Committee stage first sitting (morning). Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Committee stage first sitting (morning). Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Letter dated 08/01/2010 from Meg Hillier MP to Janet Dean MP regarding Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. 2 p.

Letter dated 08/01/2010 from Meg Hillier MP to Janet Dean MP regarding Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. 2 p.

Letter dated 17/12/2009 from Lord Brett to Lord Skelmersdale regarding students and the Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. 3 p.

Letter dated 17/12/2009 from Lord Brett to Lord Skelmersdale regarding students and the Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. 3 p.

I can answer one simple point. I was asked whether visas for students were time-related. They are related to the course that they are on. A problem raised with us was about students having a course in medicine or what have you that went beyond the normal period of a...

I can answer one simple point. I was asked whether visas for students were time-related. They are related to the course that they are on. A problem raised with us was about students having a course in medicine or what have you that went beyond the normal period of a...

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for explaining this statutory instrument with such thoroughness and brevity. I am afraid that, like the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, I may have to take a little longer than he did. The Government’s experience in using ID cards for migrants in this country...

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for explaining this statutory instrument with such thoroughness and brevity. I am afraid that, like the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, I may have to take a little longer than he did. The Government’s experience in using ID cards for migrants in this country...

My Lords, if that is a reference to my amateur dramatic past, I think that we had better forget it. There is only one question from the list that I produced that the Minister has not answered to which I would be extremely grateful for an answer today, on the...

My Lords, if that is a reference to my amateur dramatic past, I think that we had better forget it. There is only one question from the list that I produced that the Minister has not answered to which I would be extremely grateful for an answer today, on the...

As part of that question, does the Minister accept that there is a fundamental difference here in that retailers wish to encourage purchasers to make purchases by making that process as convenient as possible for them? I do not think that is comparable to the ID card situation.

As part of that question, does the Minister accept that there is a fundamental difference here in that retailers wish to encourage purchasers to make purchases by making that process as convenient as possible for them? I do not think that is comparable to the ID card situation.

My Lords, the Government remain committed to securing UK borders, improving immigration control and reducing identity abuse. As part of that goal, we introduced biometric registration powers in the UK Borders Act 2007 through which the Secretary of State is able to issue secure, reliable biometric documents to foreign nationals...

My Lords, the Government remain committed to securing UK borders, improving immigration control and reducing identity abuse. As part of that goal, we introduced biometric registration powers in the UK Borders Act 2007 through which the Secretary of State is able to issue secure, reliable biometric documents to foreign nationals...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for their contributions. I was indeed brief. I see no great point in going back over an ID card debate which has been resolved and is now in statute. I do not criticise at all the fact that other political parties have a different...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for their contributions. I was indeed brief. I see no great point in going back over an ID card debate which has been resolved and is now in statute. I do not criticise at all the fact that other political parties have a different...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister. I am also grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale; on every other occasion in Grand Committee, I have been accustomed to going third. These Benches—noble Lords can see the support behind me—do not support the regulations. We do not support the...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister. I am also grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale; on every other occasion in Grand Committee, I have been accustomed to going third. These Benches—noble Lords can see the support behind me—do not support the regulations. We do not support the...

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. Relevant Document: First Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Immigration (Biometric Registration)...

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. Relevant Document: First Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Immigration (Biometric Registration)...

My Lords, before the noble Lord gets on to that point, he gave the example of chip-and-PIN cards, such as debit and credit cards, eventually being read in shops and banks. Does that mean that the readers for these biometric cards are expected to be provided by the private sector...

My Lords, before the noble Lord gets on to that point, he gave the example of chip-and-PIN cards, such as debit and credit cards, eventually being read in shops and banks. Does that mean that the readers for these biometric cards are expected to be provided by the private sector...

My Lords, it is tempting to say that, if there is a Starred Question, why would I spoil the theatre of the Chamber by answering it now? I will be contradicted if I get it wrong, but I will launch into it. The problem referred to may indeed be part...

My Lords, it is tempting to say that, if there is a Starred Question, why would I spoil the theatre of the Chamber by answering it now? I will be contradicted if I get it wrong, but I will launch into it. The problem referred to may indeed be part...

I was responding to the broader question of the rollout of card readers. The noble Baroness is absolutely right; that is a responsibility of Government. That is why we are placing them at ports of entry and airports. In the broader and longer term—and I should probably have tried to...

I was responding to the broader question of the rollout of card readers. The noble Baroness is absolutely right; that is a responsibility of Government. That is why we are placing them at ports of entry and airports. In the broader and longer term—and I should probably have tried to...

I am very grateful. I probably made a mistake in mentioning Tuesday’s Question. Of course, the noble Baroness and I both asked questions about students in specific relation to the regulations, but if the noble Lord is happy to write I am sure that she, and certainly I, would be...

I am very grateful. I probably made a mistake in mentioning Tuesday’s Question. Of course, the noble Baroness and I both asked questions about students in specific relation to the regulations, but if the noble Lord is happy to write I am sure that she, and certainly I, would be...

Draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Agreed to on division (9 votes to 1).

Draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Agreed to on division (9 votes to 1).

SI 2009/2574. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Home Office. Coming into force 20 October 2009.

SI 2009/2574. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Home Office. Coming into force 20 October 2009.