Clause 2 - Entering United Kingdom without passport
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill
10:45 am
Ms Beverley Hughes (Minister of State (Citizenship and Immigration), Home Office; Stretford and Urmston, Labour)
They may purport to know more about the subject than any of us, but we must proceed according to the evidence. I repeat that I have no evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service or elsewhere that that is the case.
I hope that the hon. Member for Woking feels that he has received some assurances and answers to his main questions. The amendments would unnecessarily constrain the courts as to the question of a maximum sentence, and would dilute the deterrent effect of the clause. The clause and the maximum sentence enshrined in it are necessary to provide a fairer system that does not include the delays and problems that he outlined. I invite him to withdraw the amendment.