Ms Angela Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Wallasey, Labour)

I beg to move amendment No. 250, in page 22, line 41, leave out subsection (5) and insert—

'(5) The following provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 (c.77) shall cease to have effect—

(a) section 29 (contributions to expenses of persons returning abroad), and

(b) section 31(d) (expenses).'.

Clause 42 replaces section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, which enables assistance to be given to voluntary leavers, who in many cases will be failed asylum seekers. The clause broadens that assistance; it includes travel expenses, immediate arrival and reception costs, costs for settlement in a new place of residence and new items such as explore-and-prepare visits for people who wish to return to a country that may have failed but is getting on its feet again.

The amendment is technical, and consequential on our replacing section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 with clause 42. It provides that section 29 and the reference to it in that Act shall cease to have effect. It does not affect the substance of the clause and I hope that the Committee will accept it.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 42, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.