Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]

"Volunteering" is a very attractive word today, but I have to say that I go back to the days when, if you were caught volunteering, as I was quite a number of years ago, it was called scab labour. Thankfully, volunteering has become much more respected in terms of how we view offering mutual help to other citizens. However, I go back to the question that I raised at Second Reading. This amendment raises many questions, several of which have been rehearsed already. How costly will the scheme be and what financial provision is to be made available for it? I am worried about what could be regarded as the reward of a reduction in the qualifying period for citizenship, or indeed the penalty, whichever way you want to look at it. If, as someone suggested, we are returning to a period when many people are out of work, it may be that the answer is compulsory volunteering in the form of national service, as it used to be called. That could be on the agenda for everyone. If that was the case, I would be much keener on supporting this, as it would not create two distinct classes of citizenship. Until we reach the point where we think that this is essential to our understanding of what it is to be a British citizen—about rights and responsibilities, both terms with which I agree—I remain unenthusiastic. On top of that, we have to consider how little we know about the scheme beyond the fact that the design group is going to be spelt out, presumably at a later date. What I am really saying is that I query whether it is even remotely the right route to go down for those who are trying to acquire citizenship. Of course, this is particularly tough on those, particularly refugees, who have already been waiting for a long period and will either have to wait even longer or go down this route. I am thoroughly behind these amendments and would love to think that the Government will rethink.