HL Deb 25 July 1996 vol 574 c170WA
The Viscount of Falkland

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Secretary of State for Social Security's claim on 15th July (H.C. Deb., col. 854) that "we are taking away benefit only from illegal immigrants" is compatible with Article 31.1 of the UN Convention on Refugees, and if so, how.

Baroness Blatch

My right honourable friend said: "We are taking away benefit only from illegal immigrants, from people who change their story after they have arrived in Britain claiming to be something other than asylum seekers, and from people found not to be genuine refugees". The Government are satisfied that their policy is entirely compatible with the UN Convention.