§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to ensure that the administration of asylum policy and the treatment of asylum seekers who are illegally present in the United Kingdom are clearly co-ordinated with their race relations policy objectives. [HL298]
§ Lord RookerAs Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, I work closely with my right honourable friend the Home Secretary and my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, Community and Race Equality (Angela Eagle) to ensure effective co-ordination between the Government's policies on asylum and race relations. The Government have frequent contact with a range of representative bodies on the treatment of asylum applicants, and potential community relations implications are always carefully assessed before Immigration Service enforcement activities are carried out.
In addition, the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 has extended the Race Relations Act 1976 to cover the administration of immigration and asylum laws and other law enforcement activities. In managing the asylum system, the Home Office has a statutory duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote good relations between people of different racial groups. The Act provides a right of action for those who allege that the immigration authorities have discriminated against them unlawfully on racial grounds. The Act provides appropriate safeguards for necessary and legitimate activity by immigration staff which is required by law or properly authorised by Ministers.