Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Migration Bill: UN Refugee Convention

Monday 3 July 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Court of Appeal found the Government not in breach of obligations under the refugee convention.
  • The Government disagree with the judgment that Rwanda is not a safe place for refugees and are seeking to appeal.
  • The UN Refugee Agency runs a scheme that relocates asylum seekers from Libya to Rwanda, part-funded by the EU.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anum Qaisar
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

The question arises from concerns about the UK's obligations under international law and the impact of recent legislation on asylum seekers.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the compatibility of the Illegal Migration Bill with the 1951 UN refugee convention?

Answer from Suella Braverman

While I am pleased that the Court of Appeal found that the Government are not in breach of our obligations under the refugee convention, I fundamentally disagree with the judgment that Rwanda is not a safe place for refugees and we are seeking permission to appeal. The Government take our international obligations very seriously and we are satisfied that the provisions in the Illegal Migration Bill comply with the refugee convention.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific elements about persecuting vulnerable groups, creating a hostile environment, and stripping rights were not addressed.

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Q2 Anum Qaisar
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The question arises from concerns about the UK's obligations under international law and the impact of recent legislation on asylum seekers.

Question

I am looking for clarity from the Home Secretary. What exactly is it about persecuting the most vulnerable groups, creating a hostile environment and stripping people of their right to seek safety that complies so well with the UN refugee convention?

Answer from Suella Braverman

As I have made clear, we take our international obligations very seriously, and we are satisfied that the Bill complies with the refugee convention. With respect to the hon. Lady, I will not take lectures from the SNP on this matter.

Not addressed: The specific elements about persecuting vulnerable groups, creating a hostile environment, and stripping rights were not addressed.

How: With Respect To The Hon. Lady, Will Not Take Lectures From

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Q3 Philip Hollobone Con
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The question arises from concerns about the UK's stance on Rwandan safety for refugees, given that the UNHCR has its own relocation programme there.

Question

The UN Refugee Agency has its own asylum seeker relocation programme: it flies asylum seekers from Libya to Rwanda in a scheme part-funded by the European Union. How on earth can Rwanda be deemed not to be a safe country if the UN Refugee Agency itself is using it as a safe haven?

Answer from Suella Braverman

As always, my hon. Friend makes a powerful point, and I could not agree with him more. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees runs an extensive scheme in Rwanda, and supports the resettlement of many thousands of migrants. I met some of them in my recent visit to Rwanda. They are happy and grateful for the generosity and welcome that Rwanda has offered them, which has allowed them to restart their lives.

Not addressed: The specific question about UNHCR's programme was not directly addressed.

How: As Always, My Hon. Friend Makes A Powerful Point

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