Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill ECHR 2024-02-01
2024-02-01
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the compatibility of a bill concerning asylum seekers sent to Rwanda, in relation to international obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
What recent assessment she has made of the compatibility of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill with the European convention on human rights?
I would like to assure the House that the Government respect their international obligations. The Law Officers convention prevents me from disclosing outside Government whether I have given advice or even what the context of any such advice might be. The Bill to which the hon. Gentleman refers is currently in the other place, and will, I am sure, be discussed very fully there.
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Assessment & feedback
The MP asked for an assessment of compatibility but received assurances about government respect without specific details on legal compliance or analysis provided.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Media reports have indicated that some Rwandans were granted refugee status in the UK, citing well-founded fears of persecution, while the Government claims Rwanda is a safe country.
Just this week, we heard media reports that four Rwandans had been granted refugee status in the UK in the past four months, citing well-founded fears of persecution. At the same time, the Government would like us to accept that Rwanda is a safe country, despite the Home Office accepting that those individuals face a real threat of persecution. Can the Attorney General tell us how we can send asylum seekers to Rwanda under those circumstances?
We are asking Parliament to look at the matter afresh—not just to look at the facts as they were before the Supreme Court, but to look at new circumstances. Evidence was published on 11 January to assist Parliament in those deliberations. We have assurances from the Government of Rwanda that the implementation of all measures within the treaty will be expedited, and we will ratify the treaty when we are ready to do so.
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Assessment & feedback
The MP asked for an explanation on sending asylum seekers but received general reassurances without addressing threats of persecution directly.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty have reported issues such as arrests, threats, and allegations of torture against journalists and bloggers who criticize the Government in Rwanda.
Journalists and bloggers who criticise the Government are arrested, threatened and put on trial, with allegations of torture, disappearances and suspicious deaths. Those are just some of the issues that Human Rights Watch and Amnesty have reported on in Rwanda. When asking Parliament to disregard established legal principles such as the burden of proof and the need for evidence, is the Attorney General genuinely comfortable in passing the Rwanda Bill?
It is constitutionally proper for Parliament to legislate in response to a decision of the Supreme Court. We do it all the time in the finance and tax space. Lord Reed was careful to point out to the Constitution Committee in the other House that we did it following the Burmah oil case in the War Damage Act 1965. In this case, I urge the hon. Lady to look hard at the evidence that the Government put before the House on 11 January. If the Bill passes, everyone must treat Rwanda as generally safe for the transfer of individuals under the treaty.
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Assessment & feedback
The MP asked about comfort regarding legal principles and human rights but received a constitutional argument without addressing specific concerns directly.
Response accuracy