§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has issued to British posts overseas regarding(a) the acceptance and recording of applications for political asylum, (b) the consideration of such applications, (c) the granting of such applications, (d) the refusal of such applications, (e) the right of appeal against refusal to grant asylum; if exceptional applications are considered at posts from women claiming they are victims of or threatened with forcible abortions or sterilisation; and if he will make a statement. [38582]
§ Mr. HanleyEntry clearance officers at British posts overseas are guided by the following advice on asylum matters:
In accordance with the 1951 Geneva convention and the 1967 New York protocol on the status of refugees the United Kingdom is under no obligation to accept a request for asylum overseas. Entry clearance officers have discretion, however, to accept outside the immigration rules an application for entry clearance for the United Kingdom where a foreign national demonstrates his circumstances meet the definition of the 1951 convention, he has particularly close ties with the United Kingdom and this is the most appropriate country of long-term refuge. Any such application is to be referred to the Home Office for decision.