Oral Answers to Questions

Philip Hollobone Excerpts

Tuesday 11th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am an advocate of votes at 16. People can do all sorts of things at age 16 or 17, such as paying taxes and serving in the armed forces, but they cannot vote. That is why my party will remain a staunch advocate of votes at 16. As my hon. Friend said earlier, we have not agreed that across the coalition, but I hope that it will happen eventually.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

Does the Deputy Prime Minister believe that the level of immigration into this country is too high, too low or about right?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I do not think that there is a magical number. I think that the key to encouraging public confidence in the immigration system is ensuring that it is tough where it needs to be—stamping out abuse, cutting out the loopholes, ensuring that illegal immigration is diminishing and counting people in as well as out, which is why I am so keen to reintroduce the exit checks that previous Governments removed—but at the same time remaining open for business, because we are nothing as an economy if we are not open to the rest of the world.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Attorney-General]

This matter does not fall within my departmental responsibility, and it would be best for my hon. Friend to raise that with the Ministry of Justice. I accept that there are areas of real difficulty in respect of children who are abducted, but that complex issue above all involves international co-operation and respect for the orders made by family courts in other countries.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

Does the Attorney-General have any estimate of the amount of stolen assets that might be in this country?

[The Attorney-General]

It is probably foolish to engage in speculation about precise figures, but I will simply say that it is recognised that there are likely to be substantial sums in this country.