§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice or representations he has received from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in connection with the return to Iran of Iranian nationals in Britain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonFollowing the meetings held by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and myself with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Hocke, on 28 October, I have received a letter from UNHCR's representative in London, Mr. Volfing, taking up the question of Iranian asylum seekers in this country to which I shall be replying shortly.
The Government are continuing to respond generously to Iranians who have reason to fear return to Iran. However, we do not accept and have never accepted that all Iranians should be allowed to remain here regardless of their circumstances. Liability to conscription is not recognised under the United Nations convention on refugees as a basis for refugee status and we do not regard it as grounds for the grant of exceptional leave. Nevertheless, we are willing to look at individual cases together with any evidence that Iranians returning from abroad are being treated more harshly than other conscripts.