Speeches by Vickers.

“When we talk about the Border Security Commander role, if we think it is going to “smash the gangs”, sort out all these problems and play a huge part in creating a secure border for this country, it is important that we allow it some element of independence and gravitas. We have talked about the commander being tied in…”

“If we are to have such a position, we want it to be effective and have the relevant powers, but we also want it to be aligned with the other priorities of the Home Office and the work going on there. I think that is clear. Amendment 11 would remove the requirement for the Border Security Commander to obtain the consent…”

“I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 3 Functions of the Commander”

“We will discuss when we come to the next group of amendments the aims and objectives of this role, and the fact that if we are going to have a Border Security Commander, they should have a very meaningful role that can make a real difference. I would like to press on clause 2 of the Bill, which talks about “The terms a…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. The subject of this Bill is incredibly important to this country and its future. I hope that, during the next two weeks, the Committee will give us a constructive opportunity for the consideration and strengthening of the Bill. Let me briefly outline our f…”

“I beg to move amendment 10, in clause 1, page 1, line 6, leave out “designate a civil servant as the” and insert “appoint a”. This amendment would remove the requirement for the Border Security Commander to be a civil servant.”

“We want to see how effective the offences will be. The Government have set that out in part, but not for the new offence of endangering lives at sea, which has great consequence. Amendment 14 would also require the Border Security Commander to report on the number of people identified as entering the United Kingdom via…”

“Clause 10 makes it clear that this chapter does not apply to the naval, military or air forces of the Crown. Clause 11 is an amendment to the Data Protection Act 2018 to allow the Border Security Commander to be added to the list of competent authorities in relation to the processing of personal data carried out for a …”

“Clause 8 allows for an interim Border Security Commander to be designated. I would be grateful if the Minister could confirm that this is essentially a stopgap either because a Border Security Commander is going to step down without a replacement yet secured, or for reasons of temporary incapacity to carry out their fu…”

“Clause 7 makes provision about the delegation of the commander’s functions. Subsection (1) provides that “The functions conferred on the Commander by this Chapter may be exercised by any civil servant authorised by the Commander for that purpose.” This is further evidence, were any needed, that the post of commander mi…”

“Clause 6 states: “The Commander must establish and maintain a board to assist the Commander in the exercise of the Commander’s functions.” It is all quite open-ended: the chair will be the commander, and the board will be made up of one or more representatives from each relevant partner authority. Will the Minister exp…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship on your first outing, Mr Stuart. Clause 5(3) requires those who are co-operating with the commander in the exercise of their functions to put in place arrangements governing co-operation between the commander and that person. Does the Minister have a view about what tho…”

“Clause 5 provides that a partner authority has duties, so far as is “appropriate and reasonably practicable,” to co-operate with the commander in carrying out the commander’s functions. It would be helpful if the Minister explained what the Government mean by “so far as appropriate and reasonably practicable” and under…”

“Clause 4 would give the Border Security Commander a duty to prepare annual reports, which must state how the commander has carried out their functions in that financial year and set out the commander’s view on the performance of the border security system that year, with particular reference to the commander’s strategi…”

“If we are to have a Border Security Commander, we want an effective one who can publish a strategy without being subject to a political veto, who has priorities aligned to the UK border strategy, and whom Home Secretaries can direct agencies to follow. We wish to press the amendments to a Division. Amendment proposed: …”

“Clause 3 sets out the functions of the Border Security Commander. The shadow Home Secretary, the right hon. Member for Croydon South (Chris Philp), correctly pointed out on Second Reading that the new Border Security Commander “cannot actually command anything. There are no powers at all in the Bill, merely functions. …”

“I have not come across Chief Commissioner Miekelson before, but I will endeavour to catch up on Netflix or iPlayer.”

“The contrast is interesting. The Opposition want to see a Border Security Commander independently empowered to make meaningful changes to secure the border, rather than another civil servant muted by political oversight. There is a big contrast in perspective in terms of whether a Home Secretary should be signing off o…”

“I could not, but I could tell the hon. Lady that the backlog is even bigger now than it was when this Government took office. If the Government were serious about tackling illegal crossings and creating an effective deterrent, they would support new clause 21. We also want to make sure that the Border Security Commande…”

“I think, in the last week, we have found that the only thing that this Government are relying on is the weather, but I will carry on. I am sure we will come back to all these things in due course; it is good to be discussing them here instead of on a news channel somewhere. As the Government are repealing the Illegal M…”