UK Borders Bill

Time is closing in on us and I, too, would like to see the Minister make one concession today. I support the right reverend Prelate and I was pleased to hear from the noble Lord, Lord Judd, that he thinks that is the more comprehensive amendment. The right reverend Prelate pointed out that there are perhaps more than 280,000 so-called failed asylum seekers. These figures from the National Audit Office in 2005 estimate a cost of £11,000 per forced removal. These so-called failed asylum seekers are being pushed closer to the edge of destitution and the churches, aid workers and others who care for them are increasingly arguing for a new direction, a limited amnesty and a more humane policy above all. The Strangers into Citizens campaign would be a sensible way out for the Government, remembering that it will take three successive Parliaments to remove these numbers at the current rate. I commend also the Still Human Still Here campaign which focuses on this particular category. I welcome the Government’s new provision of eligibility during the grace period after appeal. I believe the Government are still appealing against the Court of Appeal and I am not clear about the exact definition of the grace period or the prescribed period described under Clause 17(5). I hope the Minister will elaborate on that. Meanwhile, as has been said, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, on page 15 of House of Lords Paper 105, concedes that destitution may not be a deliberate policy, but there remains a risk that some asylum seekers will be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention. This is why the committee, with all its authority, as the noble Lord, Lord Roberts, has said, recommends the repeal of Section 55 of the 2002 Act and Section 9 of the 2004 Act and, most importantly, the extension of the duty under Section 11 of the Children Act to immigration.