UK Borders Bill

My Lords, that is my word. I used ““profiteer”” and fully justified it in the figures that I gave a few minutes ago when I pointed out that in the case of indefinite leave to remain, for example, the increase imposed by taking advantage of this power was between £350 and £750, and that the total cost of a spouse entering the United Kingdom for the legitimate purpose of marriage was £1,650, which I consider a totally extortionate amount that bears no relation to the actual cost of providing these services. I am afraid that, because the power exists, when the BIDs come into force, Ministers—perhaps not this Minister but a future one—will look around and say, ““Here is an easy source of revenue. We can charge these students, work permit holders or visitors asking for additional leave to remain beyond six months far more than it will cost us to provide the documents””. That is the whole point, yet the Minister cannot say whether it is the Government’s intention to do that. He cannot say whether they intend to adhere to the principle that was always followed in the past of recovering the actual costs of providing the services, or whether they now intend—I am sure that they must have something in mind—to recoup additional revenue from the people who are required to have these documents. I have to say that I am not at all happy about the answer that the Government have given this evening, and if it were not so late I would ask to test the opinion of the House. I can see that there is not really much point in doing that, because there are not enough people here to make it work. With great reluctance, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 8 [Use and retention of information]: [Amendment No. 10 not moved.]