Border security bill continues Lords committee stage

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill aims to enhance UK border security and reform the asylum and immigration systems by coordinating responses to border threats and applying counter-terrorism powers to tackle organised immigration crime.

Line by line examination 

Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill.

Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses.

Four days of committee stage have been scheduled so far:

• Thursday 26 June
• Tuesday 8 July
• Thursday 10 July
• Wednesday 3 September*

(*schedule is subject to change and further dates may be added).

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) on subjects including:

• access to visa centres as part of the family reunion process
• annual report on cooperation with Europol
• rules on biometric information, including fingerprints
• arrangements for removal of persons from the UK
• exceptions for unaccompanied children
• interim measures of the European Court of Human Rights.

Catch up

• Watch on Parliament TV: part one and part two
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Explore further information

Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.

Next steps

Committee stage continues on Wednesday 3 September.

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day two: Tuesday 8 July

Members speaking on day two of committee stage have put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) on subjects including:

• Joint Committee on Human Rights recommendations on immigration crimes
• criminalisation of people smugglers rather than seekers of asylum
• humanitarian support as reasonable excuse for people smuggling
• dangers of sea-crossings to the United Kingdom
• extension of police powers to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the National Crime Agency
• protection of victims' belongings retained for evidence.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recordings: part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Committee stage day one: Thursday 26 June

Members speaking on day one of committee stage considered amendments (PDF) (changes) on subjects including:

• co-operation with Europol
• requirement for the Border Security Commander to be a civil servant
• threats posed to UK biosecurity by illegal meat imports
• reducing the number of illegal migrant crossings
• report on the number of trafficking gangs shut down
• supply of articles for use in immigration crime.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Second reading

Second reading, a chance for members to debate the key principles and main purpose of a bill, took place on Monday 2 June.

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