Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]

I, too, support the amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, and supported by the noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis. We have to go back to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Article 34 states: ""Contracting States shall as far as possible facilitate the assimilation and naturalisation of refugees. They shall in particular make every effort to expedite naturalisation proceedings and to reduce as far as possible the charges and costs of such proceedings"." That is the declaration in the convention, which we are proud of supporting over so many years. As has already been stated, we should not try to opt out. We need to clarify some points, such as "in special circumstances". What are these circumstances? When the new simplification Bill comes before us, there will possibly be some elaboration on this so that we know exactly what it is. Which circumstances does the Minister consider to be special? We have sometimes heard the answer that every case is considered on its own merits. However, it is sad that so often we have to battle to get a certain case across. We need an overview of this and to think about it in some depth. What are these special circumstances? I was saddened to hear as recently as last week that deportation to the Congo had resumed and that people in desperate situations had been sent back there. This Bill does not deal with that, but it deals with special circumstances. Let us support this amendment, look again at what special circumstances are and have a situation where people know where they stand, so that people who are despairing and who do not know the language can at least feel confidence in the Untied Kingdom as a haven for those in real distress. This is the nearest sitting day to St David’s Day. I am delighted that not only are English and Scottish Gaelic included in the Bill, but so is the Welsh language. We will possibly discuss this on another occasion. Certainly, we support the amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton.