Clause 16 - Immigration Services Commissioner: power of entry
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill
3:15 pm
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking, Conservative)
I have a number of points to make. The first has been referred to and is the question of privilege. As we know, privilege is important in life, whether it is between doctor and patient, clergyman
and parishioner or solicitor and client. I hope that the Minister will say more about that, because the relationship between a client and his solicitor is entered into often only on the basis that the client knows that his relationship and documents are and will remain privileged. That is an important principle, which I hope the Minister will consider.
I turn now to amendment No. 96. I am indebted to Mr. Clancy, director of the Law Society of Scotland, with whom I discussed the matter. I hesitate to trespass on Scottish matters, because the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) and the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart—both of whom have contributed fully to our debates—are here. The clause concerns warrants. It is commonplace in the English courts for an application for a warrant to be laid before a district judge or a magistrate.