Member

Finally, I come to Amendments 180 and 194, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Sheffield, and the noble Lord, Lord German. I can see some merit in the principle behind Amendment 180. Ensuring that those who may be children are properly assessed before criminal proceedings are brought is an important safeguard. However, I have concerns about how this would operate in practice. We have already spoken at length about the backlog in the asylum system and the enormous delays that are causing real frustration, both for those with genuine claims and for the British taxpayer.