Hate Crime

Debate between Lord Tebbit and Lord Keen of Elie

Tuesday 5th July 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I agree with the noble Baroness that we, on all sides of this House, are ready to condemn racism and xenophobia. We have a common interest and a common outlook in so far as this is concerned. With regard to the increase in reported race hate crime, there have been significant increases in the period 2010 to 2016, but one must be careful of these statistics because much of the increase is attributed to the fact that we have introduced a better reporting system, including the reporting portal, True Vision.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, would it not be a good idea if we all took Her Majesty the Queen’s advice and just calmed down a little?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

Yes.

Immigration: Detention of Pregnant Women

Debate between Lord Tebbit and Lord Keen of Elie

Wednesday 25th May 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

Clearly we liaise very regularly with those contracted to provide facilities at Yarl’s Wood. Over and above that, Stephen Shaw will be commissioned to do a short review in 2017 on the implementation of these proposals.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that I have taken some interest in this matter, which included writing to the legal advisers who deal with these sorts of cases? So far as I could discover, there has never been more than a very small number—single figures—of pregnant women who have been detained who are not free, should they so wish, to return to other jurisdictions. It is merely that some of them are not allowed to enter this jurisdiction. They are perfectly free to leave if they wish to do so.

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I would observe that detention and removal are essential parts of any effective immigration control.

Immigration: Public Services

Debate between Lord Tebbit and Lord Keen of Elie

Tuesday 10th May 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

As I stated a moment ago, very considerable sums are being expended in these areas. Indeed, we expect to deliver 600,000 new school places by 2021.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, has my noble and learned friend had any success in establishing a bipartisan policy towards reducing immigration to tens of thousands a year? Or are the Opposition dedicated to an open door to let more and more and more migrants in, with no idea of how we shall pay not just for the schools and the hospitals but for the roads, the waterworks, the power stations and everything else? Whose side does my noble and learned friend think the Opposition are on—the British people or the foreigners?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

I believe that all Members of this House recognise the importance of a controlled migration system that brings us the best and is the best for this country. Only by means of a controlled migration system can we have an effective, workable society that is integrated and settled.

Modern Slavery Act 2015

Debate between Lord Tebbit and Lord Keen of Elie

Wednesday 13th April 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

The Government have always been clear that it is for others to establish such a mechanism. We are aware of a number of organisations that propose to set up a central repository. Indeed, I understand that Unseen and the Business & Human Rights Resources Centre have collaborated to develop a central repository for transparency statements linked to the enhanced Modern Slavery Helpline, to be launched later this year.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, have the Government ensured that if they take discriminatory action against such companies, they will not fall foul of any European Union legislation?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

There is no issue of discrimination arising in these circumstances.