draft Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) order 2016

Sarah Champion Excerpts

Thursday 21st April 2016 General Committees

[Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab)]

As ever, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Bailey. I am very proud to be speaking here about orders and visas on the day of the Queen’s 90th birthday, because she does a phenomenal amount for this country, helps tourism and promotes our interests overseas.

I agree with the Minister that these are technical updates. We will therefore not be opposing them, but I want to ask a few probing questions, mainly on borders and security. Will the Minister update us on the roll-out and impact of the e-gate scheme, addressed in article 8A —specifically, the impact on delays and processing times at borders, as well as the wider impact on security? In the light of new and emerging terrorist and security threats, what further steps are the Government taking or considering to improve border security? Does the Minister share our concerns, raised yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), that the reported cuts to the Border Force could compromise the speed and security of our borders? We do not oppose the measures in this order, but we are concerned about whether the Border Force officers and immigration staff who have to action this legislation have the support they need from the Government and the reassurance that we respect and value their services.