Ministers have insisted the Rwanda deportation scheme remains a priority despite growing Tory concerns over delays.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said “we will do everything that we can to break the business models of the evil smugglers”.
And Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the deportation scheme will be a “further critical deterrent”.
Tory MPs are demanding the Government “disapply” the ECHR to allow flights to take off.
Facing MPs for the first time since becoming Home Secretary, Mr Cleverly said: “We will do everything that we can to ensure that we break the business models of the evil smugglers, that we drive down small boat arrivals.
“The deterrent effect of Rwanda is a key element to that multi-strand approach.”
Mr Cleverly faced calls to give a “categorical reassurance” that he will do “everything possible so that we can deliver the Rwanda policy”.
But he stopped short – only promising to “ensure that we drive down small boat arrivals”.
Tory MPs are concerned the new Home Secretary is not fully committed to the Rwanda scheme after he claimed it was not the “be all and end all”.
Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer asked ministers: “Is it time to realise that as well-intentioned international treaties and conventions agreed 70 years ago are, (they are) no longer fit for purpose? We simply cannot accommodate all those who would qualify for asylum under existing rules.
“The world is facing troubled times and more mass migration.
“Will he assure me that he will do all he can to raise the bar for those seeking asylum or migration here, and look at other solutions to stop people leaving their homelands so those countries can make better futures for themselves without the loss of so many of their young?
“Much of Europe is in a dire state because of mass immigration, we cannot let the United Kingdom go the same way.”
Conservative MP James Morris quoted Mr Cleverly’s comment at the weekend voicing frustration that a ‘narrative’ had developed where the Rwanda scheme was ‘the be-all-and-end-all of Government policy’.
“Would the minister agree with the Home Secretary? And if he does agree with the Home Secretary, what is the Government’s policy in relation to combatting of boats and resisting illegal migration and what is our policy?” Mr Morris said.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told MPs: “When the Prime Minister and I set out our comprehensive plan this time last year it had many facets, one of which – an extremely important component of which – was our Rwanda plan.
“But it was not the only element of our plan, and we have worked intensively over the course of the last 12 months on each and every other facet of that plan. Those on the opposite benches jeer but is that plan working?
“Yes it is and you can see that from the fact that we are almost the only country in Europe where the number of illegal entrants is falling.”
Mr Jenrick added: “None of that negates the importance of interjecting a further critical deterrent, and that is the crucial element of the Rwanda scheme.
“And that is the difference between those of us on this side and the Opposition because frankly they don’t want to stop the boats and they don’t have the stomach to do a policy like Rwanda.”
The Immigration Minister, asked if he was planning to resign if the Government fails to tackle record high levels of net migration, launched an assault on Labour.
He said: “We had nothing from the benches opposite about what they would actually do.
“The sad truth is they have complete disdain for the British public who want us, demanding that we reduce the level of both legal and illegal migration.
“The Home Secretary and I will do absolutely everything in our powers to do that.”
has proposed a minimum salary threshold of £35,000.
He has also suggested banning workers arriving using a health and social care visa from being able to bring their dependants with them.
Mr Jenrick’s proposals are being considered by Home Secretary James Cleverly.
Net migration hit 745,000 in the year to December, prompting renewed pressure on the Government to end get a grip on migration.
And the Immigration Minister told MPs: “We believe that the level of legal migration into this country is far too high.”
He added: “We have already announced a specific policy with respect to dependents which comes into force at the beginning of next year.
“We think that will have a substantive impact upon the levels of net migration, but as the Prime Minister has said we are keeping all options under review and will take further action as required.”
