HC Deb 10 December 2002 vol 396 cc235-6W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy regarding exceptional leave to remain. [85524]

Beverley Hughes

Our policy is to give protection to those people who need it. However exceptional leave has acted as a pull factor for people to come to the United Kingdom in the belief that they will be given exceptional leave if their asylum claim is refused.

We have decided to tighten up the basis on which leave will be granted to those who have been refused asylum. The current exceptional leave provisions will be replaced by a new form of "Humanitarian Protection" which will offer protection to those who have protection needs but are not covered by the 1951 Convention.