Question
As a Portsmouth MP, I know how important it is that people living in ports along the south coast have confidence in our border security. Will the Minister outline the progress this Government are making in tackling dangerous small boat crossings and the criminal gangs behind them, and reassure my constituents that we will continue to take action? Will she also thank all the emergency services that have helped in this situation?33% vibes
Answer
Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to all our partners in Portsmouth—the local authority, the police and all others—for their co-operation in dealing with the crossings launched from further west in France, which are coming into Portsmouth and seeking to come elsewhere, too. We are seeing a displacement of activity; the gangs have seen that the law enforcement response in the north of France has been stepped up, so they are now trying other routes and tactics. I assure my hon. Friend, the people of Portsmouth and everybody else that this Government will chase down those gang members, using every sinew, and will ensure that we get the number of crossings down further. I fully recognise the pressures in her community.17% vibes
Verdict: GREEN (78/100)
The reply addresses all three parts of the question. It describes the displacement of crossings to Portsmouth and elsewhere, explains the action taken in northern France, and thanks local police and partners for their co-operation. It also makes a clear commitment to pursue the gang members and reduce crossings further. The answer is somewhat general on the first part, as it gives no progress figures, but the question did not ask for them, so a reader would likely have enough to move on.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What progress is the Government making in tackling dangerous small boat crossings and the criminal gangs behind them? | Addressed | Direct | The reply describes the current situation (displacement of crossings to Portsmouth and elsewhere) and a concrete action (stepped-up law enforcement in northern France, which has pushed gangs to new routes and tactics), and it states the aim of reducing crossings. It gives no progress figures, so the answer is somewhat thin, but the question did not ask for numbers. |
| Will the Government confirm that it will continue to take action on small boat crossings and the criminal gangs behind them? | Addressed | Direct | The reply gives an explicit, unambiguous commitment that the Government will pursue the gang members and bring down crossings further, which directly confirms continued action. The phrasing is rhetorical, but the commitment itself is clear. |
| Will the Minister thank the emergency services that have helped in this situation? | Addressed | Direct | The minister explicitly pays tribute to the local police and other partners for their co-operation in handling the crossings, which is a direct thanks to the emergency services involved, though it does not use the phrase 'emergency services' itself. |