedicated to the deployment of gendarme reservists and further strengthening preventive security measures at the French coast.
  • In 2020 the UK pledged €31.4 million (roughly £28.1 million) to support joint efforts to tackle the rise in small boat crossings.
  • A further bilateral funding arrangement was reached between the UK and France on 20 July 2021 supported by UK investment of €62.7 million (approximately £54m).
  • Most recently, on 14 November the Home Secretary agreed to a new multi-year strategic and operational plan with Minister Darmanin, supported by investment of up to €72.2 million euros (approximately £62.2 million) this financial year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
92124
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Expenditure Undocumented migrants France English Channel
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk