Visas: Domestic Workers

Lord Pannick Excerpts

Tuesday 18th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Henley]

My Lords, I am not sure whether that is part of the consultation, but the consultation has been completed and we are considering the responses to it. I can give an assurance to the noble and learned Baroness that I will look at that, too, as part of that process.

[Lord Pannick]

My Lords, does the Minister agree with the conclusions of the Home Affairs Committee of the other place two years ago that,

“domestic workers are peculiarly vulnerable to abuse”,

and that,

“To retain the existing Migrant Domestic Workers visa and the protection it offers to workers is the single most important issue … in preventing the forced labour and trafficking of such workers”?

[Lord Henley]

My Lords, I accept what the noble Lord has to say about domestic workers being particularly open to abuse. That is why we want to get the right balance. However, I think the noble Lord would also agree that we need an immigration system that is fairer and more honest and commands public confidence. We want to get the right balance; that is what is behind the consultation and that is what we will be looking at in the responses.