Fourth Report - Operation Isotrope: the use of the military to counter migrant crossings
Select Committee
Defence Committee
HC 1069
11 March 2022
Recommendations
1 results
6
Accepted
Para 60
We believe that the Government ought to reconsider its refusal to publish the details of...
Recommendation
We believe that the Government ought to reconsider its refusal to publish the details of strategic and operational responsibility. This confusion around where responsibility for the policy lies is compounded by the fact that, as noted above, the solution to …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that the overall division of responsibility is clear: the Home Secretary retains overall accountability, while the Defence Secretary is responsible for the operational response, including identifying, intercepting and managing small boat migrants.
Ministry of Defence
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Conclusions (5) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Accepted
The announcement of this policy appears to have been made prematurely. When the Government has been asked for details, it has consistently responded that these were being worked out. Announcing a policy before finalising the details is bad practice, particularly when that policy area is so sensitive. We question why …
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Prime Minister announced major reforms to UK immigration policy, including the Economic and Migration Development Partnership with Rwanda and confirmed military primacy for small boats migration in the English Channel. It says it had already confirmed the initial policy intent prior to the Prime Minister's announcement.
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 52
A successful military strategy requires clear ends, ways and means. The ends (or in this case the objectives) are anything but. The MOD appears to regard its objective as ensuring that no migrant lands on their own terms, but the Home Office sees the objective as deterrence. Whilst these are …
Government Response Summary
The Government believes the Committee’s conclusion is premature, stating that the Nationalities and Borders Act and the policy of third country processing will change the dynamic in the Channel.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 76
The Defence budget (despite its recent uplift and multi-year commitment) is already inadequate. Adding responsibility for immigration without a further uplift in the budget takes scarce resources from an already overstretched Department. We do not understand why this operation is not being treated as a MACA request and accordingly resourced …
Government Response Summary
The Treasury, Home Office and MoD agreed a £50 million package to enable the delivery of military primacy until early 2023, at which point the requirement and resourcing will be reviewed.
12
Conclusion
Accepted
Furthermore, this operation distracts from other Defence tasks, which is a particular concern given the shortfalls we identified in our recent Report ‘We’re going to need a bigger Navy’. The operation will likely have long-term impacts on training, personnel leave allocation and asset maintenance. It is also unclear why Op …
Government Response Summary
The government states that Defence primacy for tackling small boats migration is part of the Government’s significant overhaul of the immigration system. An additional financial package of £50 million has been agreed with the Treasury and Home Office to ensure the capability uplifts and enhancements required can be delivered.
13
Conclusion
Accepted
In short, the Government has not attempted to persuade us that Operation Isotrope is anything but an ill-defined policy, prematurely announced. The best case scenario for the Royal Navy is that it will leave with its reputation unharmed: there is no prospect of leaving with its reputation enhanced. (Paragraph 82) …
Government Response Summary
The government states that Defence primacy for tackling small boats migration is part of the Government’s significant overhaul of the immigration system. An additional financial package of £50 million has been agreed with the Treasury and Home Office to ensure the capability uplifts and enhancements required can be delivered.