§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
For how many days Mr. Abdul Qayum Butt, who has committed no offence, has been detained in Ashford Remand Centre; what countries have been approached to see whether they might offer him asylum; what is the maximum length of time they consider it proper to keep a person who is admitted to be a refugee within the meaning of Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on Refugees detained in a prison, and what they will do with Mr. Butt if no other country is prepared to accept him.
§ Lord EltonMr. Abdul Qayum Butt was detained under Immigration Act powers at Ashford Remand Centre from 4th June to 19th October 1982, a total of 137 days. Approaches to possible countries of resettlement have been made by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and it would be inappropriate for my right honourable friend to answer on the High Commissioner's behalf.
Mr. Butt is a person to whom Article 32(3) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is considered to apply; he is being given a reasonable period within which to seek legal admission to another country and his detention was considered to be a necessary internal measure to be taken during that period. As the noble Lord will be aware, my right honourable friend has again reviewed Mr. Butt's case and, taking account of the representations he had received and the assurances he had been given, has directed that Mr. Butt should be released from custody and granted temporary admission to await further the outcome of UNHCR's efforts on his behalf. He was released on 19th October.
I do not consider it useful, at this stage, to speculate on what might be done should no other country be found prepared to accept Mr. Butt.