PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
RIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS (12 July 1995)

That this House is alarmed by reports that the Home Secretary proposes to further restrict the right of asylum seekers; notes in particular reports in the press of plans to deny some asylum seekers the right to an oral appeal, to draw up a list of safe countries and make a presumption that claims for asylum by nationals of them are 'without foundation', to draw up a list of countries to which asylum seekers could be returned if they had passed through them on their way to the United Kingdom under the 'third country' rule, and to impose visa restrictions on more countries; views with concern the threat to further reduce the level of benefits payable to asylum seekers; believes that proposals to have employers, National Health Service personnel, teachers, and other officials checking the immigration status of people from black and ethnic minority communities will have a detrimental impact on race relations in the United Kingdom; and calls on the Government not to proceed with such proposals and to uphold fully its obligations under the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees.

Sponsored by:
Mr Neil Gerrard (Labour)