My Lords, in the Government’s discussions with the French and other authorities, are we looking at the possibility that people could register in advance of travelling so that they would be good for two years rather than having to do it at the time of their first journey?

My Lords, in the Government’s discussions with the French and other authorities, are we looking at the possibility that people could register in advance of travelling so that they would be good for two years rather than having to do it at the time of their first journey?

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that there is a particular difficulty for those who have given up full-time work—indeed given up work altogether—in order to be full-time carers? They are then left in a position where they have virtually no pension and no security. When their loved one dies, they are left entirely on their own without much support.

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that there is a particular difficulty for those who have given up full-time work—indeed given up work altogether—in order to be full-time carers? They are then left in a position where they have virtually no pension and no security. When their loved one dies, they are left entirely on their own without much support.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take to tackle antisemitism in the UK.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take to tackle antisemitism in the UK.

My Lords, I welcome the positive steps the Government are taking, because many of us are utterly depressed by the antisemitism we have seen, particularly in recent months. However, could I ask the Minister to acknowledge something on the positive side of this? I have talked on behalf of refugees in many synagogues and to Jewish organisations, and it is characteristic of them to support child refugees, most of whom are Muslim. Is that not a positive story that we should talk about?

My Lords, I welcome the positive steps the Government are taking, because many of us are utterly depressed by the antisemitism we have seen, particularly in recent months. However, could I ask the Minister to acknowledge something on the positive side of this? I have talked on behalf of refugees in many synagogues and to Jewish organisations, and it is characteristic of them to support child refugees, most of whom are Muslim. Is that not a positive story that we should talk about?

My Lords, it is a privilege to take part in this debate, and I have learned a great deal from many of the contributions that have been made—I hope I am a wiser person as a result. I want to talk about two topics: the movement of people throughout the...

My Lords, it is a privilege to take part in this debate, and I have learned a great deal from many of the contributions that have been made—I hope I am a wiser person as a result. I want to talk about two topics: the movement of people throughout the...

I thank all Members of the House who spoke, particularly those in support of the regret Motion, and my noble friend the Minister. He has handled this extremely well. He has one of the most difficult jobs in government, and I very much appreciate the sensitive way in which he...

I thank all Members of the House who spoke, particularly those in support of the regret Motion, and my noble friend the Minister. He has handled this extremely well. He has one of the most difficult jobs in government, and I very much appreciate the sensitive way in which he...

My Lords, I start by thanking the various organisations that have sent us enormously helpful briefings and, of course, the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which has produced a pretty devastating report on the whole process.

I was very surprised when I learned that there is no ability in...

My Lords, I start by thanking the various organisations that have sent us enormously helpful briefings and, of course, the House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which has produced a pretty devastating report on the whole process.

I was very surprised when I learned that there is no ability in...

To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in response to the Cranston Inquiry Report on small boat deaths, published on 5 February.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in response to the Cranston Inquiry Report on small boat deaths, published on 5 February.

I am grateful to my noble friend—he has answered half my question already. The report has highlighted that there are very serious deficiencies in our ability to rescue people at sea and that we compare unfavourably with Italy and Greece, which have more and better-equipped boats. The RNLI and Border Force do a wonderful job in trying to save lives, but they are not well equipped with their boats to do so. I hope the Minister will do all he can to implement as much of the Cranston report as possible as quickly as possible before the summer comes along and more people are liable to drown in the channel.

I am grateful to my noble friend—he has answered half my question already. The report has highlighted that there are very serious deficiencies in our ability to rescue people at sea and that we compare unfavourably with Italy and Greece, which have more and better-equipped boats. The RNLI and Border Force do a wonderful job in trying to save lives, but they are not well equipped with their boats to do so. I hope the Minister will do all he can to implement as much of the Cranston report as possible as quickly as possible before the summer comes along and more people are liable to drown in the channel.

My Lords, what assessment have the Government made of the likelihood that the tensions in Lebanon and what is happening in Iran will lead to a flood of people seeking safety in Europe? Are we prepared for this, and are we having discussions with our European friends on how best...

My Lords, what assessment have the Government made of the likelihood that the tensions in Lebanon and what is happening in Iran will lead to a flood of people seeking safety in Europe? Are we prepared for this, and are we having discussions with our European friends on how best...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow my noble friend and to congratulate him on his excellent speech. He certainly has a lot of experience. When he speaks to us in the future, it will be not from the theory of what it is all about but from...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow my noble friend and to congratulate him on his excellent speech. He certainly has a lot of experience. When he speaks to us in the future, it will be not from the theory of what it is all about but from...

Does my noble friend agree that the situation in northern Syria has become more dangerous recently, especially for those being held in detention camps? Notwithstanding the sub judice position referred to by my noble friend, would it not be right for Shamima Begum, a British-born person educated and brought up here and probably trafficked to Syria as a 15 year-old, to be allowed to return and face justice? Or do the Government seriously believe that she should stay in a prison camp indefinitely?

Does my noble friend agree that the situation in northern Syria has become more dangerous recently, especially for those being held in detention camps? Notwithstanding the sub judice position referred to by my noble friend, would it not be right for Shamima Begum, a British-born person educated and brought up here and probably trafficked to Syria as a 15 year-old, to be allowed to return and face justice? Or do the Government seriously believe that she should stay in a prison camp indefinitely?

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reconsider their decision not to allow Shamima Begum and other British-born mothers and children to return to the UK from camps in Northern Syria in the light of the increased fighting in the area.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reconsider their decision not to allow Shamima Begum and other British-born mothers and children to return to the UK from camps in Northern Syria in the light of the increased fighting in the area.

My Lords, given the strong possibility that many Iranians will seek to flee for safety from their murderous regime, I wonder whether the best approach by this Government would be to have a united European approach to asylum seekers, so that we could all take our share of responsibility for...

My Lords, given the strong possibility that many Iranians will seek to flee for safety from their murderous regime, I wonder whether the best approach by this Government would be to have a united European approach to asylum seekers, so that we could all take our share of responsibility for...

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that we are talking about a young girl who was brought up in the UK, groomed and trafficked to Syria as a 15 year-old, has lost three babies and is now, in effect, stateless? What does my noble friend think will happen to her? Is she going to stay there for ever? Is it a life sentence? Surely it is our responsibility to deal with people who were brought up and educated in this country and who are trafficked abroad. Can my noble friend not accept that she is prepared to accept the full rigours of justice in a British court? Surely that is the right way forward.

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that we are talking about a young girl who was brought up in the UK, groomed and trafficked to Syria as a 15 year-old, has lost three babies and is now, in effect, stateless? What does my noble friend think will happen to her? Is she going to stay there for ever? Is it a life sentence? Surely it is our responsibility to deal with people who were brought up and educated in this country and who are trafficked abroad. Can my noble friend not accept that she is prepared to accept the full rigours of justice in a British court? Surely that is the right way forward.

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they will reconsider their refusal to allow Shamima Begum and other British-born women and children detained in north-east Syria to return to the UK.

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they will reconsider their refusal to allow Shamima Begum and other British-born women and children detained in north-east Syria to return to the UK.

My Lords, the Prime Minister is to be congratulated on the key part he has played in the coalition of the willing. I think his efforts have helped to kill the idea of appeasement, which was in the air a week or two ago. The stench of 1938 has been...

My Lords, the Prime Minister is to be congratulated on the key part he has played in the coalition of the willing. I think his efforts have helped to kill the idea of appeasement, which was in the air a week or two ago. The stench of 1938 has been...

My Lords, I urge the Minister to think again about the sequence of events regarding safe and legal routes. Many of us believe that introducing safe and legal routes would take away the business of the traffickers. Therefore, leaving it until the end of the line seems to allow the...

My Lords, I urge the Minister to think again about the sequence of events regarding safe and legal routes. Many of us believe that introducing safe and legal routes would take away the business of the traffickers. Therefore, leaving it until the end of the line seems to allow the...

Moved by

Lord Dubs

55: After Clause 48, insert the following new Clause—

“Family reunion for asylum seeking children outside the United Kingdom

(1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, lay before both Houses of Parliament a statement of changes to the immigration...

Moved by

Lord Dubs

55: After Clause 48, insert the following new Clause—

“Family reunion for asylum seeking children outside the United Kingdom

(1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, lay before both Houses of Parliament a statement of changes to the immigration...

My Lords, the purpose of Amendment 55 is to ensure that asylum-seeking children from abroad who have family here can join them. It is a very simple bit of family reunion on behalf of some of the most vulnerable refugees that there could be. There is a history to this....

My Lords, the purpose of Amendment 55 is to ensure that asylum-seeking children from abroad who have family here can join them. It is a very simple bit of family reunion on behalf of some of the most vulnerable refugees that there could be. There is a history to this....