Military Covenant

Part of Opposition Day — [11th Allotted Day] – in the House of Commons at 5:02 pm on 16 February 2011.

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Photo of John Martin McDonnell John Martin McDonnell Labour, Hayes and Harlington 5:02, 16 February 2011

I want to concentrate on a more serious issue, which I would like the Secretary of State to- [Interruption.] May I complete what I am saying? The Secretary of State has focused on the past Government's record, of which I have also been critical, but last week the current Government introduced an immigration fees order which I objected to, and which I see has been carried on a deferred Division today. The explanatory notes explain that it introduces for the first time the power for the Government to charge fees for the registration as British citizens of the children born to British armed forces personnel serving abroad. It cannot be right that we are penalising the children and families of service personnel serving abroad on our orders. I ask the Secretary of State to liaise with the Home Secretary to ensure that she exercises her discretion to waive these fees.