§ Lord Dubsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider all countries within the European Union to be "safe" countries to which asylum seekers may be returned, and if not which are the exceptions.
§ Baroness BlatchCases where it may be appropriate to remove an asylum applicant to a safe third country are considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules. Under the rules, a safe third country is considered to be one in which the life or freedom of an asylum applicant would not be threatened (within the meaning of Article 33 of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees) and the government of which would not send the applicant elsewhere in a manner contrary to the principles of the convention. The states of the European Union have highly developed asylum procedures and there is a strong presumption that they meet these criteria. Cases are, however, considered on an individual basis.