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Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

My Lords, I, too, support my noble friend’s amendment. It gives me the opportunity to ask the Minister whether the Home Office will think again about the reflection period that we discussed briefly in Grand Committee. The reflection period helps trafficked people to recover from any traumatic experience, to take advice and to make an informed decision on whether to co-operate with the police. The Netherlands currently operates a three-month period; in Belgium and Norway the period is 45 days. Other states provide at least 30 days, which is a requirement of the Council of Europe convention. Without such a reflection period many victims will face immediate deportation, which is in neither their interests nor those of the police. While the Government are considering the Council of Europe convention—and I am sure that they recognise this as a key issue—perhaps they might consider whether the minimum of 30 days is an adequate period of reflection.