Justice and Home Affairs Council took place on 12 and 13 October in Luxembourg. I represented the UK for Justice Day, along with the Minister of State for Immigration, the Rt Honourable Brandon Lewis MP. The Home Secretary, the Rt Honourable Amber Rudd MP, represented the UK for Interior Day.

Justice...

Justice and Home Affairs Council took place on 12 and 13 October in Luxembourg. I represented the UK for Justice Day, along with the Minister of State for Immigration, the Rt Honourable Brandon Lewis MP. The Home Secretary, the Rt Honourable Amber Rudd MP, represented the UK for Interior Day.

Justice...

The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight this challenge and the appalling abuses of human rights that have been taking place in Iraq and Syria. Victims of abuse and religious minorities are among the categories that we have identified as the highest priorities under the scheme to admit 20,000 people...

The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight this challenge and the appalling abuses of human rights that have been taking place in Iraq and Syria. Victims of abuse and religious minorities are among the categories that we have identified as the highest priorities under the scheme to admit 20,000 people...

This country has a proud history of granting asylum to people who need our protection. We are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while applications from individuals are being considered. We are clear that asylum seekers should be accommodated only in properties that are both decent and safe. Home...

This country has a proud history of granting asylum to people who need our protection. We are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while applications from individuals are being considered. We are clear that asylum seekers should be accommodated only in properties that are both decent and safe. Home...

I will draw the hon. and learned Lady’s request to the Home Secretary’s attention. The Home Office continues to work very closely with the French authorities to ensure that we identify the most vulnerable children and give them priority in our resettlement plans. That is what was envisaged under Lord...

I will draw the hon. and learned Lady’s request to the Home Secretary’s attention. The Home Office continues to work very closely with the French authorities to ensure that we identify the most vulnerable children and give them priority in our resettlement plans. That is what was envisaged under Lord...

My right hon. Friend raises an important point. Clearly it is a very important principle that all asylum decisions are taken on the merits of each particular case. That is true of applications from former interpreters as well as those from everybody else. It is also the case, however, that...

My right hon. Friend raises an important point. Clearly it is a very important principle that all asylum decisions are taken on the merits of each particular case. That is true of applications from former interpreters as well as those from everybody else. It is also the case, however, that...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of support provided by the Turkish government to refugees and asylum seekers in that country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of support provided by the Turkish government to refugees and asylum seekers in that country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2016 to Question 37099, if the Government will support an independent investigation into allegations of attacks on Syrian asylum seekers by Turkish border guards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2016 to Question 37099, if the Government will support an independent investigation into allegations of attacks on Syrian asylum seekers by Turkish border guards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports that Turkish border guards have shot and killed Syrians crossing the border to seek asylum in Turkey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports that Turkish border guards have shot and killed Syrians crossing the border to seek asylum in Turkey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart to (a) re-open Turkey's borders to Syrian asylum seekers and (b) conduct independent investigations on alleged attacks on Syrian asylum seekers by Turkish border guards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart to (a) re-open Turkey's borders to Syrian asylum seekers and (b) conduct independent investigations on alleged attacks on Syrian asylum seekers by Turkish border guards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he holds on when Greece will have taken steps to ensure that its asylum system is compliant with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information he holds on when Greece will have taken steps to ensure that its asylum system is compliant with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Matthew Pennycook) on securing this timely debate, and on speaking with such eloquence and passion.

The debate is timely because later this week, as the House will know, European and African leaders will gather in Malta to discuss how we can work...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Matthew Pennycook) on securing this timely debate, and on speaking with such eloquence and passion.

The debate is timely because later this week, as the House will know, European and African leaders will gather in Malta to discuss how we can work...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in Kazakhstan in respect of Pastor Makset Djabbarbergenov.

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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in Kazakhstan in respect of Pastor Makset Djabbarbergenov.

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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on (a) the number of Syrian refugees arriving in Turkey and (b) provisions being made for such refugees; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on (a) the number of Syrian refugees arriving in Turkey and (b) provisions being made for such refugees; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Greek Government on the condition of detention facilities for asylum seekers in Greece.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Greek Government on the condition of detention facilities for asylum seekers in Greece.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he had discussions with his Italian counterpart on the (a) physical condition and (b) human rights of refugees from North Africa who have arrived in Lampedusa in the last three months; and whether he has had discussions with...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he had discussions with his Italian counterpart on the (a) physical condition and (b) human rights of refugees from North Africa who have arrived in Lampedusa in the last three months; and whether he has had discussions with...

We are due to debate the measures later. The Government will have three options. They can decide to opt in to all the measures en bloc, or they can decide to opt out of them en bloc. The judgment that Ministers will have to make—I emphasise that no decision has...

We are due to debate the measures later. The Government will have three options. They can decide to opt in to all the measures en bloc, or they can decide to opt out of them en bloc. The judgment that Ministers will have to make—I emphasise that no decision has...

I am afraid that I am going to deny myself the pleasure of hearing a further explanation from the hon. Gentleman. The other articles listed in clause 7—covering decisions on provisions for elections to the European Parliament, on the system of own resources of the EU, and on the adoption...

I am afraid that I am going to deny myself the pleasure of hearing a further explanation from the hon. Gentleman. The other articles listed in clause 7—covering decisions on provisions for elections to the European Parliament, on the system of own resources of the EU, and on the adoption...

I look forward with relish to studying the European Scrutiny Committee's conclusions. There are already a number of ways for the Government and Parliament to exercise control over the precise terms of the EU's accession agreement. Article 218(8) of the TFEU makes it clear that accession would be subject to...

I look forward with relish to studying the European Scrutiny Committee's conclusions. There are already a number of ways for the Government and Parliament to exercise control over the precise terms of the EU's accession agreement. Article 218(8) of the TFEU makes it clear that accession would be subject to...

I will give way, but a large group of amendments is listed on the Order Paper for consideration later today, and those amendments stand in the names of many hon. and right hon. Members. I want to try to limit my comments on the early group so that we have...

I will give way, but a large group of amendments is listed on the Order Paper for consideration later today, and those amendments stand in the names of many hon. and right hon. Members. I want to try to limit my comments on the early group so that we have...

There is a clear statement on the face of the treaty that the EU shall accede to the European convention on human rights, and the Government's position is that we accepted that statement and that commitment as part of the Lisbon treaty. As I hope to explain shortly, the law...

There is a clear statement on the face of the treaty that the EU shall accede to the European convention on human rights, and the Government's position is that we accepted that statement and that commitment as part of the Lisbon treaty. As I hope to explain shortly, the law...