Member

I am sorry that my noble friend used some of the words that he did in defence of his amendment, because I think his amendment—properly amended, so that we do not get ourselves into the concerns raised by the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss—should be supported by people who could not accept some of the things that he said. What he and the Front Bench have put forward is something that the Government really have to answer, because the public feel strongly about this—as do I. I do not understand why somebody who is not a citizen and who commits a crime should not be deported. I understand that some of those circumstances will be difficult because of the country from which they have originally come and that we need to amend this amendment properly to meet what we really want. But will the Minister accept that, unless we face up to this issue, we will constantly be giving to people, whom we do not want to stir up trouble, the most wonderful opportunity to do so? That is why these amendments have to be taken seriously.