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UK Borders Bill

I support Amendment No. 3 and point out that it concerns one of the many points raised by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. However, I question whether ““regulations”” is the right word to use. It may over-formalise the situation a little on the off-chance that the Government feel like accepting the amendment or one similar to it. Clearly acceptable publication setting out the necessary training and qualifications will be very important. The amendment also gives me an opportunity to refer to a practice which I understand is currently used by both immigration officers and police—namely, the stopping and questioning of, in particular, Muslim people entering or leaving this country. It can be seen as a form of discrimination and can cause a great deal of resentment and alienation. I recall that this practice was used regularly during the long years of emergency in Northern Ireland on the ferries between Northern Ireland and Scotland and possibly also Liverpool, and it was sometimes applied at airports for travellers from Northern Ireland. I should be very surprised if, in that case, it ever produced any solid evidence that did any real good, and I would question the practice now.