Member

The points my noble friend Lady Lister has made may be a matter of contention. There is an argument I have to make, whereby if children were allowed to sponsor parents, it would risk creating incentives for more children to be encouraged or even forced to leave their families and risk hazardous journeys to the UK. The policy is not designed to keep child refugees apart from their parents; but, in considering any policy, we must think carefully about the wider impact in order to avoid putting more people unnecessarily in harm’s way. The Court of Appeal has recently handed down a judgment in the case of DM; we are reviewing that judgment and considering its findings as part of our work to reform refugee family reunion in the long term.