UK Borders Bill

First, I am very grateful to all those who have participated in the debate. The more I have sat on the Committee, the more I feel that the Government have been extremely fortunate that the result of so much hard work and detailed thought has been brought to our deliberations. I have been impressed by the detail of so much of the analysis offered by the Committee. The Government must take all that very seriously. There is a great deal that I would like to say in response to the Minister’s characteristically—I repeat, characteristically—full, detailed and considerate reply, although this is probably not the time to say it. I shall merely emphasise a couple of points. First, I believe that members of all parties in Parliament and this country have to decide whether to put children first. If we do, that has to be at the centre of all relevant legislation. It is not good enough to indulge in a genuine sentimental commitment from which we retreat when the going gets hard. The arguments about safeguards, better administration and the rest are powerful and important, but they are no substitute for the strategic objective, which is to ensure that no children are in detention—I believe that that is the long and the short of it. Every time anyone looks at this matter from any aspect, that is the conclusion they reach. Yet it goes on. We must not allow ourselves inadvertently to be drawn into aiding and abetting the rationalisation of the processes that prevent the objective being fulfilled. In my work over many years, including work in this House and its various Select Committees, I have been struck by the damage and financial cost—let alone social cost—and the sad and unnecessary things, like detention, that happen to children in their formative years. Repeatedly, we pick up the consequences later. Therefore, what we are learning in the whole realm of penal policy is highly relevant here. I also believe that on the grave issues surrounding us of security and having the good will of the maximum number of people across the world behind us in what we do to resist extremist forces and to preserve our society, it is terribly important that we are not producing or helping to produce youngsters who are alienated, because alienation is dangerous. Unless we recognise that, we are being very foolish in relating these immediate concerns to the wider issues of security and international stability. My noble friend will be very much aware of where I stand on this. I thank him for his response. I will go away and consider very carefully what he has said. I will consult with those for whom I have infinite admiration, working in the front line with children in the statutory and, particularly in some ways, the voluntary agencies. I am fairly certain—my noble friend will understand this—that I will want to come back to this issue on Report. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 61 not moved.] Clauses 36 to 42 agreed to. Clause 43 [Search for evidence of nationality]: [Amendment No. 62 not moved.] Clause 43 agreed to. Clauses 44 to 46 agreed to. [Amendments Nos. 63 and 64 not moved.] Clause 47 [Establishment]: [Amendments Nos. 65 and 66 not moved.]