HL Deb 25 February 2002 vol 631 cc174-5WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child of 15 February 1995 that the United Kingdom reservation to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child relating to United Kingdom nationality and immigration laws is incompatible with the object and purpose of that convention. [HL2758]

Lord Rooker

We noted and responded to the concerns stated by the committee in theSecond Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child by the United Kingdom, published in August 1999.

We remain convinced that the reservation is necessary in the interests of an effective immigration control. It would not be right for the Immigration Rules to be utilised simply in order to make use of convention rights when there already exists in United Kingdom law comprehensive provision for the care and protection of children. This applies in full to children who have been recognised as refugees and those whose asylum claims have yet to be determined.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will respond to the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the rights of the child of 15 February 1995 (paragraph 7) and withdraw the reservation made on behalf of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [HL2759]

Lord Rooker

We noted and responded to the concerns stated by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child when we published theSecond Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child by the United Kingdom in August 1999. This report also gave information about the comprehensive safeguards in place to ensure the welfare of unaccompanied asylum seeking children. No child in the United Kingdom is deprived of UN rights but entry to the United Kingdom solely to claim such rights is not permitted.

There are no current plans to withdraw the reservation, which we are convinced remains necessary in order to maintain an effective immigration control.