Clause 2 - Entering United Kingdom without passport
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill
11:15 am
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking, Conservative)
It is true that it would be in the public interest for the officer not to make an arrest, but the officer does not have the opportunity to engage in beliefs about whether or not the document is in Solihull and can be produced tomorrow morning. The officer is concerned only with the offence. Later, the district judge will be concerned with the reasonable excuse. We shall discuss what is an interview in another debate. I will not steal the thunder of the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome, but if I were that person from Zimbabwe, when making my application for asylum and being asked for my document, I would be frightfully tempted to say, ''I haven't got it, it is back in Tunbridge Wells. I'm going to go home and get it.'' On being told, ''You can't do that. You have committed an offence,'' I should be further tempted to say, ''I withdraw my application for asylum,'' and make it next week. What will be done then?
Beverley Hughes rose—
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned till this day at half-past Two o'clock.