§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the Asylum and Immigration Bill; and how many have been in favour of the proposals and how many against. [18576]
§ Miss WiddecombeIn the period 23 November 1995 to 1 March 1996, the asylum division recorded 1,037 representations about the Asylum and Immigration Bill: 800 of these representations have been critical of the Bill and 158 have supported it; the views of the remainder are not recorded. A total of 2,134 names have been submitted on petitions against the Bill. Many of the letters were sent by supporters of a campaign which has been mounted by groups opposed to the Bill and I do not regard them as an accurate barometer of public opinion.