HC Deb 14 July 2003 vol 409 c56W
16. Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the operation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [125070]

Beverley Hughes

Section 55, which came into operation on 8 January 2003, is one of a package of new measures to move towards a more streamlined and cohesive asylum system. Statistics on the operation of section 55 up to 31 March 2003 were published at the end of May 2003, and we are continuing to monitor the impact closely.