Immigration and Asylum Bill (Thirteenth sitting)

Debate between Tom Gordon and Paul Kohler

Committee stage
Thursday 29th October 2026 Public Bill Committees

[Mr Kohler]

We are talking about civil servants doing a cost-benefit analysis as part of their role. To suddenly say that that is a huge expense, and therefore that we cannot examine policy changes, is a strange argument.

[Tom Gordon (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (LD)]

Does my hon. Friend not find it a bit rich that Members of the governing party are talking about the cost of a cost-benefit analysis, when earlier clauses and amendments—such as on the implementation of a new training scheme and getting people up to speed—have already been included in the Bill, with no assurances from the Minister about exactly how much they will cost?

[Mr Kohler]

Of course, that is true. We have to move forward; making debating points when these are important issues is not the way forward.