Clause 58 - Removal of asylum-seeker to third country
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill
7:15 pm
Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment No. 289, in page 32, line 25, after 'asylum', insert—
'provided that a draft of any such arrangement has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.'.
Our last amendment of the day is a variant of the usual affirmative resolution amendment, as it would introduce an affirmative resolution where there is no resolution, rather than replace a negative resolution, which is the normal variety. A new provision is being introduced over which Parliament should have power of scrutiny, which is that the UK Government can make bilateral arrangements with another member state Government about certification in the context of third country questions. Such questions are normally covered by the Dublin convention, which is a multilateral agreement and subject to scrutiny by appropriate bodies.
We are concerned that the bilateral agreements will not be subject to any formal scrutiny without such provision as we propose in the amendment. Therefore, we suggest that when the Government want to make bilateral agreements, which may be entirely sensible, they should be able to do that only subject to the affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament.