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UK Borders Bill

There was an interesting discussion on a very similar amendment in the Public Bill Committee on 15 March. The Minister, Joan Ryan, said then that there would be reports to Parliament on the operation not only of Clause 19 but of every other clause, and that the independent inspectorate would look at the points-based system, including its appeal system, and the operation of Clause 19, as the noble Lord, Lord Henley, has just acknowledged. The Secretary of State would then lay its annual report before Parliament. Then, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines, there would also be a post-implementation review of the Bill, including Clause 19 itself. So although my honourable friend the Member for Rochdale supported the Conservative amendment in the Public Bill Committee, having discussed it with him and having listened to the Minister’s explanation on that occasion, I believe that the noble Lord, Lord Henley, would have concluded that Parliament would have adequate opportunity to review the workings of Clause 19 and, indeed, the rest of the Bill.