A DORSET MP has questioned the logic behind Government plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, as controversial immigration reforms edged closer to becoming law.

The Nationality and Borders Bill would allow the UK to send asylum seekers to a "safe third country" and to submit claims at a "designated place" determined by the Secretary of State.

But MPs and campaigners have criticised the plans to forcibly send to Rwanda thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in the UK in unauthorised Channel crossings.

A £120 million economic deal has been struck with Rwanda and cash for each removal is expected to follow.

Conservative North Dorset MP Simon Hoare speaking as the Commons considered Lords amendments made to the Bill on Wednesday, April 20, said: "A safe route clearly would kill the evil traffic of people smuggling at a stroke, that's one way of dealing with it.

"I fail to see how moving people to Rwanda is going to in any way disrupt this money-making scheme which these people traffickers have. They're just going to use different routes to land people on our shores. I'm just not getting it, I'm afraid."

Home Office minister Tom Pursglove said he was grateful for Mr Hoare's "considered interventions" but added: "I respectfully disagree with him on this point."

The exchange came before the Government started to overturn changes made to the Bill by peers, which saw MPs reject three amendments which were part of efforts to ensure any move to offshore asylum claims was subject to approval of both Houses of Parliament along with a cost breakdown.

The Bill is currently at the stage known as parliamentary ping-pong where a piece of legislation moves between the two Houses until agreement on the wording can be reached.