Lead member
Matt Vickers
Conservative, Stockton West
Commons
Decision
No decision
The House has not considered this amendment.
Amendment text
To move the following Clause—
“Functions of the Commander in relation to sea crossings to United Kingdom
(1)
In exercising the Commander’s functions in relation to sea crossings to the United Kingdom, the Commander must have regard to the objectives of—
(a)
preventing the boarding of vessels, with the aim of entering the United Kingdom, by persons who require leave to enter the United Kingdom but are seeking to enter the United Kingdom—
(i)
without leave to enter, or
(ii)
with leave to enter that was obtained by means which included deception by any person;
(b)
ensuring that a decision is taken on a claim by a person under subsection (1)(a) within six months of the person’s arrival in the United Kingdom; and
(c)
making arrangements with a safe third country for the removal of a person who enters the United Kingdom without leave, or with leave that was obtained by deception.
(2)
The Commander must include, in the strategic priority document issued under section 3(2), an assessment of—
(a)
the most effective methods for deterring illegal entry into the United Kingdom;
(b)
the most effective methods for reducing the number of sea crossings made by individuals without leave to enter the United Kingdom; and
(c)
the most effective methods for arranging the removal, to the person’s own country or a safe third country, of a person who enters the United Kingdom illegally.
(3)
For the purposes of this section—
(a)
“sea crossings” are journeys from dry land in France, Belgium or the Netherlands for the purpose of reaching dry land in the United Kingdom; and
(b)
illegal entry to the United Kingdom is defined in accordance with section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971 (illegal entry and similar offences).”
Member's explanatory statement
This new clause sets out objectives and strategic priorities for the Border Security Commander in relation to sea crossings and arrangements with a safe third country for the removal of people who enter the UK illegally.