LONDON: The British Home Secretary has outlined the main provisions ‘of the controversial asylum and immigration bill which he will introduce before parliament next month.

“The bill, which was also mentioned in the Queen’s speech when she opened the new session of parliament last week has already drawn much Criticism from the opposition and from immigrant welfare organizations, some of whom have described it as “racist’.

The leader of the opposition, Mr. ‘Tony Blair, has accused the government of “playing the race card” by introducing the bill in order to get the support of the Right. Mr Blair wanted the government to agree to the setting up of a special parliamentary committee to discuss the new asylum and immigration bill. But Prime Minister John Major, after showing some inclination earlier on for a special committee, has now rejected the idea.

Home Secretary Michael Howard said that the proposed bill was meant to stop bogus asylum seekers and illegal immigrants entering into the United Kingdom and staying here with access to benefits, He said: ‘It is far easier to get access to jobs and ‘benefits in the UK than anywhere “else”. He described his bill as “a balanced response to a serious problem” but said that it was compatible with Britain’s UN obligations.

The bill will have three main planks. ‘The Home Secretary will designate a select list of countries which are considered safe from persecution for its residents. Barring individual cases, applications for asylum from these countries would be summarily rejected Pakistan is to be on such a list, though Nigeria, Algeria and Sri Lanka are not. There will be a revised appeal procedure for asylum seekers returned to a safe third country Accelerated procedures for appeals will also be introduced to clear the outstanding applications.

The Home Secretary said as part of the measures to check illegal immigration the government wants to deter employers from giving jobs to persons who are illegally in the county. The UK is seen as an attractive destination for illegal immigrants, he said. It would be made a criminal Offense for employers if they are found to be giving jobs to people who are not entitled to be in the UK.

Mr Howard hoped that this would not lead to discriminatory practices against ethnic minorities as some immigrant organizations fear, In order to satisfy employers, who have been opposed to such a measure, the Home Secretary assured them that his department would be able to advise them and consultative documents would be issued to the employers to get their suggestions.

There will be tougher punishments for racketeers who bring illegal immigrants into the country. A maximum of seven years imprisonment would be introduced.

Mr Howard said that Britain has a long tradition of providing refuge to people escaping religious or political persecution, but he wants only those who qualify to be granted asylum. Asylum procedures, he added, were being ‘abused, the intake of asylum applications in 1995 has arisen and nearly 75,000 cases are pending. From 2,000 a month in 1994, last month asylum applications rose to 4,500. While in rest of Europe the Number has declined, in Britain it has gone up.

The Home Secretary argued that only four per cent of the applicants are accepted as refugees and another four per cent of the applicants win their stay through appeals. Others try to prolong their stay and cost the country nearly 200 million pounds in housing and child benefits, which are now being curtailed to discourage bogus asylum seekers,

Mr. Michael Howard chose to make a statement about his proposed bill because of the misgivings’ it has created in the minds of the moderate Section of the ruling Tory Party. There are fears that they may vote with the Opposition when the bill goes through Parliament. There has already been Strong reaction outside parliament to the bill, especially among church men and immigrant organizations. Last Week antiracist groups threw Paint at the chairman of the Tory Party, Dr. Brian Mawhinney, to show their anger at the toughening of asylum laws, And Mr. Blair, the leader of the opposition, said the Tory Party was lurching towards the Right. (P.L.12/1/95).

Article extracted from this publication >> December 15, 1995