Contributions
189 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, I support Amendment 183 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, which I am cosponsoring along with the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, and the noble Lord,…10 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, can we have a little less talk about the far right? Some 70% of the population think that the present Government’s policy on asylum is a failure.08 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillI entirely agree about the appalling conditions in these refugee camps and the huge number of refugees that are being dealt with. The question that I and others ask is: how can we…08 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillI shall go on to Amendment 113, which deals with unaccompanied minors. The main effect of this amendment would be to put a considerable number of children in serious danger. As…08 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, I think that it is perhaps time for a different view from this side of the Committee. I will briefly deal with Amendments 112 and 113. Amendment 112 refers to “Refugee…08 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, in a word, I see these issues from a policy point of view, not just a legal one. The fact is that our asylum system is in chaos, and very visibly so. Large numbers of…08 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillYes, 125,000 is correct, and I think that many—most—are waiting for more than a year. But if I may continue with my point—which does not address that; what I am addressing is the…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillTo get the timescale on this, I say that 10 years ago it was 40,000 asylum seekers a year. That is roughly the number now—30,000 on the channel and 10,000 by other means. The…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillThat is correct. If the two are added together, it averages about 40,000 a year over the last eight or 10 years. The problem now is the publicity surrounding all this, which makes…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillThe noble Lord mentioned that most applicants will become refugees. I have the Home Office figures here: 49% of the 450,000 asylum applications between 2004 and 2020 were…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillNo; it is very simple —too simple for the noble Baroness—but it would mean that we do not need huge amounts of security in order to keep people where we put them. I hope that…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillDoes the noble Baroness agree that there should be a distinction between those who have had their cases examined and are refugees and those whose cases have not yet been examined?…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillYes, indeed, and 49% were not.03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, we have heard eight speakers on one side of this debate, and I think a word is in order from the other side. We are back to the same point: should we or should we not…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillYes, I heard that opinion poll mentioned a couple of times. I would actually like to see the question and the context in what it was put. Any opinion poll needs to be looked at…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillI do not see the relevance of that question. Let me conclude, if I may. As we discussed earlier in this debate, the Government’s asylum workload has tripled from 40,000 cases in…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, the noble Baroness is right to say this is the detained fast track brought back again, in effect. I simply say that this is a very good idea. Leaving aside the detail,…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, is the Minister saying that in practice—I hope he is—if someone has quite clearly destroyed their documents, that will be taken into account when considering their claim?03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillI am a bit puzzled. Although the precise numbers vary from year to year, it is quite clear that substantial numbers—30%, 40% or 50%, depending on which year you take—turn out not…03 Feb 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillWould the noble Baroness like to say whether evidence is ever deliberately produced late in order that it is impossible to remove people for whom such a decision has been made?03 Feb 2022