"That this House applicants of the right to food and shelter from 8th January, turn to; two-thirds of those applying for asylum; UK asylum process, language difficulties and trauma; more punitive philosophy take hold of government policy; but has had a detrimental effect on the well-being of refugees; treated with dignity. Vis, Terry Davis, Harry Barnes, Neil Gerrard, Kevin McNamara, Tom Cox, Harry Cohen
• supports the statement from the Refugee Council, Shelter, Amnesty International UK Asylum Rights Campaign, CRISIS, JCORE, JCWI, Maternity Alliance, Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, Migrant Helpline, Oxfam, Refugee Action and Refugee Arrivals Project against the Government's decision to deprive destitute in-country asylum
•notes that the National Asylum Support Service is only available to people who show they would otherwise be destitute and people who lose this support through the operation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 will have nothing else to
• is deeply concerned that section 55 will affect all in-country applicants who represent
• notes that refugees are often unable to claim asylum at ports of entry for the reasons cited by the 1996 Social Security Advisory Committee, including lack of knowledge of the
• further notes that this is supported by official figures showing that 65 per cent. of all successful claims, including exceptional leave to remain, are made by in-country applicants;
•regrets that the Government focus on deterrence of people seeking asylum has seen a
•notes that this has had no long-term effect in reducing numbers of asylum applications
•and believes that all asylum applicants should have their cases considered fairly and be Signatures: Lynne Jones, Alan Simpson, Jeremy Corbyn, Martin Caton, lan Gibson, Rudi
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6 sock Scotland/Home News nce February 2003