§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give effect to the recommendation by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and reconsider the reservation made on behalf of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [HL2588]
§ Lord RookerWe have carefully reviewed the reservation in respect of Article 22 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in the light of recent requests that it should be withdrawn. However, we are convinced that it remains necessary in order to maintain an effective immigration control and in no way inhibits the discharge of our obligations under the convention.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the United Nation's Committee on the Rights of the Child that the reservation made on behalf of the United Kingdom is incompatible with the object and purposes of that convention. [HL2589]
§ Lord RookerThe United Kingdom ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. The reservation in respect of Article 22 in no way inhibits the discharge of our obligations under the convention. There exists comprehensive provision in United Kingdom law for the care and protection of children, which applies in full to children who have been recognised as refugees in this country and to those who have sought asylum here but whose claim has not yet been determined.
The reservation was entered to safeguard the right of the United Kingdom to determine its own immigration and nationality laws.