Immigration: Earned Settlement

Debate between Lord Collins of Highbury and Lord Bishop of Leicester

Monday 2nd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

The Home Secretary in the other place addressed the latter points that my noble friend made. We are committed to work with the DWP. As the noble Lord, Lord Davies, pointed out, many of those who responded to the consultation we conducted were visa holders. They were quite happy with the proposals on earned settlement; they recognised that as part of their commitment in coming to work in this country.

We will continue to protect refugees as long as protection is needed. Those who come on the UK resettlement scheme or by sponsored safe and legal routes will qualify after five years. It is right that we seek to disincentivise illegal entry into this country, such as by small boats. The first stage of implementing the changs to the Immigration Rules will begin in December and take effect in January 2027. Further immigration rule changes will come in in 2027 and 2028. Further technical detail and a full impact assessment will be published before implementation, informed by continued engagement with affected groups and stakeholders.

[The Lord Bishop of Leicester]

My Lords, by the Government’s own admission, some 500,000 people will take longer to get indefinite leave to remain. Those are 500,000 people who will be living with uncertainty, in many cases for a very long period: up to 30 years. Can the Minister reassure us that the impact assessment will take account of that uncertainty and, in particular, its effect on social cohesion and integration into this country?

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

There are two parts to that question. I believe that, as the Home Secretary made clear, settlement gives people rights. When people come here for a visa, they work and they comply with the visa’s conditions. If they wish to have settled status, what we are now saying is that it is not just simply a time-served arrangement; they have to meet those commitments. I say to the right reverend Prelate that we are committed—I spoke about this in debates last week—to seeing how we can establish safe and legal routes. We are talking today about settled status, but we have a broader policy that will address net migration into this country. We need a very clear policy about what people are expected to do when they wish to stay here permanently. I do not think that is unreasonable; I think the consultation reflected that and most people on visas understood it.

Draft Conversion Practices Bill

Debate between Lord Collins of Highbury and Lord Bishop of Leicester

Wednesday 1st July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord and I appreciate his comments. I meant what I said: there is cross-party consensus and a consensus across this House on stopping this abuse, and he is absolutely right. The United Kingdom has long championed the rights of LGBT+ people at home and abroad, and we proudly uphold one of the most expansive legislative frameworks in the world—and I want to make it clear that that has been delivered by both Labour and Conservative Governments.

However, I also remind the House that this is part of the work to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto on advancing rights and protections to LGBT people. Therefore, as well as this legislation banning conversion practices, noble Lords will know that we have equalised hate-crime laws, established a scheme to address the historical wrongs against LGBT veterans, and improved healthcare services for LGBT individuals. Additionally, we are collaborating with international allies to strengthen our position as a global leader. One of the important things is that we set standards which are important for other countries to see because, with some of the abuse and the legislative changes that we are now seeing, we are facing more countries that have criminalised homosexuality than there were two years ago. So we are going the wrong way, and we need to set a positive tone here.

[The Lord Bishop of Leicester]

My Lords, I welcome the intentions behind the draft Bill. Indeed, in 2017, the General Synod of the Church of England passed a Motion, in fact by a large majority, which called on the Government to outlaw conversion therapy. However, I want to mention today that I have a number of concerns about the drafting of the Bill, and indeed particular concerns about the lack of clarity on the difference between harmful conversion practices and perfectly acceptable practices of pastoral care and indeed prayer, which is much needed for those who are in difficulty. If this difference is not crystal-clear within the legislation, it will potentially have a very significant negative impact on what I believe is legitimate spiritual care offered by faith groups. So, alongside the vital importance of consulting with LGBT+ people, can the Minister tell me what consultations have taken place with religious groups, and is he open to further conversations about how appropriate spiritual care can be guarded within this legislation?

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I thank the right reverend Prelate. The important thing here is that the consultations have been going on for some time, as have the debates on this legislation, as the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, pointed out. However, we remain committed to that level of consultation. The Government have no intention of interfering with people’s right to religious belief and expression. We are not seeking to prevent people living a life that aligns with their religious or cultural values. This is not about telling people that they cannot hold certain views. We are targeting clear instances of abuse here, and we are very clear about sending a message that LGBT+ people deserve to be safe from harm.

An offence occurs only if someone seeks to change a person’s identity through abusive conversion practices that result in harm. A religious leader teaching their faith’s views on LGBT+ matters should not be affected by this draft Bill. The principle that the right reverend Prelate raises with regard to counselling and advice is covered by what I said about parental responsibility and medical advice. These things are absolutely covered in the Bill, but we will address these questions in the pre-legislative scrutiny.