§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept that solemn undertakings given by Ministers, as recently as August 1992, concerning refugees who spend short periods in transit through other countries before arriving in the United Kingdom, have been modified or abrogated by the progress of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill; and if so, in what way.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)No. The Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill does not affect the Government's policy on asylum seekers arriving from safe third countries. Draft immigration rules made available with the Bill describe that policy more fully than hitherto but would not substantially alter it. The ministerial undertakings referred to by the noble Lord relate specifically to the more flexible approach taken in the cases of nationals of the former Yugoslavia travelling directly from the war-zone. This is not spelt out in the draft rules but it is covered by the scope which they allow for discretion in individual cases.