| Draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Consequential and Incidental Provisions) Order 2003
|
|
The Chairman: Order. The hon. Lady is moving beyond the range of the debate. The debate is narrowly focused on the order and the amendments to it. Mrs. Brooke: I apologise, Mr. Beard. Will the Minister write to me on that last point? We supported the general provisions on nationality as they updated the law. We welcome the citizenship ceremony, and recognise the continuing need to be able to deprive a person of citizenship under certain circumstances. My final point is that we are still concerned that people should not be left stateless.
2.46 pmBeverley Hughes: I shall try to deal with the questions that are relevant to the order, and I am Column Number: 007 happy to respond to the hon. Lady in writing on some of the more general points. Although the hon. Lady came belatedly to this area of legislation, she has done her homework, and I am happy to reply to her.The hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) asked me about the frequency with which we think that the powers in section 11 might be used. We think that approximately 5 per cent. of cases could be amenable to the use of that power, which is clearly a minority of the total number. We want to keep the number of orders to a minimum. If it is necessary to make a further order, we will do so. We believe that we have covered what is necessary in terms of the consequential amendments. The hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Mrs. Brooke) will, however, understand that despite the fact that parliamentary counsel and other officials have trawled through the legislation, it is not always possible to be sure of that. We believe that this will be the final order, but if something else comes to our Column Number: 008 attention, that might mean that we have to table a further one.The other issues that the hon. Lady raises are outside the scope of the order that we are debating, but I will write to her about those. As she may have seen, the question of the advisory panel was raised last week when we discussed the safe countries. I said then that we are trying to move ahead and to make appointments to the panel and the consultative group as soon as possible. I again commend the order to the Committee. Members will have appreciated that it is a minor but important order. It ensures that the different pieces of legislation that are affected by the 2002 Act are made legally compatible with it. Question put and agreed to. Resolved,
Committee rose at eleven minutes to Three o'clock.
The following Members attended the Committee:
|
| |
| Prepared 19 March 2003 | |
