UK Parliament / Open data

Immigration Bill

Proceeding contribution from Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 15 March 2016. It occurred during Debate on bills on Immigration Bill.

My Lords, I would like to speak briefly to Clause 42. The noble Lord, Lord Paddick, spoke powerfully and from long experience, and that has to be respected. However, it is troubling that he suggested that the police cannot be trusted to enforce a carefully drawn law. I entirely endorse what the noble Lord, Lord Deben, said on that subject.

I remind the House that the major purpose of the Bill is to make it more difficult for those who have no right to be in this country to remain here. Those who do so add to the pressures on public services, and we should remember that there are no actual barriers to them addressing or entering health and education services. There is widespread concern throughout the country about the scale of illegal immigration, in part because it tends to lower the wage rates for the low-skilled workers. In a sentence, there are very good reasons for this Bill and very good reasons for this part of it. Action is needed and should be pursued with care and with thought to the points raised, but it really ought to be taken.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

769 c1768 

Session

2015-16

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber

Subjects

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