§ Mr. John Austin-Walker (Woolwich)I wish to present a petition that has been signed by almost 1,000 residents in the area of Thamesmead and beyond. It has been supported by several right hon. and hon. Members of this place and of the other place, including a former Law Lord, a former Solicitor-General, several former Cabinet Ministers and a former Minister who had responsibility for immigration.
The petition stems from the fact that the Secretary of State for the Home Department has refused permission to Mrs. Galina Brew and her daughter, Angelina, to remain in the United Kingdom. Their application to remain was submitted out of time due to the professional negligence of Mrs. Brew's solicitor, who has since been struck off the roll of solicitors.
Angelina is approaching the age of 11 years and has been educated in this country since the age of seven. She 1208 has special education needs. She is happily settled in the Bishop John Robinson Church of England primary school in Thamesmead.
Galina's Ghanaian husband, Angelina's father, has abandoned them. They have no home or other relatives either in Ghana or in Galina's native Ukraine, which she left 24 years ago. The petition states:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House do urge the Right Honourable Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department, to intervene in the proposal to remove Angelina and Galina Brew and allow them leave to remain in the United Kingdom.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.I present the petition in the hope of averting a tragedy in the life of a young girl who is in the Public Gallery.
§ To lie upon the Table.