Part of UK Borders Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:45 pm on 13 March 2007.
While we are on the test of reasonableness, can the Under-Secretary explain why the clause contains the words
“to an immigration officer or the Secretary of State”?
Obviously, immigration officers are responsible to the Secretary of State, as are the police to some degree under the listed requirements to report. Is there some suggestion that people will be required to report to the Secretary of State as individuals? That cannot possibly be correct. What does
“or the Secretary of State” actually mean? Is it a suggestion that the Secretary of State does not have very much to do and can take on that responsibility?