Lords Demand Monitoring Committee for Rwanda Bill
The House of Lords has voted to amend the Rwanda Bill, requiring the creation of a new monitoring committee to assess the safety of Rwanda for asylum seekers.
The amendment, put forward by Lord Anderson of Ipswich, was passed by 240 votes to 211. It means the Bill will now return to the House of Commons for further consideration.
The Government had hoped to get the Bill passed by the end of the week, but the amendment will now delay its progress.
Peers Demand Assurance of Rwanda’s Safety
The amendment requires the Home Secretary to consult with the new monitoring committee before declaring Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers.
This is in response to concerns that the Government may force asylum seekers to Rwanda without taking steps to address a Supreme Court ruling that found the policy unlawful.
The Government has said it is committed to ensuring that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers, but the Lords amendment will provide additional scrutiny of the Government’s plans.
Afghan Nationals Exempt from Rwanda Plan
Peers did not press for an exemption for Afghan nationals who helped British troops fight the Taliban, despite earlier support for such a measure from Tory MPs.
The Home Office has said that any asylum seeker who would qualify for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) would not be sent to Rwanda.
Government Insists Flights Will Take Off
Despite the setbacks in the House of Lords, the Government has insisted that flights to Rwanda will take off “come what may”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the Bill is an “indispensable deterrent” to people smuggling and that flights will begin as soon as the Bill is passed.
However, there has been speculation that the Home Office is struggling to find airlines to take part in the scheme.
