§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means he is informed of upheavals in any country of such significance as to require him to notify the Secretary of State for Social Security in order to enable nationals of that country seeking asylum in the United Kingdom to apply for benefit entitlement; what criteria he applies to determine such a significant upheaval; and if he will make a statement. [42224]
§ Mr. KirkhopeCountries which generate asylum claims are monitored by the asylum division on the basis of reports from a variety of sources, including diplomatic posts, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and non-governmental organisations. The basis for making a declaration will be that a country has undergone such a fundamental change of circumstances that its nationals are not normally being required to return to it for the time being.