Part 6: Miscellaneous Section 71: Visa penalties for countries posing risk to international peace and security etc.
Overview: The visa penalties outlined in section 70 may be imposed on a country where, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the government of the country has taken action that present a risk to international peace and security, or whose actions lead or are likely to lead to armed conflict or a breach of humanitarian law.
	In determining whether to apply visa penalties, the Secretary of State must take into account:
The extent of the action taken;
The likelihood of further action being taken;
The reasons for the action being taken; and
Any other matters the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
	Background: Disadvantaging a state’s citizens through our visa system is intended to generate domestic dissatisfaction with that state’s actions and result in pressure to change its behaviour. These measures could be in isolation or form part of a wider package of measures by the UK Government to influence the behaviour of a foreign government.
	This section enables the Secretary of State to specify a country for the purpose of applying visa penalties under section 70. This section does not amend or repeal existing legislation.
	Subsection 1 allows a country to be specified under this section if, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the government of that country has taken action that gives, or is likely to give, rise to a threat to international peace and security; results, or is likely to result, in armed conflict; gives, or is likely to give, rise to a breach of international humanitarian law.
	Subsection 2 sets out the factors the Secretary of State must take into account when determining whether to specify a country under this section.
	Subsection 3 sets out definitions of the terms "action", and cross-refers to the definitions of "country" and "specified" in section 70.