Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (CB)

My Lords, I will now sum up at the end of this very interesting debate. I am relieved to hear that people do not want doctors to be immigration officers. I am a little disappointed that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, has not accepted the amendment from the noble Earl, Lord Howe, because it is so straightforward. If, as the noble and learned Lord says, it would not be a problem for over 99% of patients, it would not be a problem to be satisfied. It would add a degree of security for doctors who are being asked to provide these assessments of eligibility. I was also glad to hear from the noble Lord, Lord Harper, that those working for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in embassies or wherever, are covered, and that that is not a problem. The noble Lord, Lord Carlile, raised the issue of those working as volunteers abroad for a very long time. I hope that the ability that applies to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office workers also applies to those working for charities, such as some of the major charities, who may be abroad for a very long time but view their permanent home as the UK. I remain concerned about Jersey and the Isle of Man. What conversations has the noble and learned Lord had with the Public Bill Office about how to get this in scope? My attempts have failed, and I understood that here in the House of Lords we are not able to widen the scope of the Bill. I worry that without widening the scope of the Bill, we will not address it, and those doctors treating patients with all kinds of really serious illnesses, particularly in Liverpool, as referred to by the Front Bench, and in Southampton, could inadvertently find themselves in a very difficult position, which would be an unintended consequence of this legislation.