The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 24th May 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the removal of asylum seekers to Rwanda will begin under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): The first group of people whose claims we believe are inadmissible in the UK, and who may be relocated to Rwanda under the Migration and Economic Development partnership, are receiving notices of intent. Relocations to Rwanda will begin as soon as practical.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government what financial provision they have made for the asylum related costs of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, for the first year of its operation.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): Funding has been agreed as part of the Home Office settlement with HMT.
Payments will depend on the outcomes delivered, including the number of people relocated.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum seekers they estimate will be sent to Rwanda as Relocated Individuals under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, during the first year of its operation.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): The number of individuals that will be relocated to Rwanda during the first year of operation of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership is uncapped. The number of individuals relocated is expected to be in the thousands, and there is scope to increase this if required.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of UK courts in determining the (1) treatment, and (2) applications of asylum seekers, who make their application in the United Kingdom but are relocated to Rwanda under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): Those who are relocated to Rwanda will have had their asylum application declared inadmissible to the UK system and therefore it will not be substantively considered by the UK. Anyone who it is proposed to relocate will have a chance to raise reasons why they should not be removed, seek legal advice and raise a legal challenge in the UK system before they are relocated.
Once an individual is relocated, Rwanda will process their asylum claim under the Rwandan jurisdiction and will take responsibility for supporting them.
As set out in paragraph 15 of the MoU governing the Migration and Economic Development Partnership, an independent Monitoring Committee will monitor the entire relocation process and compliance with assurances in the MoU, including the processing of asylum claims and provision of support in Rwanda.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to paragraph 5.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, what criteria they will apply to the screening of asylum seekers; and which categories of individuals will not be sent to Rwanda at that stage.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): The Memorandum of Understanding makes provision for an initial screening of asylum seekers before relocation to Rwanda which includes a screening of an individual’s identity, security checks, initial asylum screening and processing.
An individualised assessment of each individual’s circumstances will be undertaken prior to any decision to relocate them to Rwanda. We would not relocate someone where it would be unsafe or inappropriate to do so.
There will be agreed monitoring arrangements in place by an independent Monitoring Committee, and this will include monitoring of reception conditions and accommodation.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to paragraph 8.1 of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, what the criteria is for the accommodation of asylum seekers in terms of (1) health, (2) security, and (3) the wellbeing of the Relocated Individuals; and how the quality of such accommodation will be monitored.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): The Memorandum of Understanding makes provision for an initial screening of asylum seekers before relocation to Rwanda which includes a screening of an individual’s identity, security checks, initial asylum screening and processing.
An individualised assessment of each individual’s circumstances will be undertaken prior to any decision to relocate them to Rwanda. We would not relocate someone where it would be unsafe or inappropriate to do so.
There will be agreed monitoring arrangements in place by an independent Monitoring Committee, and this will include monitoring of reception conditions and accommodation.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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