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Proceeding contribution from Neil Gerrard (Labour) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 2 June 2009. It occurred during Debate on bill on Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [Lords].


Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [Lords]

This would be an appropriate place to try to look for a solution to the Chagos islands problem, which has been going on for some considerable time. One other matter that I hope the Minister will address in his winding-up speech is access to benefits and services. It is generally accepted that full access to benefits and services should be withheld until someone has either citizenship or permanent residence. Indeed, that is essentially the current situation: certain benefits and services cannot be accessed until someone has permanent residence, at least. However, given that the Bill extends the qualifying period for citizenship, I am concerned that people will end up paying taxes for much longer periods without being able to reap the benefits from those taxes or to access even contribution-based benefits. I should be extremely concerned if, in the regulations that follow the Bill, any attempt were made to restrict access to health care for a longer period than operates at present. Unless I missed it, when introducing the Bill, the Home Secretary did not mention the provision to restrict judicial review applications. That caused some argument and controversy in the Lords, and I hope that it will be covered in the winding-up speeches. Clause 55 includes an amendment that was made in the Lords, limiting the cases that can be transferred from the High Court to the upper tribunal. I strongly believe that it ought still to be possible to go to the High Court.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
493 c189-90 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Children Asylum Deportation British nationality Customs officers Borders Immigration controls Immigration Undocumented migrants Free movement of labour Entry clearances Immigration officers Offenders Personal records Ports Overseas students Migrant workers UK Border Agency Common travel area
Legislation
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill (HL) 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk