HL Deb 23 October 2001 vol 627 c118WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they are giving to suggestions that there should be joint Franco-British assessment of applicants for asylum at Sangatte in Northern France. [HL797]

Lord Rooker

As a signatory to the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the United Kingdom has an obligation to consider applications for asylum made within the United Kingdom or at our ports of entry. We cannot consider the merits of an asylum claim unless an application has been made, nor are we under any obligation to consider applications for asylum made outside the United Kingdom.

On 12 September, the Home Secretary met with Daniel Vaillant, his French counterpart, to discuss a wide range of immigration and asylum issues. During the meeting a number of joint initiatives were agreed which we are currently pursuing further but these do not include a joint assessment of asylum applications from individuals resident at Sangatte.