Member

We may not be able to agree on this, but perhaps the Minister could consider strengthening the guidance so that, first, it makes it clear that a person must not be refused citizenship on these grounds, if to do so would breach the UK’s international obligations under the refugee convention—which is no more or less than what the Minister says is intended. Secondly, and importantly, perhaps he could consider that the guidance should spell out more explicitly than now that the rules should not be applied to children who entered the UK by irregular means. I welcome the fact that the Government have stated that, given that illegal entry is normally considered to be outside a child’s control, most applicants would not be held accountable for immigration breaches that occurred when they were a minor. Why, then, is it not possible to place this assurance in the guidance? The Minister stated in Committee that discretion gives flexibility, but for this matter I suggest that it will lead only to ambiguity, which is not in the interests of the child.