The Minister is kindly going through all the clauses not knowing where I might challenge them on a clause stand part debate. I have been letting him drift on because it is nice that he is able to read out his brief, but perhaps I may pick up on a...

The Minister is kindly going through all the clauses not knowing where I might challenge them on a clause stand part debate. I have been letting him drift on because it is nice that he is able to read out his brief, but perhaps I may pick up on a...

I do not have that information at my fingertips. Perhaps I may await advice from the Box and then come back to the noble Baroness on those points. I am not absolutely clear on the specifics. Clause 30 deals with the accounting of revenue collected by the UK Border Agency...

I do not have that information at my fingertips. Perhaps I may await advice from the Box and then come back to the noble Baroness on those points. I am not absolutely clear on the specifics. Clause 30 deals with the accounting of revenue collected by the UK Border Agency...

If any of the rules in Clause 16 on exceptions is broken and the information is then given to anyone else, that breaks the rule and therefore the person will be liable to—I forget exactly the penalties—something like a period of up to two years’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine....

If any of the rules in Clause 16 on exceptions is broken and the information is then given to anyone else, that breaks the rule and therefore the person will be liable to—I forget exactly the penalties—something like a period of up to two years’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine....

I was simply asking, especially because of the importance of the issue of the defence of the realm, whether customs officers are still appointed to those positions, which were attractive to people within the profession, on the basis of Buggins’s turn or whether there will be an emphasis on identifying...

I was simply asking, especially because of the importance of the issue of the defence of the realm, whether customs officers are still appointed to those positions, which were attractive to people within the profession, on the basis of Buggins’s turn or whether there will be an emphasis on identifying...

As far as I am aware, within the new structure we will try to avoid Buggins’s turn and go for the best people. Perhaps I may take more advice in detail and come up with an answer. The type of information that UKBA will handle and disclose will be persons...

As far as I am aware, within the new structure we will try to avoid Buggins’s turn and go for the best people. Perhaps I may take more advice in detail and come up with an answer. The type of information that UKBA will handle and disclose will be persons...

I am in no way seeking to piggy-back on the Front Bench of either opposition party, but I have another technical question. The Minister can rule it out of order if he wishes. Twenty years ago, one problem of friction between the commissioners and the unions was that working in...

I am in no way seeking to piggy-back on the Front Bench of either opposition party, but I have another technical question. The Minister can rule it out of order if he wishes. Twenty years ago, one problem of friction between the commissioners and the unions was that working in...

I am sorry, but would the noble Lord be so kind as to repeat the final question?

I am sorry, but would the noble Lord be so kind as to repeat the final question?

We are most grateful to the Minister for giving that detailed explanation of all the clauses that are subject to these amendments. We will take time to digest what he said but we will come back to our task of scrutinising the Bill in greater detail with much better information...

We are most grateful to the Minister for giving that detailed explanation of all the clauses that are subject to these amendments. We will take time to digest what he said but we will come back to our task of scrutinising the Bill in greater detail with much better information...

I support the Liberal Democrat amendment which is far more positive than the amendment proposed by the Conservative Party. Our amendment states that the primary function should be, "““protecting UK borders””." That, above everything else, should have first place in a list of functions. The Conservative amendment contains a lucky...

I support the Liberal Democrat amendment which is far more positive than the amendment proposed by the Conservative Party. Our amendment states that the primary function should be, "““protecting UK borders””." That, above everything else, should have first place in a list of functions. The Conservative amendment contains a lucky...

In supporting the amendment, I refer to my service in the police for over 30 years until about 12 or 13 years ago. I have seen enough of multidisciplinary groups trying to work together to recognise that they frequently meet with some success. However, based on the experience that I...

In supporting the amendment, I refer to my service in the police for over 30 years until about 12 or 13 years ago. I have seen enough of multidisciplinary groups trying to work together to recognise that they frequently meet with some success. However, based on the experience that I...

I am not at all clear how either of these two amendments would make for a distinct boundary between the proposed new police force and the existing police forces. Amendment 2 is an improvement on Amendment 1, but even that contains paragraph (c), "““preventing and detecting human trafficking””." That can...

I am not at all clear how either of these two amendments would make for a distinct boundary between the proposed new police force and the existing police forces. Amendment 2 is an improvement on Amendment 1, but even that contains paragraph (c), "““preventing and detecting human trafficking””." That can...

My noble friend Lord Avebury gave a good explanation of our position, which has just been reinforced by my noble friend Lord Roberts. I should like to ask the Minister a couple of questions. The first question concerns the very real threats to this country that are almost never talked...

My noble friend Lord Avebury gave a good explanation of our position, which has just been reinforced by my noble friend Lord Roberts. I should like to ask the Minister a couple of questions. The first question concerns the very real threats to this country that are almost never talked...

This first part of the Bill is one of its most important aspects and my amendments make it clear that we intend to probe the Government’s proposals carefully. I am bound to say that this is one of the most opaque bits of legislation that I have read for some...

This first part of the Bill is one of its most important aspects and my amendments make it clear that we intend to probe the Government’s proposals carefully. I am bound to say that this is one of the most opaque bits of legislation that I have read for some...

Amendment 1 1: Before Clause 1, insert the following new Clause— ““Establishment of UK Border Police Force (1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the UK Border Police Force. (2) The UK Border Police Force shall have the functions of— (a) detecting and removing illegal overstayers;...

Amendment 1 1: Before Clause 1, insert the following new Clause— ““Establishment of UK Border Police Force (1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the UK Border Police Force. (2) The UK Border Police Force shall have the functions of— (a) detecting and removing illegal overstayers;...

We share the ultimate objective proposed by the noble Baroness of a unified border force, but our attitude to the Bill is somewhat different. We look at the crossing between UKBA and HMRC as an important step towards the ultimate goal that we share with the noble Baroness, so we...

We share the ultimate objective proposed by the noble Baroness of a unified border force, but our attitude to the Bill is somewhat different. We look at the crossing between UKBA and HMRC as an important step towards the ultimate goal that we share with the noble Baroness, so we...

Amendment 2 (to Amendment 1) 2: Leave out lines 4 to 10 and insert— ““(2) The UK Border Police Force shall have the functions of— (a) protecting UK borders; (b) strengthening frontier protection against threats to the security, social and economic integrity and environment of the United Kingdom; (c) preventing...

Amendment 2 (to Amendment 1) 2: Leave out lines 4 to 10 and insert— ““(2) The UK Border Police Force shall have the functions of— (a) protecting UK borders; (b) strengthening frontier protection against threats to the security, social and economic integrity and environment of the United Kingdom; (c) preventing...

I very much support the establishment of a UK border police force and in particular I support the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Dear. Taking up the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, I should have thought that there would not be a great deal of difficulty...

I very much support the establishment of a UK border police force and in particular I support the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Dear. Taking up the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, I should have thought that there would not be a great deal of difficulty...

Before the Minister responds, I had hoped that some of the Members of the Committee would widen out the debate into the question of clause stand part. Will the Minister give us some clear indication of the Government’s view on their proposals, as laid out in Clauses 1 to 36?...

Before the Minister responds, I had hoped that some of the Members of the Committee would widen out the debate into the question of clause stand part. Will the Minister give us some clear indication of the Government’s view on their proposals, as laid out in Clauses 1 to 36?...

I agree with the noble Baroness that we should be discussing whether Clauses 1 to 36 should stand part, as well as the first two amendments that concern the border police force. I want to make it clear that we accept in principle that UKBA officials should be able to...

I agree with the noble Baroness that we should be discussing whether Clauses 1 to 36 should stand part, as well as the first two amendments that concern the border police force. I want to make it clear that we accept in principle that UKBA officials should be able to...

I am very grateful for the explanation that the noble Lord has given. Immigration officers who carry out HMRC functions have to be designated by the Secretary of State, but the noble Lord has told us that 4,500 HMRC people will be transferred to UKBA—that they will have a UKBA...

I am very grateful for the explanation that the noble Lord has given. Immigration officers who carry out HMRC functions have to be designated by the Secretary of State, but the noble Lord has told us that 4,500 HMRC people will be transferred to UKBA—that they will have a UKBA...