Question
Nearly 6,000 foreign national offenders were returned in the last year—12% more than in the year before. Clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill strengthens the measures on circumstances in which it is in the public interest to deport foreign criminals, particularly where their offending is more serious. Will my hon. Friend explain how these changes will build on the progress that has been made, and further strengthen public security?
Answer
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We remain firmly committed to the ECHR and the protections it gives us all, including the prohibition on torture, a right to life and protections from the state. However, we are determined, through this legislation, to protect its principles from over-interpretation, both domestically and internationally, and to ensure we have an immigration and asylum system that has the consent of the British people.25% vibes
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The question asked how clause 20 builds on recent progress on returns and strengthens public security. The reply only partly addresses this: it does not explain the mechanism or the expected outcome, and it mostly offers general statements. Its one related point, that ECHR principles will be protected from over-interpretation, touches on deportation only indirectly. Because the answer stays vague throughout, the person who asked would likely need to ask again for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the changes to clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill (deportation of foreign criminals where it is in the public interest, particularly for more serious offending) will build on recent progress in returning foreign national offenders and further strengthen public security. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply never explains how clause 20 builds on recent returns progress or how it strengthens public security. Its only substantive link is the statement that the legislation will protect ECHR principles from over-interpretation, which implicitly concerns deportation, plus general 'consent of the British people' language. The 'absolutely right' opener is agreement without content, so the reply gestures at the item's subject without committing to a concrete mechanism or outcome. |