Clause 51
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Phil Woolas (Minister of State (the North West), Home Office; Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
Thank you, Sir Nicholas, for that ruling, which I believe is helpful to our understanding of this clause.
Let me explain what we are doing here. As it stands, clause 51 concerns the common travel area of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and the smaller islands—the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and so on. We have moved new clause 3 to replace clause 51; I will be asking the Committee to reject the stand part motion. The common travel area derives from section 1(3) of the Immigration Act 1971, which relates to a person arriving in the United Kingdom from any of the islands or the Republic of Ireland. That has governed travel between these two countries since that time and, indeed, before it. Amendments 34 and 37 are consequential on new clause 3. I should also draw attention to the fact that amendment 31 would be opposed, although I think that has not actually been selected.