Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [ Lords]

Part of Bailiffs (Repeals and Amendment) – in the House of Commons at 5:26 pm on 2 June 2009.

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Photo of Kerry McCarthy Kerry McCarthy Labour, Bristol East 5:26, 2 June 2009

I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way just as he was about to rise to a crescendo at the end of his speech. Does he share my concern about those young people whose parents are long-term overstayers? I have a significant number in my constituency. The parents are mainly from Jamaica, and the children were born in this country. I met one young woman who did not even realise that she was not a British citizen until she applied to study English at university and was told that she would be classed as an overseas student. She was also told that she had to take the English language test and other tests, which would be a bit of a farce. Does he share my concern that if such people have to jump through various hoops to become British citizens, they will get entirely the wrong message?