§ Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are his criteria for granting or refusing political asylum requested by visitors to the United Kingdom from Communist countries.
(2) if he takes into account the likelihood of reprisals by the secret police of their countries of origin when considering applications for political asylum made by persons from Communist countries.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Immigration Rules provide that a passenger who does not otherwise qualify for admission should not be refused leave to enter if the only country to which he can be moved is one to which he is unwilling to go owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. I am prepared to consider also other grounds which may be advanced for permitting people to remain here exceptionally.
§ Dr. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 862W applications for political asylum were received in the last year for which figures are available from visitors to the United Kingdom from Eastern European Communist countries; and how many of these were granted.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesOur records show that during 1977 three Eastern European nationals were granted refugee status in the United Kingdom and 36 were allowed to enter or remain for exceptional reasons.