Family Migration Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Home Office

Family Migration

Mark Reckless Excerpts
Monday 11th June 2012

(11 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Nigel Evans Portrait Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Order. I remind the House that in order to ask a question about the statement, a Member must have been in the Chamber to listen to it.

Mark Reckless Portrait Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con)
- Hansard - -

I welcome the series of impressive and, dare I say, Conservative measures that the Home Secretary has announced. Given that thresholds are higher when children are involved, is there not a risk that people entering the country in order to marry will quickly have a number of children, and may therefore need state support although they are above the original threshold?

Theresa May Portrait Mrs May
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I understand my hon. Friend’s point, but I think that it would be highly unreasonable for the Government to tell people that they could enter the country but could not have any children. When people first enter the country, they will be able to stay for a limited period, and will then have to undergo a renewal process to establish whether they meet the requirements at all stages before they achieve settlement.