UK Borders Bill

Will the Minister say whether I am correct that Section 9 was applied only in three areas to a small sample of 116 families, or do case managers across the country even now have discretion to apply it to individual families? I await his reply with interest. Moreover, the size of the asylum backlog is nothing less than a national scandal. The fact that some people’s cases have been undecided for perhaps 10 or even more years must surely deny them their right to proper consideration under the UN convention on refugees. It is good news that some of the families caught in the backlog may be eligible for some form of discretionary leave to remain. I think that the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, said that 30,000 cases go back to before December 1995. What is key for these people is the right to work here. I hope that that will be made possible for the greatest possible number of people, particularly for the non-returnable families who will have to stay here in some shape or form for an unknown period or indefinitely. Will the Minister confirm that benefits cannot by themselves be a magnet to attract people from other countries to the United Kingdom? It must by now be very widely known that the full rate of benefit is not paid; they are at a discount to British citizens. In conclusion, I initiated a debate on destitution in your Lordships’ House on 14 December last year. I am sorry to say that the replies given then and subsequently have not been very satisfactory. Nor has it been possible to arrange a meeting between the leading voluntary organisations in this field and the relevant Ministers. I support the amendment.