Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill – Committee of the Whole House Day 1

On Tuesday 16 January 2024, the House debated and voted on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill :

Safety of Rwanda: Amendment 10, Division 47: I voted No and the result was:  Ayes: 68 and Noes: 529
That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Safety of Rwanda: Clause 2 stand part, Division 48: I voted No and the result was: Ayes: 331 and Noes: 262
Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 4
Decisions based on particular individual circumstances
Amendment proposed: 19, page 4, line 11, leave out from “whether” to the end of line 14 and insert
“and in what manner a person is to be removed, or considered for removal, to Rwanda under this Act or the Illegal Migration Act 2023”.—(Robert Jenrick.)
This and other amendments to Clause 4 are intended to remove the ability of individuals to block their own removal through suspensive claims and to limit such claims to rare situations where there is bad faith on the part of decision-makers in relation to decisions as to medical fitness to travel.

Safety of Rwanda: Amendment 19, Division 49: I voted No and the result was: Ayes: 58 and Noes: 525
Clause 4
Decisions based on particular individual circumstances

Safety of Rwanda: New Clause 6 , Division 51: I voted Aye and the result was: Ayes: 262 and Noes: 336
Clause 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
New Clause 6
Changes to the classification of Rwanda as safe
“(1) A Monitoring Committee overseeing removals to Rwanda must be established and maintained in accordance with Article 15 of the Rwanda Treaty.
(2) Section 2(1) of this Act does not apply if—
(a) the Monitoring Committee established under subsection (1) has formally concluded that the Republic of Rwanda is in breach of its obligations under that Treaty,
(b) the Secretary of State has advised against travel to the Republic of Rwanda, or
(c) if a court or tribunal has found the Republic of Rwanda to be unsafe in accordance with subsection (3) below.
(3) On an application for judicial review, if a UK Senior Court determines that credible evidence exists that the Republic of Rwanda is no longer safe on the basis of non-compliance with its obligations under the Rwanda Treaty, nothing in this Act shall prevent a court or tribunal from further considering an application for judicial review brought by an individual so affected.”—(Stephen Kinnock.)
This new clause places the Monitoring Committee for the Rwanda Treaty on a statutory basis, and places conditions on when the classification of Rwanda as ‘safe’ can be suspended in accordance with material conditions and/or non-compliance with obligations under the Rwanda Treaty.