§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what additional funding he will make available to the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service to enable it to provide expert and independent advice to those refused their claim to asylum;
(2) what action he is proposing to take to provide independent and expert advice on appeal to those refused asylum in the event that the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service declines to provide full advice.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe UKIAS refugee unit is available to provide advice and representation before the immigration appellate authorities to those refused a claim to asylum. Discussions have been continuing between Home Office officials and representatives of UKIAS on the enhancements needed to the unit to enable it to respond to the increased workload that will result from the measures announced in the Home Secretary's statement of 2 July. An initial payment of £200,000 has been made by the Home Office to UKIAS for this purpose and further amounts will be made available as they become needed. I am confident that the proposed enhancements will allow the refugee unit to handle the extra demands which will fall upon it as a result of the Government's plans to deal expeditiously with aslyum applicants.