Question
Up to June this year, the returns rate was 35% higher than it had been in the 12 months previously. Does the Home Secretary agree that this is in part due to the improved co-operative relationships that this Government have managed to forge with other countries around the world? Should that not give our constituents greater confidence that this Government take the issue of small boat crossings seriously?50% vibes
Answer
My hon. Friend is right: not only are small boat returns up and asylum-related returns at their highest level since 2010, but in our first two years in office, this Government have managed to get returns of foreign offenders up 41% from the last two years of the Conservative Government. That is because, in addition to all the other work we are doing, we are also unlocking greater returns co-operation with countries of origin, so that we can more smoothly return people from this country. Appeals reform is also absolutely crucial, and is something that this Government are pursuing.17% vibes
Verdict: GREEN (78/100)
The reply directly agreed with the Member's point and attributed the rise in returns to closer co-operation with countries of origin, which answers the causal question. It also gave concrete evidence that small boat returns are up and asylum-related returns are at their highest since 2010, and committed to appeals reform, which answers whether the record should reassure constituents. One caveat is that the reply cited a 41% figure, while the question referred to 35%, and the reply did not explain the difference, so a constituent might want that clarified.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does the Home Secretary agree that the 35% increase in the returns rate up to June this year, compared with the previous 12 months, is in part due to the improved co-operative relationships the Government has forged with other countries? | Addressed | Direct | The reply agrees with the hon. Member and attributes the returns increase to unlocking greater returns co-operation with countries of origin, which is the causal link the item asks about. The cited 41% figure is a different metric from the 35% rate in the question, but the substantive attribution is still answered directly. |
| Does the Home Secretary agree that this should give constituents greater confidence that the Government takes the issue of small boat crossings seriously? | Addressed | Direct | The reply agrees with the hon. Member and supports the point with concrete evidence that small boat returns are up and asylum-related returns are at their highest since 2010, plus a stated commitment to appeals reform. This is a substantive answer to whether the government's record should reassure constituents. |