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Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 5A: 5A: Clause 1, page 8, line 29, at end insert— ““63PA Applications The Secretary of State shall compile and publish annually a report recording the number and cost of applications in the preceding financial year.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I tabled the amendment in response to the Minister’s comments in Committee that the number of applications made could be recorded centrally to allow the Government to ascertain the volume and use of the orders. The Minister noted that such records are already kept for domestic violence applications and that they could be used for the orders in this legislation. The amendment would place a duty on the Secretary of State to publish an annual report on the volume and cost of applications made during the year. The amendment has been tabled simply to enable debate on the subject. It is important to ensure that we are sending this legislation to the other place in good health and well considered. It is important to consider the long-term implementation of these orders and the long-term accountability of the success of the legislation. We must not be frightened to admit that there may be some problems with implementing it on the ground. It is important to anticipate such problems and seek assurances that they do not occur. I suggest that the Government could in addition collate the costs of processing applications in order that resources allocated to the prevention of forced marriage—if they are to be allocated for that specific purpose—will be used most cost-effectively. I await the Minister’s response with interest. I beg to move.