NEW FAMILY IMMIGRATION RULES

That this House notes that the new family immigration rules impose a minimum earnings requirement of £18,600, with an additional £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child, in respect of partners and children from outside the EU seeking to join their partners and parents resident in the UK; further notes that the sponsoring partner is subject to enforced separation in that she or he is required to work in the UK for at least six months before the application can be made; further notes that the new immigration rules are to be challenged in the Administrative Court in Birmingham from 5 to 8 February 2013; believes that the new immigration rules are irrational and discriminate against British citizens, those settled in the UK and those with refugee or humanitarian protection leave on grounds including gender and race-ethnicity; further believes that the new rules are preventing British and settled families on lower incomes from being reunited and enjoying family life with their non-EEA family members contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and other international instruments; and calls on the Government immediately to withdraw that aspect of the new family immigration rules which impose the minimum earnings requirement reverting back to the predecessor rule which adequately ensured that there was no recourse to public funds.