Immigration Bill — Third Reading — 30 Jan 2014 at 17:00

The majority of MPs voted for a series of immigration measures including greater removal and enforcement powers, restrictions on the detention of children, the introduction of powers to levy an NHS charge on some of those seeking to enter the UK, and measures to prevent those not legally present in the UK renting properties and obtaining driving licenses.

The majority of MPs voted in favour of the Immigration Bill^[1] at its third reading, supporting the Bill as it stood and allowing it to continue its path towards becoming law.

The Bill provides for^[2]:

• powers to enable the removal of people unlawfully in the UK, and their family members,
• more enforcement powers for immigration officers and police officers acting in relation to immigration matters including, entry and search powers and additional powers to take biometrics.
• restrictions on the detention of unaccompanied children.
• limiting immigration appeals to circumstances where there has been a refusal of a human rights or asylum or humanitarian protection claim, or where refugee status or humanitarian protection has been revoked.
• a power for the Secretary of State to certify that to require an appellant who is a foreign criminal to leave the UK before their appeal is determined would not cause serious irreversible harm, in which case the person may only appeal from outside the UK.
• a court or tribunal considering a claim that a decision is unlawful on the grounds that it would breach a person’s right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to be required to have regard to the public interest
• fines for landlords if they rent out premises to migrants who are not lawfully present in the UK
• measures to prevent bank accounts and driving licences being obtained by migrants who are not lawfully present in the UK
• NHS contribution charges for certain students and workers with time-limited immigration status
• powers to investigate suspected sham marriages and civil partnerships
• stronger power for the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
• embarkation checks on passengers departing from the UK

==

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Immigration Bill (now an Act)
• [2] Explanatory notes to the Immigration Bill

Debate in Parliament | Source |