(1 year, 5 months ago)
Lords ChamberSurely noble Lords can speak only if they have been present throughout the debate from the very beginning.
The noble Lord may be referring to my having to rush out urgently—I needed to get a glass of water. I shall catch up with the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, which I missed with great regret, but I was back for the next one.
I do not want to be unkind, but the rest of us manage to persuade the door- keepers to bring us glasses of water.
(1 year, 5 months ago)
Lords ChamberI thank the noble Lord for his question. As far as I can see, the Bill was published on 7 March. It was very well publicised at the time. It is designed to deter—
I think the noble Lord is not aware of the very good access to news which people coming to this country have—and which people traffickers have. It was no surprise that this Bill had its First Reading on 7 March.
I conclude on a point made earlier. This is not a Bill against asylum seekers; it is a measure to deter and prevent those coming to this country by unsafe and unlawful routes.