§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compliance of his Department's policy in respect of the490W detention of asylum seekers convicted of using false documents with the terms of article 31 of the UN convention relating to the status of refugees; and if he will make a statement. [20277]
§ Mr. KirkhopeIt is for the prosecuting authorities to decide whether to prosecute a person for using false documents. The prosecution of people who have not sought asylum in the United Kingdom, but have attempted to enter or leave the country using false documents, is not a breach of article 31 of the United Nations convention. Any subsequent application for asylum in the United Kingdom would be determined on its individual merits. Detention solely under Immigration Act powers would be authorised only if there were good grounds for believing that the person would not comply with the terms of temporary admission.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to open a new detention centre for asylum seekers at Dover; and if he will make a statement. [20278]
491W
§ Mr. KirkhopeWe are examining the case for seeking to locate an immigration detention centre in the Dover area, but no firm proposals have yet been developed.