HL Deb 09 June 1992 vol 537 cc1185-6

Lord Desai asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have for the future of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

My Lords, we are not satisfied with the way in which the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service's executive committee and general council have overseen the organisation. We are considering the future arrangements for non-asylum cases. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

Lord Desai

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Does he agree that it might have been imprudent to have given that organisation, weak as it was, a monopoly—a decision which might have caused its collapse?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, I do not believe that it collapsed because it was a monopoly but because there was turmoil in the general council.

Lord Bonham-Carter

My Lords, in the light of the Answer the Minister gave to the noble Lord, Lord Desai, I should like to ask this question. Will he tell the House who under the new circumstances will take over the functions which were assigned to the UKIAS under the old Asylum Bill?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, there is a new refugee unit which will deal with the problems of the refugees. As I explained in my original Answer, the alterations to the UKIAS are being decided and have not yet been announced. In other words, we are deciding what the alternatives to the UKIAS will be.

Lord Morris of Castle Morris

My Lords, in the whole sorry saga of the UKIAS over the past 12 months which has involved not just this country and the Home Office but the rest of the world, have the Government consulted the United Nations High Commission for Refugees? At one point, it allegedly threatened to withdraw its support. If the Government did so, what advice did they receive; and, if not, why not?

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has paid £250,000 towards the work of the UKIAS. It continues to pay money into the new refugee unit.

Lord Morris of Castle Morris

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply; but it was a reply to a question that I did not ask. I asked whether the Government, in the past year, consulted the high commission.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, we are always in touch with the high commission.

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