HL Deb 15 October 1996 vol 574 c192WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Secretary of State for Social Security's remarks on the 15th July (H.C. Deb., col. 847) how it is possible to reconcile the view that it is reasonable to hold in-country applicants for asylum to assurances that they will have no recourse to public funds with Article 31.1 of the UN Convention on Refugees.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

Article 31.1 prohibits contracting states from penalising refugees for illegal entry. Holding in-country asylum applicants to their assurances that they will have no recourse to public funds is entirely compatible with that article.