Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [HL]

I give qualified support to Amendment 83. First, though, let me say that the concluding points of the contribution of my noble friend Lord Lea of Crondall are well understood and supported. After all, many trade unions started their existence as friendly societies, not merely confined to representation at work but concerned with the wider and broader social good of communities. I say "qualified" support, though, because unless it is clear what we mean when we talk about "trade union activities", I see the possibility here for misunderstanding and the misrepresentation of trade unions. In my day, if you linked "trade unions" and "activities" together, you looked to see whether London buses were still running. That is what "trade union activities" conjures up in the minds of many, so we need to qualify precisely what we mean. My noble friend Lord Lea has given examples of teaching or volunteering in evening classes; we would all see those activities as good for citizen-building and integration. My support is qualified, however, because it is a short step from good intentions to what I would describe as project creep. By that, I mean that a lot of general activities that may well come within the list represent employment currently being carried out by people. In simple terms, one person’s volunteering activities can be somebody else’s paid employment. Therefore, a line of possible conflict has to be clarified. I do not want to repeat my earlier contribution in the wider debate about volunteering and where penalties may or may not lie, but I believe that it is incumbent on those with the responsibility of spelling out the details. It is the details that will be practised, whether in communities or elsewhere; it is the details that will form the guiding lines, not just the principles. We can agree the principles here, or elsewhere, but the detailed application carries with it a responsibility for your Lordships’ House and for those who draw the guidelines to ensure that what is prescribed is precisely what is meant. On that basis, I offer my qualified support for Amendment 83.