Windrush Children (Immigration Status) Debate

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Department: Home Office

Windrush Children (Immigration Status)

Thangam Debbonaire Excerpts
Monday 16th April 2018

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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I thank my hon. Friend for his helpful suggestion. Of course, I will engage with Citizens Advice to ensure that it has the information. I also urge Members of Parliament to tell their constituents about the positive arrangements that this Government have now put in place so that the people from that cohort can be looked after and can stop fearing for their situation.

Thangam Debbonaire Portrait Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West) (Lab)
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I would be grateful if the Home Secretary would tell me how I should explain to the elders of the Afro-Caribbean community in my constituency why they are being expected to prove that they have a right to be in the country to which they have paid taxes and national insurance, and contributed so much—rather than the other way around, with the onus being on the Home Office to prove that they do not have such a right.

Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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The dedicated team that I am setting up will work with individuals from the hon. Lady’s community to ensure that we look for the information and that they engage with us in that. We cannot look in isolation, if people do not engage with us and do not give us the information that we need. We are going to work across Government to ensure that we try to get information such as national insurance numbers or schools. Will the hon. Lady please tell her community that the Home Office is here to help it?