Member

The total number of family reunion visas granted last year was 19,154, with the top visa countries being Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Another amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Jackson, says that there has to be a medical assessment of all the people coming from those countries within 48 hours, I think, of them making an application, or some other very short period. First, that would be incredibly difficult. Secondly, these people are running and escaping for their lives and may not even be in that country at that time. Thirdly, the provision of that sort of medical advice is simply not acceptable. We must be careful when amendments are put down, as they can restrict what is in the Bill to such an extent that the Bill’s importance is lost.