Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will undertake negotiations with the Government of France to reach a new agreement on admission of asylum seekers, so that those who are not accepted for asylum can be returned to their country of origin.
§ Lord Williams of MostynAsylum seekers whose claims have been considered and rejected in the United Kingdom are normally returned to their country of origin directly and not through the territory of other states. Asylum seekers whose claims have been refused without substantive consideration in the United Kingdom may only be returned to other member states where it can be shown that the member state concerned is responsible according to the provisions of the Dublin Convention. We are in frequent discussion with our European partners with a view to developing and improving the procedures for the return of asylum seekers.