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1,129 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSpecial Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2023That the draft Rules laid before the House on 2 February be approved. Relevant document: 30th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in Grand…21 Mar 2023HANSARDUK-EU: Revised Passenger RequirementsI will not castigate the noble Lord for using an exhibit in the Chamber, but perhaps I can say this. We are delighted that passport covers—which are indeed, as I understand…21 Mar 2023HANSARDUK-EU: Revised Passenger RequirementsMy Lords, it is for the European Commission to decide when it implements its system. Our system will be ready probably before then, and implementation of the ETA is well advanced.…21 Mar 2023HANSARDUK-EU: Revised Passenger RequirementsIf I may, I will address the question in relation to the European Entry/Exit System. That is a separate procedure from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System; it…21 Mar 2023HANSARDUK-EU: Revised Passenger RequirementsI understand that the United Kingdom has always taken the view that the Europeans are our friends and we treat them in the same way we always did. That, sadly, has not been the…21 Mar 2023HANSARDUK-EU: Revised Passenger RequirementsI find myself in the odd position of agreeing with the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett. Let me explain. The European Union has chosen to implement something called the European…21 Mar 2023HANSARDUK-EU: Revised Passenger RequirementsClearly, the European Union and the Schengen area have set up their own system. It does not incorporate all members of the European Union; for example, the Republic of Ireland is…21 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI believe that I have already answered that question a number of times in the course of proceedings in this House and I will not repeat it again.20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDAs I say, that is not a Home Office issue, so I am afraid that the answer is no: I have not given that instruction. No doubt the noble Lord can make inquiries of the Department…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDMy Lords, His Majesty’s Passport Office is working to manage the impact of the strike action. We have comprehensive contingency plans. There are currently no plans to change the…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDThe noble Lord asked two questions. First, in relation to the Passport Office, the department remains confident that the 10-week service standard for the return of passports will…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI am afraid I simply do not agree with the noble Baroness. This Parliament has passed an Act to require people to present voter identification and that is what will happen.20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI thank my noble friend for that suggestion. Great efforts are made to advertise the availability of the voter authority certificate. Anyone concerned that a document that they…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI can certainly indicate that careful consideration is given to these issues. As always, we will consider all the recommendations and advice given to this House, including from my…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI thank my noble friend, who is of course correct that paper identification has been required at polling stations in Northern Ireland since it was introduced in 1985, and photo…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI am incredibly grateful to the noble Viscount for his comment, which I will pass on. I am always very impressed by the Passport Office staff. Their work to turn around delivery…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDWell, of course, elections fall within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities rather than the Home Office, but I am delighted to make that inquiry and write to…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI thank my noble friend; he is indeed correct. Some 20 forms of identity document would suffice including: a passport—needless to say—issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands,…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDPlainly, that was an issue that the noble Lord should have raised—and no doubt did raise—during the debate on the Elections Bill. It is quite a long way from the topic of this…20 Mar 2023HANSARDPassports: Strike Action and Voter IDI am afraid that I do not accept that there is no need for the voter identification provisions. In any event, as I say, those matters have been approved by the other place and by…20 Mar 2023