§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
To which rule of which international convention the Secretary of State for Social Security, Mr. Peter Lilley, was referring when, speaking on BBC's Newsnight programme on 21st June, he described the safe third country rule in asylum cases as "part of the rules of the international convention".
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)Most countries apply the safe third country principle. The Dublin Convention, which the majority of member states, including the United Kingdom, have ratified, will provide a framework for operating that principle within the European Union.