Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill completes Lords line by line scrutiny

The aim of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill is to confirm Rwanda as a safe third country for the removal of people entering the UK under new immigration laws, and to deter migration by unsafe and illegal routes.

Line by line examination

Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill. 

Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering proposed changes (amendments). These changes can be to alter the wording of the text, to remove clauses from the bill or to insert new ones.

Proposed changes

Members speaking on the final day of committee stage put forward proposed changes (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• the jurisdiction of domestic courts
• taking into consideration religious beliefs when determining if Rwanda is a safe country
• safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Catch up

• Watch on Parliament TV: part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Next steps

Report stage, a further chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes, is scheduled to begin on Monday 4 March. 

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day two: Wednesday 14 February

Members speaking on day two of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) (PDF) to the bill, on subjects including:

• the ability of courts or tribunals to consider evidence that Rwanda is not a safe country
• limits on the disapplication of the Human Rights Act.

Catch up

• Watch on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day one: Monday 12 February

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) (PDF) to the bill, on subjects including adding compliance with domestic and international rule of law to the bill's purpose.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Second reading

Second reading, a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place on Monday 29 January.

Explore further information

Find out more about the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.

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