Today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I are announcing the final outcomes of the UK's first global review of its visa regimes. Britain thrives as a society and economy that is open for business, education, culture and tourism to people from...

Today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I are announcing the final outcomes of the UK's first global review of its visa regimes. Britain thrives as a society and economy that is open for business, education, culture and tourism to people from...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of each (a) biometric passport reader and (b) identity card reader is expected to be.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of each (a) biometric passport reader and (b) identity card reader is expected to be.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pilot schemes for new biometric technology have been carried out over the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pilot schemes for new biometric technology have been carried out over the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long biometric information collected from a recipient of a biometric visa may be retained once the individual is no longer resident in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long biometric information collected from a recipient of a biometric visa may be retained once the individual is no longer resident in the UK.

Queen's speech debate (second day) on home affairs and justice.

Queen's speech debate (second day) on home affairs and justice.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice is advising me on the price of beer, which I have to confess to not being an expert on myself. I am not going enter into future decisions about tax levels, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would...

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice is advising me on the price of beer, which I have to confess to not being an expert on myself. I am not going enter into future decisions about tax levels, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I will say something about human trafficking later, but his point about international co-operation is crucial. For example, we are currently working with other countries in the European Union, as part of the EU's action programme on countering trafficking, precisely to address some...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I will say something about human trafficking later, but his point about international co-operation is crucial. For example, we are currently working with other countries in the European Union, as part of the EU's action programme on countering trafficking, precisely to address some...

I do not want this debate to become a love-in—

I do not want this debate to become a love-in—

No—some hope. My right hon. Friend's Committee made some important points and pressed us on precisely those alcohol-related issues. It is of course the case that responsible promotions will—for example, through their impact on all licensees, in both the on trade and the off trade—impact on price. However, having asked...

No—some hope. My right hon. Friend's Committee made some important points and pressed us on precisely those alcohol-related issues. It is of course the case that responsible promotions will—for example, through their impact on all licensees, in both the on trade and the off trade—impact on price. However, having asked...

The element that I am outlining with respect to a mandatory code would enable specific conditions to relate to all licensed establishments, as well as providing for probably a larger number of provisions, which could be applied locally to more than one establishment, which, incidentally, would cut some of the...

The element that I am outlining with respect to a mandatory code would enable specific conditions to relate to all licensed establishments, as well as providing for probably a larger number of provisions, which could be applied locally to more than one establishment, which, incidentally, would cut some of the...

We certainly believe that the requirements for English and, of course, knowledge of life should be robust. Where allegations have been brought to our attention, we have investigated them. If my hon. Friend is concerned that the problem has become more systemic, I would be willing to look into it...

We certainly believe that the requirements for English and, of course, knowledge of life should be robust. Where allegations have been brought to our attention, we have investigated them. If my hon. Friend is concerned that the problem has become more systemic, I would be willing to look into it...

My first reaction was that when I need the right hon. Gentleman's help, I know that I am in really big trouble! However, he has been helpful and I am extremely happy to scotch the rumours, as he puts it, because the intention is to enable identity checks only at...

My first reaction was that when I need the right hon. Gentleman's help, I know that I am in really big trouble! However, he has been helpful and I am extremely happy to scotch the rumours, as he puts it, because the intention is to enable identity checks only at...

I reiterate the point that my hon. Friend has been assiduous in campaigning on behalf of his constituents on this issue. We intend to spell out in the policing and crime Bill how we will define these clubs and how we will provide local people with the opportunity to have...

I reiterate the point that my hon. Friend has been assiduous in campaigning on behalf of his constituents on this issue. We intend to spell out in the policing and crime Bill how we will define these clubs and how we will provide local people with the opportunity to have...

The duty clearly relates to the detention of children. We are already working to ensure that the detention of children takes place only in extremely specific circumstances, usually when the detention of the child alongside the family for a few days prior to deportation is probably the most important way...

The duty clearly relates to the detention of children. We are already working to ensure that the detention of children takes place only in extremely specific circumstances, usually when the detention of the child alongside the family for a few days prior to deportation is probably the most important way...

I am just coming on to explain what is in the Bill and I hope that the hon. Gentleman will see that it is very far from tinkering; it is, in fact, a means of bringing about and making stick the largest reform in immigration—both at the border and in...

I am just coming on to explain what is in the Bill and I hope that the hon. Gentleman will see that it is very far from tinkering; it is, in fact, a means of bringing about and making stick the largest reform in immigration—both at the border and in...

It is a great privilege to open the debate on the Gracious Speech. Yesterday, the Gracious Speech made clear our commitment to supporting families and businesses through difficult economic times. Today's debate builds on that commitment to economic security with plans to strengthen security in our neighbourhoods and on our...

It is a great privilege to open the debate on the Gracious Speech. Yesterday, the Gracious Speech made clear our commitment to supporting families and businesses through difficult economic times. Today's debate builds on that commitment to economic security with plans to strengthen security in our neighbourhoods and on our...

Yes, I am satisfied with the current arrangements for the appointment of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. All the measures that I have outlined are designed to build public confidence in the fight against crime and are matched by concrete achievements in freeing up the police to ensure that they can...

Yes, I am satisfied with the current arrangements for the appointment of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. All the measures that I have outlined are designed to build public confidence in the fight against crime and are matched by concrete achievements in freeing up the police to ensure that they can...

My right hon. Friend's Committee produced a good and important report. If he looks at the speed with which we have funded and developed the ability of police forces throughout the country to have handheld devices, he will see that I share his ambition to roll out this important system...

My right hon. Friend's Committee produced a good and important report. If he looks at the speed with which we have funded and developed the ability of police forces throughout the country to have handheld devices, he will see that I share his ambition to roll out this important system...

The review of the Licensing Act that the Government carried out showed that the incidence of violent crime remained unchanged on the whole. Alcohol-related violent crime has decreased, but I will deal later with the action that we should and will take on binge drinking.

The review of the Licensing Act that the Government carried out showed that the incidence of violent crime remained unchanged on the whole. Alcohol-related violent crime has decreased, but I will deal later with the action that we should and will take on binge drinking.

The hon. Gentleman makes two important points. I wholeheartedly agree that local people need and deserve to know the response that they can expect from the police. It needs to be a good response. That, with the agreement of the Association of Chief Police Officers, is set out in the...

The hon. Gentleman makes two important points. I wholeheartedly agree that local people need and deserve to know the response that they can expect from the police. It needs to be a good response. That, with the agreement of the Association of Chief Police Officers, is set out in the...