Clause 7 - Failed asylum seekers: withdrawal of support
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill
11:15 am
Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk, Conservative)
Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I shall observe your strictures and make no further mention of the Scottish National party, and in particular, no mention of the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) who invited me to his constituency where 50 per cent. of all Scotch whisky is produced. I will not digress further but return to clause 7.
We had a number of interesting invitations from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart and the hon. Member for Winchester about how Conservative Members should vote on the clause. I have not served on that many Standing Committees, but my understanding of voting for a clause to stand part is that one wants a clause to be part of the Bill as it stands.
I listened with great interest to what the Minister said and thought that she made constructive comments. If legislation could generally be discussed in the civilised and reasonable tone that she used today, we would do a lot better. One of the depressing things that I read over the Christmas break about the way in which Ministers often react to Bills in Standing Committees is that they want their Bill and nothing but their Bill. It does not sound to me that the Minister is doing that at all—quite the contrary.
Subsection (3) says:
''No appeal may be brought under section 103 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999...(asylum support appeal) against a decision —
(a) that by virtue of Schedule 3 to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 a person is not qualified to receive support, or
(b) on the grounds of the application of a provision of that Schedule, to stop providing support to a person.''
The Minister said that she is thinking of changing that position. That is interesting. It requires reflection by all sides. I think that I would be reflecting the view of all of my hon. Friends if I said that—
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.
Chairman
Bacon, Mr.
Blizzard, Mr.
Ewing, Annabelle
Gardiner, Mr.
Garnier, Mr.
Gerrard, Mr.
Harris, Mr. Tom
Heath, Mr.
Heppell, Mr.
Hughes, Beverley
Jones, Mr. Jon Owen
Lammy, Mr.
Malins, Mr.
Oaten, Mr.
Prosser, Mr.
Turner, Mr. Andrew
Watkinson, Angela
Williams, Mrs. Betty