§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Home Office, the Department of Social Security, the Inland Revenue or other government agencies have taken any action to ascertain the truth of the allegations made in the Sunday Mirror on 17 August that Jerzey Kacperowicz, Ewa Huczko and Tommy Kwiek are claiming political asylum from a member state of the European Union. [HL4367]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)Information relating to the immigration status of an individual has to be treated as confidential and cannot be disclosed to other persons. This reflects the Home Office's legal obligations under common law, human rights and data protection legislation, and the treatment of private personal information under the Code of Practice on Access to Information. However, the Government will not hesitate to prosecute individuals, including asylum seekers, who have obtained benefit fraudulently where there is sufficient evidence to do so.