today at one, urgent talks between london and paris over people—smuggling after the deaths of 27 drown in the english channel. a pregnant woman and three children were among the dead. despite yesterday's tragedy, more make the journey to britain today. the government says cooperation across the channel is desperately needed to save lives. we are prepared to offer support on the ground, we are prepared to offer resources, we are prepared to offer literally people to go there and help and assist the french authorities. france says the whole of europe must unite to end the deaths at sea. translation: these people. are exploited to promise them el dorado in england, and unfortunately this has been repeated every

day for over 20 years. we'll have the latest from the westminster and france. the government says it will work at pace to deliver a new independent regulator for football. politicians in jersey vote to approve the principle of legalising assisted dying. scientists are growing mini human brains in a cambridge lab to find cures for disease. # get back...# the landmark beatles documentary from the director of lord of rings, compiled from almost 60 hours of previously unseen footage. i wouldn't have done if it was the rolling stones or something — that's a bit controversial, sorry. a musical documentary does not have huge appeal to me, but the beatles, yeah. and coming up on the bbc news channel... the davis cup is back, but could this be the setting for the tournament next year? with talk of sport's first international competition moving to abu dhabi.

good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. the home secretary, priti patel, has been speaking with her french counterpart after the deaths of at least 27 people who drowned in the channel while trying to reach the uk. a pregnant woman and three children are among the dead. their small boat sank after setting off from a beach close to dunkirk yesterday, in what is the deadliest incident in the channel involving asylum seekers to date. but despite the deaths and worsening weather conditions, more small boats arrived in dover this morning. downing street says it's stressing the urgency of working with the french authorities to try stop human trafficking. but the french president, emmanuel macron, says the whole of europe needs to work together

to prevent people reaching france's channel coast in the first place. with the very latest from calais, here's our europe correspondent, jessica parker. blustery winds blowing across northern france this morning, an empty beach but it seems there were crossings from france overnight to the uk. , , ., , , crossings from france overnight to theuk. ,,., ,, , the uk. this is a vessel apparently used by peeple — the uk. this is a vessel apparently used by peeple to _ the uk. this is a vessel apparently used by people to make _ the uk. this is a vessel apparently used by people to make the - the uk. this is a vessel apparently l used by people to make the perilous journey. they were picked up by british patrols early this morning. yet another effort to reach english shores despite yesterday's tragedy. translation:— translation: there are pregnant women and — translation: there are pregnant women and children _ translation: there are pregnant women and children who _ translation: there are pregnant women and children who died - women and children who died yesterday in this makeshift boat, and for a few thousand euros. these people are exploited to promise them el dorado in england, and unfortunately this has been repeated every day for over 20 years.- every day for over 20 years. record numbers have _ every day for over 20 years. record numbers have been _ every day for over 20 years. record numbers have been making - every day for over 20 years. record numbers have been making the - numbers have been making the crossing from france to britain. the french say they have worked hard to

try to prevent crossings, for example stepping up patrols, patrols the uk government has helped fund but british ministers also under pressure. we but british ministers also under ressure. ~ ., but british ministers also under ressure. ~ . , ., pressure. we are prepared to offer su ort pressure. we are prepared to offer support on — pressure. we are prepared to offer support on the _ pressure. we are prepared to offer support on the ground, _ pressure. we are prepared to offer support on the ground, we - pressure. we are prepared to offer support on the ground, we are - support on the ground, we are prepared to offer resources, we are prepared to offer resources, we are prepared to offer literally people to go and assist the french authorities. we don'tjust see this as an issue that france needs to deal with but one we want to work together with france and our wider european partners because we only need to look at the situation in the mediterranean to see this isn'tjust an issue in the channel. to break the business model of these gangs. after efforts at a search and rescue operation, more details are emerging about those who lost their lives. french officials say 17 were men, seven were women, one of whom was pregnant, and three were children. two have been rescued and are in

critical condition, one from iraq and anotherfrom critical condition, one from iraq and another from somalia. critical condition, one from iraq and anotherfrom somalia. the and another from somalia. the reality is. _ and another from somalia. the reality is. and _ and another from somalia. the reality is, and we _ and another from somalia. tue: reality is, and we can't and another from somalia. tte: reality is, and we can't get away from this reality, we have to face up from this reality, we have to face up to it, is that people have a right under the un convention to seek safety in the uk. emergency meetinas, seek safety in the uk. emergency meetings, hastily _ seek safety in the uk. emergency meetings, hastily arranged - seek safety in the uk. emergency meetings, hastily arranged phone calls. authorities on both sides of the channel are scrambling to respond. at this crisis has been long in the making and long discussed. forall that long in the making and long discussed. for all that taut, effective solutions have so far proved elusive. people here being escorted to shelters in france as part of efforts to deter crossings and prevent further tragedy. jessica parker, bbc news, in calais. the crisis involving asylum seekers and migrants has now become part of a political blame game between london and paris. but what can be done stop people attempting dangerous crossings to the uk? our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford, has this analysis.

while the tragedy was unfolding off the coast of france yesterday, dozens of people who had successfully crossed the channel were arriving near dungeness. the numbers of migrants arriving by small boats has soared this year, far outstripping the numbers last year. were arriving near dungeness. the new route first emerged three years ago when sajid javid was home secretary. he rushed back from holiday to try to nip it in the bud, but the government has been on the back foot ever since. among the proposed solutions are joint patrolling of the french coast with british and french police, and trying to reduce the pull factor of the uk. introducing new laws to penalise people who arrive in small boats, moving to create more safe routes for people to create asylum for people to claim asylum before they enter the uk, and greater efforts to tackle the people—smuggling gangs. the uk is already paying millions of pounds towards french—only patrols of the beaches, but politicians there don't see british participation as a solution.

the only answer coming from this awful drama is for the brits to give us more money and for the french authorities to have more people patrolling the french shore. it will not change nothing. nothing will change, and we are still going to have dead bodies in the channel. the still going to have dead bodies in the channel-— the channel. the french say that what makes _ the channel. the french say that what makes britain _ the channel. the french say that what makes britain attractive - the channel. the french say that what makes britain attractive isl the channel. the french say that i what makes britain attractive is the ease with which people can disappear into the grey economy, and that is what needs fixing. in fact, the number of asylum seekers arriving is substantially lower than its peak 20 years ago. and the home secretary, priti patel, seen here on a patrol boatin priti patel, seen here on a patrol boat in the channel last year and the french both agree that tackling the french both agree that tackling the people smugglers is the priority. not so, say campaigners. the people smugglers are a symptom but not the cause of the issue. the issueis but not the cause of the issue. the issue is people want to claim uk asylum and they can't do it unless

they are physically present in the uk and there is no way to get there other than on a boat. but uk and there is no way to get there other than on a boat.— other than on a boat. but with arrests being _ other than on a boat. but with arrests being made _ other than on a boat. but with arrests being made overnight| other than on a boat. but with - arrests being made overnight after the tragedy yesterday, labour say more could have been done to tackle people smuggling. t find more could have been done to tackle people smuggling-— people smuggling. i find it really hard to believe _ people smuggling. i find it really hard to believe those _ people smuggling. i find it really hard to believe those arrests - people smuggling. i find it really l hard to believe those arrests could not have been made last week or the week before. i don't see apart from the tragic deaths that the evidence is different, so ramp up the law enforcement against those making money from this human tragedy. lmilieu money from this human tragedy. when mi . rants money from this human tragedy. when migrants were — money from this human tragedy. when migrants were mostly _ money from this human tragedy. when migrants were mostly using lorries and the channel tunnel to enter britain, efforts were made to close those routes down. those efforts were only partially successful, and led to the new people smuggling route. crossing the channel in dangerous, small boats. daniel sandford, bbc news.

make a statement about the tragic drownings that took place in the channel yesterday. at least 27 people lost their lives. i know the whole house willjoin me in expressing our profound sorrow, and our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have died, and with those who responded to an extremely distressing event. information is still being gathered about the situation in france as this becomes more and more clear. the prime minister chaired an emergency cobra meeting last night and then spoke to the president of france. i'm glad that president macron indicated his determination to stop the vile people smuggling gangs, and importantly, to work closely with our partners across europe. i have literally to speak spoken again with my french counterpart, and once again reached out and made my offer very clear to france in terms of joint france— uk cooperation, joint patrols to prevent these dangerous journeys from taking place. i have offered to work with france to put more officers on the ground and do

absolutely whatever is necessary to secure the area so that vulnerable people do not risk their lives by getting into unseaworthy boats. madam deputy speaker, there is a global illegal migration crisis. as i have stated many times, these journeys across the channel are absolutely unnecessary, but as i have also been warning for two years, they are also lethally dangerous. what happened yesterday was a dreadful shock. it was not a surprise, but it is also a reminder of how vulnerable people are put at peril when in the hands of criminal gangs. there is also no quick fix. this is about addressing long term pull factors, smashing the criminal gangs that treat human beings as cargo, and tackling supply chains. this requires coordinated international effort, and i have beenin international effort, and i have been in constant contact with my

counterparts from france, poland, austria, belgium, italy and greece, to name just a few. because of the nature of the crisis, and the fact that we are seeing 80,000,000 displaced people in the world, this was of course, madam deputy speaker, a major theme of discussion at the g7 interior minister back in september. we have also seen it play out on several land borders in europe and the mediterranean sea. and given the chance, the traffickers will always find people to exploit and manipulate. some of them do not even know that they are coming to the uk. this does mean tackling issues upstream and not waiting till people have reached eu countries, and i've always been extremely clear that i want to cooperate and i am cooperating with international colleagues. the united kingdom has given its unflinching and generous support to france to end this terrible trading people smuggling. we are not working just to end these crossings because we don't care or we are heartless. the

united kingdom has a clear and generous humane approach to asylum seekers and refugees. yes, people should come here legally and the system must be fair, but the main issue is this. crossing the channel on small boats is extremely dangerous, and yesterday was the moment that many of us had feared for many years. the criminals that facilitate these journeys are motivated by self interest and profit, not by compassion. they threaten, intimidate, bully, and assault the people who get into these boats, and they have a complete absolute disregard for human rights. they use the money they make for other heinous crimes, and we simply have to break their business model and of course bring them to justice. the government's new plan for immigration, which will be put into law through the nationality and borders bill, is a longer—term solution that will address many of these underlying factors to deter illegal migration and address an underlying —— any

underlying pull factors to the uk. it will bring in a range of measures including the one—stop appeals process, the ability to process claims outside the country, the ability to declare an admissibility to our asylum system and have differentiation. those in the uk who have passed through safe countries, and life sentences for people smugglers. those who should claim asylum in the first country they reach, and nobody needs to flee france in order to be safe. however, we are not waiting until the nationality and borders bill passes. we are undertaking a wide range of operational work. we are undertaking a wide range of operationalwork. i we are undertaking a wide range of operational work. i have already improved maritime tactics including boat turnarounds for border force to deploy. the governments, police, and national crime agency are taking every level to take down the people smuggling gangs, and once again, however, we cannot do it alone. we

continue to work closely with the french to prevent crossings. more than 20,000 have been stopped this year, which i think are members of this house should recognise the magnitude of the illegal migration crisis we are seeing. we have dismantled 17 organised criminal groups and secured over 400 arrests and 65 convictions, but this crisis continues. clearly demonstrating we need to do more together. this is a complicated issue when there is no simple fix. it does mean a herculean effort and it will be impossible without close cooperation between all international partners and agencies. i also urge colleagues to reconsider their opposition to the nationality and borders bill, because it's an essential element in finding a long—term solution to what is a long—term problem that successive governments have faced over decades. as we mourn those who have died in the most horrendous of

circumstances, i hope the whole house can come together to send a clear message that crossing the channel in this lethal way, in a small boat, is not the way to come to our country. it is, of course, unnecessary, illegal, and desperately unsafe. i commend this to the house. thank you. i am grateful to the home secretary for her statement and advice sight of it. yesterday's human tragedy in the channel was the most awful of reminders how dangerous crossing the channel is and people's lives are at risk every day in these makeshift flimsy boats. it is a sobering moment for our country, france and the international community. we understand that at least 27 people have died, some reports that include seven women and three children. we do think across the house of those

lost and their loved ones left behind. we think two of those receiving treatment and fighting for their lives. i would like to pay tribute in the joint french and british search operation in the air and on the sea, people putting themselves in danger to help others. i also understand there have been arrests in france of those suspected of this vile crime of people smuggling. i appreciate very much the difficulties and sensitivities when there is an ongoing legal case, particularly in another legal jurisdiction. i would particularly in another legal jurisdiction. iwould be particularly in another legal jurisdiction. i would be grateful if the home secretary could give the house an update on possible timings for the legal case and reassure the house that britain will give all co—operation that is required by the crossing authorities in france and will that full cooperation extend not only to this tragic case but to all ongoing prosecutions where we

can make a contribution. i have raised on a number of occasions before the arrangements we have in place with the french authorities. i would ask if firstly, the home secretary could set out how many days per week we feel existing surveillance capacity is currently operating and what will the home secretary be doing urgently to increase that surveillance? now, i pay tribute to the national crime agency and our front line law enforcement officers for the work that they do. i hope what the home secretary said in her statement about law enforcement cooperation. can she also tell the house what she intends to do to deepen that cooperation with the french authorities and other countries, so the focus isn't always on coastal patrols, important though they are, but is also about disrupting the roots facilitated, often across hundreds and thousands of miles by vile people smuggling gangs who have

no regard for human life. can i ask the home secretary about safe and legal writs and the dub scheme. it was closed down having helped 480 children, ratherthan was closed down having helped 480 children, rather than the 2000 it was expected to help. will it be reinstated? the government has also announced theory afghanistan resettlement scheme. —— announced the afghanistan resettlement scheme. it showed the best of us yesterday and the actions. but the government now needs to send out her practically it will make good on its promise to help a total of 20,000 people. we are some months on and we need an urgent update on that. then there is the uk resettlement scheme was announced in february this year. today, the government has released the statistics on this. it shows that in its first year, only 770

people have been helped by the scheme. take it with the other schemes, 1171 people have been helped to the end of september when the promise from the home office was to help 5000 people in its first year. what will be done to make good on that promise? what urgent action will be taken to help those most in need? the home secretary mentioned the nationality and borders bill, which she knows the opposition will not support a bill that damages our standing around the world. the home secretary has spoken today of a worldwide migration crisis. can ministers revisit their decision to cut to the international aid budget and lead in the international stage to help those fleeing from persecution around the world? and finally, can i say that yesterday's terrible tragedy must be a moment for a change. the time for urgent

action to save lives is now. home secretary- _ action to save lives is now. home secretary- i— action to save lives is now. home secretary. i would _ action to save lives is now. home secretary. i would like _ action to save lives is now. home secretary. i would like to - action to save lives is now. home secretary. i would like to begin . action to save lives is now. home. secretary. i would like to begin my remarks by echoing some of the comments that the honourable gentleman made. in particular, a direct reference to actually our partners. our operational partners who day in day out do incredible work, but sometimes in this house gets overlooked too often. on joint patrols, for example, and i know the right honourable gentleman has asked about surveillance capability, we have officers from border force and uk law enforcement working in conjunction with the national crime agency and their french counterparts every day. and actually in some of the most appalling conditions. i would like to refer all members for previous statements i have made in this house around loss of life, people smuggling, but wider reforms of this government is bringing in, i have specifically mentioned the

weapon icing of illegal migration, the fact women and children, even babies are being threatened and weaponised and being forced into some of these most appalling unseaworthy vessels. officers in france have also been attacked, physically attacked, and injured in many quarters and our border force patrols and officers themselves have seen many harrowing scenes every single day. on that point, i would very much like to support and commend the work that our people do. this is difficult work. if i may come on to the the other points as well, including the fact there is a migration crisis. this is not new. this is absolutely not new, even in my days in my previous department in development, humanitarian crisis, climate crises, the all forced displacement. we have seen many movements of people through libya, the eastern mediterranean since

2013, i4 and 15. this the eastern mediterranean since 2013, 14 and 15. this has all culminated now in people movements, obviously with the afghanistan crisis and others as well. specifically on its surveillance capability, i will go through many of the points made. it has stood up every day, dependent fundamentally on whether, whether or not planes and drones can fly. on monday when i came to the house and urgent questions, i spoke about how drones are now being used in france, when previously they were not being used in france because they would not allow it. we have to recognise my counterparts and french counterparts and on intelligence cooperation, there are different to our own laws and the prosecution powers are different to ours as well. it is right we continue to notjust cooperate, cooperation is what we do day in and day out, but how we

intensify our work, how we share data, share intelligence and our own rules prevent some of that from happening and we are looking at ways how we can strengthen and bolster that. we have to think about what that. we have to think about what that means in terms of data sharing. on prosecutions, the prosecutions that have taken place are significant, they really are. the prosecution pathways in france differ from the united prosecution pathways in france differfrom the united kingdom. but also how we share across different jurisdictions information about individuals that have been arrested, because laws are different and differ. but also i should add there are gangs that aren'tjust operating on the continent, in northern france, belgium, netherlands and germany, there are gangs that operate in the united kingdom and thatis operate in the united kingdom and that is where our resources are focused. and targeted. this is not just about uk and france cooperation, and i have never said and i want to put this on the record once again, this is notjust a

problem for the united kingdom and france, when you look at europe from the get me to italy, greece, now and, i spoke to my counterpart in poland earlier this week, my counterparts in belgium, germany, we see this as a widescale problem. just two other points, if i may, or three other points. on resettlement. it is a fundamental pillar of the work of this government. the right honourable gentleman has mentioned resettlement figures. i would like to caveat much of this was through the pandemic. you will understand that travel movements have been restricted because of the pandemic but we are committed and working to absolutely resettle people in the way we have committed to do so. our links to the afghanistan resettlement scheme as well. in addition, to the 15,000 people that were evacuated under the operation, and i also publicly said we can only resettle once we have the ability

and the infrastructure to create resettlement pathways so that we don't just resettlement pathways so that we don'tjust bring people here and let them lead a life, they need to rebuild their life. the honourable gentleman also mentions the dub scheme. i put an offer on the table to the french government today on a agreement but looking at family reunion for children. this is again an offer i have made repeatedly to eric counterpart in france. we are going to be pursuing further discussions. we have to have viable agreements and they had to reflect the type of crisis we face on migration and the type of circumstances we are now confronted with. . ~ circumstances we are now confronted with. ., ~ i. circumstances we are now confronted with. ., ~ ., circumstances we are now confronted with. ., ., ,, , with. thank you, madam deputy seaker. with. thank you, madam deputy speaker- can — with. thank you, madam deputy speaker- can i — with. thank you, madam deputy speaker. can i say _ with. thank you, madam deputy speaker. can i say to _ with. thank you, madam deputy speaker. can i say to my - with. thank you, madam deputy - speaker. can i say to my honourable friend it is clear that this is not going to be ended at a stroke. the reality is even though we own no longer part of the convention, the convention is broken and across europe at the moment lots of

countries, have seen migrants travel across the country into somebody else's jurisdiction. across the country into somebody else'sjurisdiction. that across the country into somebody else's jurisdiction. that has led to the problem we face now, with those selecting to come to the uk ending up selecting to come to the uk ending up in france. can she ensure the house today that she is putting the greatest pressure on the french government to allow us to work with them in their territorial area, either by using patrol system are ships, and, ah, members of the armed forces to help them and support them because it would help them. mr; because it would help them. my honourable friend is right about the wider issue across eu member states. we recognise this as well. i will be speaking for the commissioner today. there is a recognition now and it is tragic and appalling that it takes a

tragedy of this nature for momentum to be galvanised across other countries as well on this issue. it should never take a crisis of this nature for action to come together. my nature for action to come together. my right honourable friend has specifically asked me about putting pressure, notjust pressure but direct offers on the table, to france onjoint direct offers on the table, to france on joint patrols, on territorial seas or territory itself. i have made that offer yet again to my counterpart in the last hour. . ~ again to my counterpart in the last hour. ., ~ , ., , again to my counterpart in the last hour. ., ~ i. , , ., hour. thank you. this is a devastating _ hour. thank you. this is a devastating tragedy - hour. thank you. this is a devastating tragedy and l hour. thank you. this is a l devastating tragedy and our hour. thank you. this is a _ devastating tragedy and our thoughts all go out to those who have lost their lives, together with their friends and their families. i their lives, together with their friends and theirfamilies. i am gratefulfor friends and theirfamilies. i am grateful for advance sight of the statement and greater cooperation to tackle the dreadful people smuggling gangsis tackle the dreadful people smuggling gangs is required. this should signal a massive change of approach to safe approach to the uk. this

government's refugee family reunion rules out amongst the most restrictive in europe, the dap scheme has closed and the family reunion applications are no longer possible. resettlement schemes are in lingo, family reunion rights are restricted and more people will feel compelled to make dangerous journeys to meet loved ones. the reality is that of assuring is a disgrace. will she publish the economic impact assessment bill, which presumably will confirm billions of pounds did not work and instead of blocking and closing down safe routes, we should be expanding them. my question is quite simple, will she commit today to ending all discussion of the uk using dangerous and life—threatening pushback tactics through the channel? the prime minister said yesterday that all options were on the table in addressing this crisis. will she confirm this will include

looking at the one measure which would make immediate difference, allowing refugees and asylum seekers to make their initial application outside the uk, rather than forcing people to physically travel here to begin their applications? t people to physically travel here to begin their applications?— begin their applications? i have to sa i am begin their applications? i have to say i am disappointed _ begin their applications? i have to say i am disappointed by - begin their applications? i have to say i am disappointed by the - say i am disappointed by the honourable gentleman's tone, comments and his actual inability to understand the situation as to what is taking place around global illegal migration issues and challenges. i will state to the honourable gentleman, if he thinks there is a simple solution, there is no simple solution. if you think settlement schemes that have existed previously, they are not the answer. he has bothered to read the belt, he should look at the new plan for immigration and importantly, we wider reforms that are required to our asylum system. our asylum system becomes a fit for purpose, so it meets the needs for people who are claiming asylum, so we have a

differentiated approach to stop migrants make —— so safe and legal routes absolutely. if he had joined in previous debates, i am not sure if he was here on monday. he would have heard me sing on monday that i launched a new plan for this on february. the plan is that we make the right kind of resettlement pass so people are fleeing persecution and oppression in countries for a range of reasons, the world is changing, and there is a great deal of instability out there, but in doing so, that will create a legal path to make their claim at the sight of the united kingdom so they won't have to come here and when they do come here they are literally supported in the right way in terms of accommodation, resettlement, so they can start the new life in the united kingdom. that is exactly how

it should work. that is