§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct his officials to cease to certify asylum claims under section 1 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, solely on the basis of the asylum seeker's country of origin. [56463]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe plan to abolish the "White List" provision when the opportunity for legislation arises but, in the meantime, we shall continue to operate it subject to due scrutiny of the circumstances of individual cases and the continuing review of conditions in the countries of origin of asylum seekers, as explained in paragraph 9.10 of the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum" (Cm 4018).
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the European Parliament's proposal to change the European Convention protocol on asylum seekers to provide for temporary asylum. [57473]
§ Kate HoeyThe Government accept that there would be benefits in member states co-ordinating their response in the event of a future mass influx of displaced persons, but we have some concerns about the Commission's proposal. These concerns centre on its general inflexibility, and in particular the restrictions on member states acting differentially or independently while a particular regime is in force. These issues are still under discussion in the relevant European Union fora.