Clause 1 - Variation of leave to enter or remain

Part of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:15 pm on 18 October 2005.

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Photo of Tony McNulty Tony McNulty Minister of State (Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality), Home Office 12:15, 18 October 2005

I would rather not be restricted by that straitjacket, partly because it is happening anyway—although I take the hon. Gentleman's point—and partly because with the fairest of winds and the Terrorism Bill, we shall be lucky to complete this Bill before April or May. I would be happy, by consideration of Lords amendments, should there be any, or at the tail-end stage of the Commons process, to get back to members of this Committee with an update on developments with entry clearance officers and any improvements to the decision-making process. I say that with confidence because, in part, it is happening now. If people have not read the five-year plan and the points system, they must understand that more, rather than fewer, people will be in the hands of the entry clearance system in future, particularly students and workers. That is why it is absolutely right that, even in the confines of the curtailment of these ''appeal rights'', we look at the wider notion of entry clearance.