Arrangements with EU about unaccompanied children seeking asylum

European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill – in the House of Commons at 2:38 pm on 8 January 2020.

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Votes in this debate

  • Division number 7
    A majority of MPs voted to remove a requirement for ministers to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU to enable unaccompanied child refugees to join their relatives.

Amendment proposed: 4, page 37, line 3, leave out from “Europe)” to the end of the clause and insert “after subsection (3) insert—

‘(3A) If, three months after this Act comes into force, no agreement achieving the objective contained in subsection (1) has been concluded with the European Union, a Minister of the Crown must make a statement to the House of Commons setting out—

(a) the steps taken by Her Majesty’s government, and the progress made in negotiations with the European Union, for the purpose of achieving the objective in subsection (1); and

(b) whether in the Minister’s opinion an agreement with the European Union achieving the objective of subsection (1) is likely to be achieved by IP completion day and, if not, setting out the reasons for this.

(3B) Following the making of the first Statement referred to in subsection (2), and until such time as an agreement satisfying the objective contained in subsection (1) is reached with the European Union, the Minister shall, at least as frequently as every 28 days thereafter, make further statements in accordance with sections (3A)(a) and (b).” —(Thangam Debbonaire.)

This amendment would protect the right for unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their family after Brexit.

Division number 7 European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill — Clause 37 — Arrangements with EU About Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum

A majority of MPs voted to remove a requirement for ministers to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU to enable unaccompanied child refugees to join their relatives.

Aye: 251 MPs

No: 347 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Absent: 48 MPs

Absent: A-Z by last name

The Committee divided: Ayes 252, Noes 348.

Question accordingly negatived.

Clause 37 ordered to stand part of the Bill.