1-20 of 46 results for subject:Migrants
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Answering member
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Lord Bassam of Brighton
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Bassam of Brighton, Lord (46)
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My Lords, I am enormously grateful to the noble Baroness for her interpretation.
My Lords, I am enormously grateful to the noble Baroness for her interpretation.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Gardner of Parkes
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, my children were born here at a time when they would be British although they had two Australian parents. I clearly recall when your Lordships' House changed the law on that. If my children were born here tomorrow, they would not be British. As I understand it, they must have one British parent. It used to be that if you overflew the country and dropped off the plane to have the baby, it would be British because it was born here, but that was changed some time ago.
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am inevitably drawn to agreeing with the noble Lord. The 2001 figures show that migrants generated 10 per cent of GDP despite accounting for 8 per cent of the working-age population. In 2003–04, migrants accounted for 10 per cent of government tax receipts but 8.1 per cent of government expenditure. Obviously those are broad figures that no doubt include a lot of other detail within them, but the case is inescapable. Migrants to our country not only help the economy but contribute an enormous amount to British life. We should celebrate that.
My Lords, I am inevitably drawn to agreeing with the noble Lord. The 2001 figures show that migrants generated 10 per cent of GDP despite accounting for 8 per cent of the working-age population. In 2003–04, migrants accounted for 10 per cent of government tax receipts but 8.1 per cent of government expenditure. Obviously those are broad figures that no doubt include a lot of other detail within them, but the case is inescapable. Migrants to our country not only help the economy but contribute an enormous amount to British life. We should celebrate that.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Dholakia
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does the Minister agree that successive census data have confirmed that a large number of foreign-born people who enter this country, particularly women of child-bearing age, are economically active? In a country that is ageing so rapidly and where the birth rate has dropped, should we not be celebrating the fact that these people are contributing so fundamentally to economic development?
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, there is, and I think that we have benefited from that. I am grateful for the noble Lord's contribution.
My Lords, there is, and I think that we have benefited from that. I am grateful for the noble Lord's contribution.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Renton
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, have not the questions put by noble Lords indicated that it would be far better if there were a degree of flexibility in this matter?
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the noble Lord is absolutely right. Not for the first time, he has hit the nail on the head.
My Lords, the noble Lord is absolutely right. Not for the first time, he has hit the nail on the head.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Soley
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I do not think that I can remember an occasion when I have gone up to the parents of a newborn child and said, "Can you tell me where you are from?". That is not the first question that you ask a parent; you usually congratulate them on having a child. As we are so proud of our nation's history, because it is so diverse and has given us such strength, not just in recent years but over hundreds of years, we really ought to be very proud of that diversity and strength. Let us stop knocking it in the way that some people do by innuendo.
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, it is a statistic. I have tried to be as factual with your Lordships' House as I can. Perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, is at variance with his party leader on the subject of migration. Perhaps he is trying to make a political point. It may be worth reminding him that David Cameron recently said:
"Over the centuries, Britain has profited immeasurably from the skills and vitality brought to these islands by immigrants from all over the world".
Perhaps the noble Lord does not agree with him.
My Lords, it is a statistic. I have tried to be as factual with your Lordships' House as I can. Perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, is at variance with his party leader on the subject of migration. Perhaps he is trying to make a political point. It may be worth reminding him that David Cameron recently said:
"Over the centuries, Britain has profited immeasurably from the skills and vitality brought to these islands by immigrants from all over the world".
Perhaps the noble Lord does not agree with him.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Tebbit
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, is the Minister able to say whether the Government think that the figure of 20 per cent is too great, too little, or exactly right and in accordance with a policy that they have pursued?
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c5-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I think that from time to time I am entitled to pose a question to the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit. However, I have given a straight statistical answer, and I am happy with that.
My Lords, I think that from time to time I am entitled to pose a question to the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit. However, I have given a straight statistical answer, and I am happy with that.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Tebbit
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, will the noble Lord answer a question and give a straight answer instead of asking me a question?
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, in most circumstances that is absolutely right.
My Lords, in most circumstances that is absolutely right.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Countess of Mar
(Crossbench)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal. My understanding is that a child born of foreign-born parents in this country, where those parents have not had British nationality conferred on them, remains a child of the nation of the parents' birth.
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c4-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, that is broadly accurate. Birth registrations gave a total of 124,563 live births occurring in 2004 to mothers who were born outside the United Kingdom, out of a total of 639,721 live births. That has been presented as 19.5 per cent in published statistics and, in turn, rounded to 20 per cent in press reporting. What is not reported is that 7 per cent of that 19.5 per cent have a British-born father and that the 19.5 per cent figure includes those who were born abroad but have United Kingdom citizenship. The figure also ignores the valuable and disproportionately positive contribution that migrants make to the United Kingdom economy.
My Lords, that is broadly accurate. Birth registrations gave a total of 124,563 live births occurring in 2004 to mothers who were born outside the United Kingdom, out of a total of 639,721 live births. That has been presented as 19.5 per cent in published statistics and, in turn, rounded to 20 per cent in press reporting. What is not reported is that 7 per cent of that 19.5 per cent have a British-born father and that the 19.5 per cent figure includes those who were born abroad but have United Kingdom citizenship. The figure also ignores the valuable and disproportionately positive contribution that migrants make to the United Kingdom economy.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Renton
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Whether it is the case, as recently reported, that 20 per cent of all births in England and Wales in 2004 were to foreign-born mothers.
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am not sure where the noble Lord is coming from on this, but I rather gather that he is unhappy with the statistics that I presented to your Lordships' House. We are happy with our interpretation of the law, and we accept that it is a complex matter of interpretation. But I am overwhelmingly left with the impression that migration to the United Kingdom is a force for good and a very positive thing, not just economically but in diversity and in what generations of migrants have brought to the culture and quality of life of this country.
My Lords, I am not sure where the noble Lord is coming from on this, but I rather gather that he is unhappy with the statistics that I presented to your Lordships' House. We are happy with our interpretation of the law, and we accept that it is a complex matter of interpretation. But I am overwhelmingly left with the impression that migration to the United Kingdom is a force for good and a very positive thing, not just economically but in diversity and in what generations of migrants have brought to the culture and quality of life of this country.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Renton
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, should we not bear it in mind that in most countries where British mothers give birth to children, those children do not have British nationality but will have the nationality of the country where they were born? On the other hand, is it not highly desirable that children born here of foreign parents should not have British nationality because it would give them a status in this country that they may never be here to enjoy again? I know that this is a big subject but, bearing in mind the complexities of it, would the Government consider a change in the law?
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Whether it is the case, as recently reported, that 20 per cent of all births in England and Wales in 2004 were to foreign-born mothers.
Whether it is the case, as recently reported, that 20 per cent of all births in England and Wales in 2004 were to foreign-born mothers.
Asked by
Lord Renton
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
30 January 2006
Answered on
30 January 2006
My Lords, that is broadly accurate. Birth registrations gave a total of 124,563 live births occurring in 2004 to mothers who were born outside the United Kingdom, out of a total of 639,721 live births. That has been presented as 19.5 per cent in published statistics and, in turn, rounded to 20 per cent in press reporting. What is not reported is that 7 per cent of that 19.5 per cent have a British-born father and that the 19.5 per cent figure includes those who were born abroad but have United Kingdom citizenship. The figure also ignores the valuable and disproportionately positive contribution that migrants make to the United Kingdom economy.
Subjects
Migrants; Childbirth
Date
30 January 2006
Reference
678 c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Lords debate on unstarred question on what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to address the segregation of communities, and to enhance better community relations.
Lords debate on unstarred question on what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to address the segregation of communities, and to enhance better community relations.
Lead member
Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Answering member
Lord Bassam of Brighton
Department
Home Office
Type
Questions for short debate
Subjects
Community relations; Education; Faith schools; Migrants; Ethnic groups; Minority groups; Race relations; Muslims
Date
28 November 2005
Reference
676 c31-52GC
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am more than happy to confirm the situation.
My Lords, I am more than happy to confirm the situation.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, in view of what has been said from the Liberal Democrat Benches, can my noble friend confirm that when I was a Minister and went to Algeria for the purposes stated by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, I did receive certain assurances from the Algerian Government and that those are now quite properly the subject of discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the Algerian Government in order to test out their validity? I hope that my noble friend will be able to confirm the position.
Subjects
Deportation; Migrants; Terrorism; Acquittals
Date
26 May 2005
Reference
672 c576
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, in this particular case it would be wise to await the careful consideration that undoubtedly will be given by officials to the circumstances of the individuals concerned. I am not going to be drawn to comment on particular visits made by Ministers to discuss very sensitive issues because it would be wrong of me to do so from the Dispatch Box. I want to make it absolutely clear that we would not seek to deport anyone if there was a real and probable threat of that person being tortured or ill-treated by another country.
My Lords, in this particular case it would be wise to await the careful consideration that undoubtedly will be given by officials to the circumstances of the individuals concerned. I am not going to be drawn to comment on particular visits made by Ministers to discuss very sensitive issues because it would be wrong of me to do so from the Dispatch Box. I want to make it absolutely clear that we would not seek to deport anyone if there was a real and probable threat of that person being tortured or ill-treated by another country.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Avebury
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, did not the noble Baroness, Lady Symons, visit Algeria shortly before the election and hold discussions with the authorities on what they would do if we were to deport the Algerian citizens being held in Belmarsh? Will the noble Lord confirm that the noble Baroness was unable to secure any undertakings from the Algerian authorities that these citizens would not be tortured? In those circumstances, would it not be a breach of our obligations under Article 3 of the convention against torture if any of those people were to be refouled?
Subjects
Deportation; Migrants; Terrorism; Acquittals
Date
26 May 2005
Reference
672 c575
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I confirm that in-country reports are extremely important in the process of considering cases. It is right that officials properly consider them, and that at a later stage those considerations are informed by any assurances which need to be sought. That is the right way to deal with this and that is how it rests.
My Lords, I confirm that in-country reports are extremely important in the process of considering cases. It is right that officials properly consider them, and that at a later stage those considerations are informed by any assurances which need to be sought. That is the right way to deal with this and that is how it rests.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Dholakia
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, the Minister gave assurances that in-country reports would be taken into account when considering deportation. In this case, Amnesty International is holding an inquiry into torture taking place in Algerian gaols. Can he assure the House that no decision will be taken until the report is complete and that due consideration will be given to its findings?
Subjects
Deportation; Migrants; Terrorism; Acquittals
Date
26 May 2005
Reference
672 c575-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, Section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 provides that a person who is not a British citizen may be deported if his deportation is deemed to be conducive to the public good. In deciding whether or not deportation action is appropriate in a particular case, the fact that the person concerned has been acquitted of any criminal charges will be one of the factors taken into account where it applies, but it is not conclusive. Each case is considered on its individual merits, taking account of all the relevant factors. Of course, where someone subject to immigration control is present without leave in the United Kingdom and has no entitlement to remain, we will normally seek to remove him whether or not he has been tried and acquitted of any criminal offence.
My Lords, Section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 provides that a person who is not a British citizen may be deported if his deportation is deemed to be conducive to the public good. In deciding whether or not deportation action is appropriate in a particular case, the fact that the person concerned has been acquitted of any criminal charges will be one of the factors taken into account where it applies, but it is not conclusive. Each case is considered on its individual merits, taking account of all the relevant factors. Of course, where someone subject to immigration control is present without leave in the United Kingdom and has no entitlement to remain, we will normally seek to remove him whether or not he has been tried and acquitted of any criminal offence.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Williams of Crosby
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Whether it is now their policy to deport non-British citizens charged with terrorist offences, even when, as in the recent ricin case, the courts have found them innocent of the charges.
Subjects
Deportation; Migrants; Terrorism; Acquittals
Date
26 May 2005
Reference
672 c574
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her kind congratulations. I am more than happy to confirm that of course we would not seek to derogate from our international human rights obligations, and that is the case in this instance. It would be wrong and inappropriate of me to comment on individual cases from the Dispatch Box, but I want to make it absolutely clear that we greatly respect our international human rights obligations. We would not remove a person to a country if there was a risk of any kind of that person being tortured or otherwise ill treated.
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her kind congratulations. I am more than happy to confirm that of course we would not seek to derogate from our international human rights obligations, and that is the case in this instance. It would be wrong and inappropriate of me to comment on individual cases from the Dispatch Box, but I want to make it absolutely clear that we greatly respect our international human rights obligations. We would not remove a person to a country if there was a risk of any kind of that person being tortured or otherwise ill treated.
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Baroness Williams of Crosby
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, first I congratulate and commiserate with the noble Lord, Lord Bassam, on retaining his very tough assignment. The noble Lord quotes the Immigration Act 1971, but is it not also the case that the United Kingdom is a member of the European Convention on Human Rights and has signed the UN convention against torture? Given that, I ask the Minister, first, to affirm that so far Algeria has not given any assurances that people acquitted of any crime in the United Kingdom and deported to that country would not be tortured. Secondly, will he affirm that we still retain our commitment to the European convention and the convention against torture? Finally, will he commit himself to saying that the United Kingdom will not deport innocent citizens to countries which, as Amnesty confirms, have a systematic record of torturing their citizens and those returned to them?
Subjects
Deportation; Migrants; Terrorism; Acquittals
Date
26 May 2005
Reference
672 c574-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Whether it is now their policy to deport non-British citizens charged with terrorist offences, even when, as in the recent ricin case, the courts have found them innocent of the charges.
Whether it is now their policy to deport non-British citizens charged with terrorist offences, even when, as in the recent ricin case, the courts have found them innocent of the charges.
Asked by
Baroness Williams of Crosby
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
26 May 2005
Answered on
26 May 2005
My Lords, Section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 provides that a person who is not a British citizen may be deported if his deportation is deemed to be conducive to the public good. In deciding whether or not deportation action is appropriate in a particular case, the fact that the person concerned has been acquitted of any criminal charges will be one of the factors taken into account where it applies, but it is not conclusive. Each case is considered on its individual merits, taking account of all the relevant factors. Of course, where someone subject to immigration control is present without leave in the United Kingdom and has no entitlement to remain, we will normally seek to remove him whether or not he has been tried and acquitted of any criminal offence.
Subjects
Deportation; Migrants; Terrorism; Acquittals
Date
26 May 2005
Reference
672 c574
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Ackner
(Crossbench)
Type
Oral answers to questions
What medical tests, if any, are mandatory in relation to those seeking asylum or seeking to immigrate to the United Kingdom; and, if none, why this is so.
Subjects
Asylum; Diagnosis; HIV/AIDS; Migrants; Medical examinations; Screening
Date
4 December 2002
Reference
641 c1144-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
What medical tests, if any, are mandatory in relation to those seeking asylum or seeking to immigrate to the United Kingdom; and, if none, why this is so.
What medical tests, if any, are mandatory in relation to those seeking asylum or seeking to immigrate to the United Kingdom; and, if none, why this is so.
Asked by
Lord Ackner
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
4 December 2002
Answered on
4 December 2002
Subjects
Asylum; Diagnosis; HIV/AIDS; Migrants; Medical examinations; Screening
Date
4 December 2002
Reference
641 c1144-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Answered by
Lord Bassam of Brighton
(Labour)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Asylum; Diagnosis; HIV/AIDS; Migrants; Medical examinations; Screening
Date
4 December 2002
Reference
641 c1144-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords