Clause 25 - Proof of right of abode
Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill
11:45 am
Cheryl Gillan (Shadow Minister, (Assisted By Shadow Law Officers); Chesham and Amersham, Conservative)
The Minister’s optimism is obviously boundless. He obviously thinks that it will come in in 2005, so there is a drafting error here, to which we shall return on Report and Third Reading. I urge Ministers to think about doing some consolidation work, because all that legislation is a minefield to get through.
I want to make a couple of points. First, the proposed subsection (9)(e) mentions “a certificate of entitlement”. Can the Minister confirm what that would include? Does it cover work permits? I am interested in knowing what the ambit of “certificate of entitlement” is. I could send a letter saying that my friend is entitled to right of abode here, so I would like that point clarified. Secondly, proposed paragraphs (a) and (b) refer to
“a United Kingdom passport describing him as a British citizen,”
and
“a United Kingdom passport describing him as a British subject with the right of abode in the United Kingdom”.
Surely it should just be a United Kingdom passport. Is not the description of “a British citizen” and
“a British subject with the right of abode”
otiose? That understanding is probably the result of my ignorance, rather than the poor drafting of officials. I should like an explanation from the Minister.