Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

Of course, we took advice from parliamentary counsel on whether this clause is within the scope of the Bill. We were advised that it was. The Public Bill Office is content. Therefore, all that I can say to the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, is that this is within the scope of the Bill. If the noble Lord wishes to take that up, he is entitled to, but we are acting properly, having done all that is necessary to ensure that it is within the scope. The purpose of the e-borders programme is to get the right amount of intelligence available to the border agencies on people entering and leaving the country. But movement of people is only part of the issue. When we look at how criminal organisations achieve their purpose, it is important to look at how they move property associated with their activities across international borders. It is there that those wishing to import or export goods have to surface and give account of themselves and their property to the UK Government. Members of the Committee will not be surprised to know that ports present the best opportunity to intercept illegal consignments and obtain intelligence on the people moving them. Currently, there are constraints on how the police can access freight information. A police officer can get access to freight data obtained by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for those purposes via a Revenue and Customs officer on only a case-by-case basis. The police need access to routine data in advance in electronic format to help them gain good intelligence on the movement of goods connected with terrorism as well as organised crime. It is essential that they have access to freight data in their own right. The industry recognises that and is working with them to agree the best way forward for providing such information. As the noble Lord knows, Clause 33 enables a police superintendent to request freight data from anyone involved in the import or export of goods. These are important issues, which are also important in terms of the movement and the trafficking of people, with which the noble Lord is concerned. We have taken the view that the provision of this information is essential for immigration controls because of people smuggling or trafficking, for example, even though it is also relevant to Customs and police functions. It is included in the Bill because it is relevant to it and within its scope. We have used the opportunity because it is relevant and within the scope also to recognise broader issues. I hope that on the basis that this is an important part of our border controls and in establishing those who seek to abuse people by smuggling or trafficking, the noble Lord will allow the clause to stand.