UK Borders Bill

Perhaps I may offer this final reassurance. It is not in anyone’s interests to have porous borders. There is a national debate going on about this. We have had a Statement today that deals with it in part. We will have our agreements and disagreements about the effectiveness of the measures proposed, and I understand why that might be the case. With regard to relations with the Scottish Executive, we have put our best endeavours up front to try to ensure that we work carefully on these issues. It is not in the Scottish Executive’s interests to have a weakening of our determination or resolve on this, and I have been impressed by the positive response from it following the recent outrage at Glasgow airport. We are conscious of the problems that can arise in the more remote parts of the British Isles. We need to continue to be vigilant and to review how our Immigration Service works there with police and customs. That work is continuous, as it has to be. The noble Baroness said that she feels that is not as adequate as it might appear. I am prepared to set down a description of how operations are conducted in the more remote areas, because I can see the nature and scale of the problem. I have visited remote parts, not just of the United Kingdom but of other jurisdictions, and one appreciates that there is a difference and problems arise from time to time, although not continuously. I hope the Committee will accept my assurance that I undertake to try to provide a more detailed descriptive analysis of how those areas operate. That will advance not just my knowledge but that of all Members of the Committee.