I thank all those who have spoken. I thank in particular the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, for reminding us that we do these things because they are right, particularly with regard to children. I still have some queries, because I had understood that Section 11 of the Children Act applies to any authority—for example, the police—which has to escort a child, even though it may be overseas. Perhaps the Minister will tell me whether I am wrong about that. The noble Earl, Lord Listowel, has obviously heard a great deal that we have not. Perhaps I should be reassured by that, because he is usually very questioning, but sadly I am not entirely.
There are still a couple of areas that I am concerned about. One is that the Minister did not mention the issue of private contractors. I am sure that they are covered by the provisions and await his assurance that they are. I raised the issue because some of the most extreme cases of which I have heard, although I have not observed them myself, have been of the dawn raids and removals of families, of course including children, for whom it is traumatic to be taken from their beds at four in the morning with their family and taken away in the dark in a van. I should think that that runs counter to this clause; I do not think that it will comply once the Bill has gone through.
Will the Minister reassure me on the issue of private contractors as well as the dawn raids for deportations? I will read carefully what he said and will take the opportunity to talk further to the noble Earl, if he is happy to do so, about his view on this. We may return to the matter on Report, but I shall leave a little gap before I withdraw it to see what the Minister has to say on those two points.
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]
Proceeding contribution from
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
(Liberal Democrat)
in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 4 March 2009.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL].
About this proceeding contribution
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2008-09Chamber / Committee
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