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UK Borders Bill

My Lords, I support the noble Lord, Lord Hylton. I do not see any grounds whatever for objecting to the inclusion of Article 17, as the amendment suggests. Perhaps I may elaborate on what is included in Article 17. It states: "““Member States shall take into account the specific situation of vulnerable persons such as minors, unaccompanied minors, disabled people, elderly people, pregnant women, single parents with minor children and persons who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence, in the national legislation implementing the provisions of Chapter II relating to material reception conditions and health care””." It adds that the paragraph, "““shall apply only to persons found to have special needs after an individual evaluation of their situation””." I suggest that the Minister should be only too happy to accept the amendment, because it reinforces the general principle already stated in Article 17.