Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]

I was unable to speak at Second Reading, but I thank the Government for recognising the importance of the amendment that we won last year during the passage of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, and for bringing forward a duty in this Bill, ""to safeguard and promote the welfare of children"." We won by a resounding number, because it was the right thing to do. However, I share the concerns of the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, and my noble friend Lady Hanham that these amendments express: that duty should not just apply to children who are in the UK, but have equal application to children who come into the sphere of activities of the UK Border Agency staff abroad or when a child is in transit, particularly as it could enormously help the identification and early support of trafficked children. We should never underestimate the high regard in which this country is held. That extends to our embassies, to the British Council and to all other agencies of the state operating beyond our shores, where people would, quite rightly, expect to be treated with courtesy and consideration—and that should be especially true of children. During the passage of the Children and Young Persons Act, I met an exceptional young man from Afghanistan. His parents saved all the money that they could, then they sent him, with a group of others, to England to live a safer life—and who could blame them? He was 15, and it took him a year and a half to walk most of the way to England. He is now in care, flourishing and enjoying school, and wants to be a doctor. For all of the children and young people who, for whatever reason, find themselves in his position, I should like to think that their experience of Britain will be good and positive, and that they will be properly looked after—wherever and for however long they are in our care.