§ Viscount Exmouthasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to impose a limit on the number of asylum seekers allowed to enter the United Kingdom.
§ Lord Williams of MostynOur obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees require us to consider on an individual basis all applications for asylum made at our ports or in the United Kingdom, and to grant refugee status to all those who meet the criteria. We shall continue to apply these criteria fairly, while taking measures to prevent and discourage abuse of the system by those who have no valid claim to asylum.
§ Viscount Exmouthasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they intend to verify the accuracy of a request for political asylum received from an immigrant.
§ Lord Williams of MostynAll applications for asylum in the United Kingdom are considered on an individual basis against the criteria for recognition as a refugee set out in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Decisions are taken in the light of both information supplied to us by the applicant at interview and in writing and of information available to us from a wide range of sources about the situation in the country where the applicant claims to fear persecution.