[{"topic":"Asylum","id":"42410","proposer":"11559","edm":"1385","session":"2010-12","title":"Brenda Namigadde","text":"That this House is concerned by the imminent proposed deportation of Brenda Namigadde, who has claimed asylum because she fears persecution based on her sexuality; believes the atmosphere in Uganda towards homosexuality, driven by inflammatory rhetoric, puts gay and lesbian citizens at risk; deplores the recent murder of Ugandan gay activist David Kato; notes that a politician in Uganda had demanded Ms Namigadde repent or be punished; believes that widespread publicity about Ms Namigadde's sexuality has placed her at severe risk of harm; is worried by persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people around the world; and calls on the Government to exercise its powers to allow Brenda Namigadde to remain in the United Kingdom.","date":"2011-02-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"41391","proposer":"24819","edm":"448","session":"2010-12","title":"Refugee And Migrant Justice (No. 2)","text":"That this House recognises the outstanding service provided byRefugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ)and expresses regret at its recent closure; notes that the Legal Services Commission (LSC)is ensuring that existing clients of the organisation continue to have proper advice and representation; expresses concern that the LSC may experience delays in finding providers to take onRMJ's 10,000 cases; and calls on the Home Office to prevent any planned removals of people who have been unable to access legal advice following the closure of RMJ.","date":"2010-07-08","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"41318","proposer":"24818","edm":"378","session":"2010-12","title":"Refugee And Migrant Justice","text":"That this House notes with concern that the entering into administration of refugee and migrant justice has left many of the charity's vulnerable clients without adequate legal representation; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Home Department not to reject any asylum applications or conduct any deportations of such individuals until alternative representation has been secured.","date":"2010-07-01","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"41114","proposer":"24910","edm":"191","session":"2010-12","title":"Refugee And Migrant Justice Charity","text":"That this House notes that the legal advice charity Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) is in danger of closing because it is facing a cash crisis because a large proportion of legal aid work is now paid upon completion, meaning payment can take anything up to two years; further notes that as a result the charity has a \u00a31.8 million backlog of payments; further notes that senior legal and human rights experts, faith leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Citizens Advice, Liberty and Mind all back the campaign to rescue the legal advice charity from the cash crisis that is not of their own making; is aware that RMJ is not asking for new money but simply prompt payment of legal aid by the Legal Services Commission, or failing that, interest-free loans by the Government to cover the gap; and calls for the legal aid payment system to be changed to ensure charities are paid promptly for their work.","date":"2010-06-09","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"40866","proposer":"10133","edm":"1170A1","session":"2009-10","title":"UK Border Agency","text":"leave out from `to' to end and add `ensure a fair and just response to all existing and future cases.'.","date":"2010-03-29","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"40812","proposer":"10491","edm":"1170","session":"2009-10","title":"UK Borders Agency","text":"That this House recognises the hard work of Home Office and UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff set out in the Chief Inspector's report into asylum within UKBA; is deeply concerned that the targets for dealing with new asylum claims within six months and clearing the backlog of 450,000 legacy cases are deemed unachievable with the current staffing levels; considers that plans to reduce the staffing complement across UKBA, including caseworkers dealing with the legacy backlog will be a massive blow to the proper running of UKBA; and therefore calls for a halt to the job cuts at UKBA and for investment in staff resources and training as the best way to achieve the targets set.","date":"2010-03-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"40738","proposer":"10256","edm":"1103","session":"2009-10","title":"Right To Work Of Asylum Seekers","text":"That this House believes that asylum seekers looking for sanctuary in the UK should be granted the right to work from the day of arrival; further believes that this would afford such vulnerable people dignity as well as the ability to support themselves financially; and notes that this would also reduce the burden on the taxpayer.","date":"2010-03-16","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"40499","proposer":"10001","edm":"890","session":"2009-10","title":"Asylum Seeker Support","text":"That this House is concerned by the low level of support provided for asylum seekers; notes that the current level is below subsistence; further notes that a single 25-year-old adult seeking asylum receives \u00a335.13 a week which is 55 per cent. of income support and which equates to just \u00a35 per day; is further concerned at the level of destitution faced by asylum seekers as a result of this low level of support; believes that this policy drives asylum seekers into social exclusion rather than alleviates them from it; recognises that this is a punitive measure and not a form of welfare designed to allow asylum seekers adequately to subsist during an application; and urges the Government to consider raising the asylum support subsistence payment to a minimum of \u00a345 a week, representing 70 per cent. of income support, for single adults.","date":"2010-02-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"39122","proposer":"10001","edm":"1900","session":"2008-09","title":"Patras Migrant Camp","text":"That this House is concerned at recent action by the Greek authorities against the migrant camp in Patras; notes reports that the camp was entered by bulldozers accompanied by 100 riot police officers who flattened the camp leaving only a mosque and a doctors' tent; further notes that reports suggest that up to 1,800 people were living in the camp; recognises that the majority of these migrants had escaped from Afghanistan; believes that whether they were legally in Greece or not these migrants must have their basic rights protected; recognises that Greece and other Mediterranean states are under pressure from the number of migrants arriving at their borders; and calls on the Government to work with the European Union to support Greece in setting up proper facilities for incoming asylum seekers.","date":"2009-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"38144","proposer":"10224","edm":"1046","session":"2008-09","title":"Voucher System For Asylum Seekers","text":"That this House notes that people seeking asylum whose claims have been refused and who are unable to return home receive section 4 support in the form of supermarket vouchers; welcomes the Refugee Council's recent report, More Token Gestures, which reveals that this voucher system fails to meet the needs of this vulnerable group of people, exacerbates the hardships they face and leaves them open to hostility and abuse; further notes that vouchers are costly to administer and damaging to community relations; and therefore calls on the Government to abandon the inhumane voucher system without delay and to allow people on section 4 support to receive support in cash rather than vouchers and to have the entitlement to work to support themselves.","date":"2009-03-10","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"38042","proposer":"10323","edm":"960","session":"2008-09","title":"Let Them Work Campaign","text":"That this House welcomes the Let Them Work campaign to allow asylum seekers permission to work while they are waiting for a decision about their claim; notes with concern that asylum seekers who fled persecution in their own countries are among the most vulnerable people in the UK and are being denied the opportunity to work to support themselves and their families, to pay taxes, and to contribute to the economy; is additionally concerned about the situation of those asylum seekers without status who are unable to return home, many of whom spend years in limbo and are reliant on charity hand-outs or forced into illegal work just to survive; is alarmed that this leaves already vulnerable people open to destitution and exploitation; and therefore calls on the Government to allow asylum seekers to work if they have been waiting longer than six months for a full resolution on their asylum claim and to ensure that permission to work remains for people whose claim for asylum is refused, but who are unable to return home immediately through no fault of their own.","date":"2009-03-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"37889","proposer":"10616","edm":"814","session":"2008-09","title":"Deportations To The Democratic Republic Of Congo","text":"That this House believes that in spite of the decision made by immigration judges to refuse to accept the compelling evidence of ill-treatment of asylum seekers who are forcibly returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the recent Country Guidance case, there is information from reliable sources demonstrating that there is very real persecution by the security services at the behest of President Kabila himself of anyone perceived to be in opposition to his regime, including arrest, torture and extrajudicial execution, particularly in the Kinshasa, Bas-Congo and Equateur areas; further believes that asylum seekers sent back from the UK will be viewed as political dissidents and that their physical integrity will be at risk if deported; and further believes that given the gravely unstable conditions in the country as a whole, the appalling human rights record and the fact that average life expectancy is below 40 years old, there should be an immediate moratorium on forced returns to that country.","date":"2009-02-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"37721","proposer":"10785","edm":"670","session":"2008-09","title":"THAILAND'S TREATMENT OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES","text":"That this House is appalled that Thailand's navy has left around 1,000 Rohingya refugees adrift in the ocean in boats without engines or food or water; is deeply concerned that hundreds may have died as a result; notes that the Rohingya people face severe persecution in Burma, including denial of citizenship, a ban on marriage without government permission, severe restrictions of movement, religious persecution, extortion, land confiscation and restrictions on access to education; and calls on Thailand to grant UNHCR access to Rohingya refugees in Thailand, to end forced repatriations and to allow Rohingya and other refugees in Thailand to claim asylum and be given sanctuary.","date":"2009-02-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"36740","proposer":"10177","edm":"2359","session":"2007-08","title":"Home Office Treatment Of Darfur Asylum Seekers","text":"That this House believes recent events in Sudan, including the Justice for Equality Movement attack of 10th May 2008 on Khartoum, have led to a drastic change in circumstances and have reinforced the need for Darfuris to be protected from persecution; notes the September 2008 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Sudan, Sima Samar, in which she warns that at least 500 civilians are still in National Intelligence and Security Services detention and that most are thought to have been arrested on grounds of their Darfurian ethnicity; further notes concerns raised by human rights group Waging Peace regarding severe breaches of law and procedure which occurred during re-documentation interviews of Darfuri asylum seekers by a Sudanese official in Home Office facilities in March and April 2007; expresses concern at the one-year delay for a Home Office response to the report; expresses concern at reports that Home Office officials have recently encouraged Darfuri asylum seekers to sign voluntary return forms without the presence of interpreters; welcomes the upcoming guidance case in November in which returns to Khartoum of individuals of Darfurian origin will be reassessed; urges the Home Office to acknowledge the growing evidence of targeting and persecution of Darfuris in Khartoum; and requests that the Home Office engage as a matter of urgency with the Home Affairs Select Committee and Waging Peace in order to address remaining questions regarding the re-documentation interviews of Darfuri asylum seekers.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"36444","proposer":"10428","edm":"2097","session":"2007-08","title":"Maronite Communities In Cyprus","text":"That this House notes that as a result of the tragic events connected with Turkey's illegal invasion of Cyprus in 1974, all four Maronite villages of Kormakitis, Asomatos, Karpasha and Ayia Marina lie isolated within the occupied Northern area of the island, that their communities, approximately 6,500 residents, have been dispersed asunder as refugees, having fled their homes, land and communities in fear of their lives; further notes that although agreements were reached in 2004 allowing border crossings to be eased, entry into Ayia Marina still remains prohibited, the village of Asomatos is only accessible on Sundays, for a period of up to three hours, whilst former Maronite properties in Karpasha village remain occupied by Turkish military officers who use them for their living quarters; and believes that urgent action by both the Government and the international community should be undertaken forthwith to facilitate the return of these communities to the villages to allow them to restore and maintain their vibrant cultural and religious identities.","date":"2008-07-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"36364","proposer":"10001","edm":"2023","session":"2007-08","title":"Darfuri Asylum Seekers In The UK","text":"That this House is greatly concerned at the Home Office's recent decision to resume the removal of Darfuri asylum seekers from the UK and return them to Khartoum; recalls that in 2007 the Home Office suspended the deportations in order to investigate further accusations of torture in the region by Sudanese authorities, but concluded that the accusations were not confirmed; notes that this conclusion failed to take into consideration the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' position against the return of Darfuris to Khartoum, which stated that they would be subjected to torture and even death; further notes that upon lifting the ban on deporting Darfuri asylum-seekers the Home Office failed publicly to disclose its change in policy; and therefore urges the Home Office immediately to reverse its decision in order to honour the Government's international human rights obligations.","date":"2008-07-14","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"36152","proposer":"10616","edm":"1843","session":"2007-08","title":"Detention Of Asylum Seekers From Democratic Republic Of Congo","text":"That this House calls for the immediate release of all asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who are still being held in immigration detention centres around the UK, including one in Belmarsh Prison, as their deportation is not imminent while the DRC country guidance is being appealed against; and considers that their continued detention, in some cases far in excess of 12 months, is becoming unlawful, as it is blatantly punitive rather than administrative.","date":"2008-06-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"36098","proposer":"10261","edm":"1794","session":"2007-08","title":"World Refugee Week","text":"That this House recognises on the occasion of Refugee Week, that more than 67 million people worldwide are in a situation of forced displacement as a result of conflict and persecution; notes with concern that the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the sole body with a global mandate to co-ordinate protection, shelter and assistance for the world's displaced, but remains almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions; expresses dismay that over five million of the world's refugees have been living in exile for more than five years; and calls on the Government and the wider international community to find durable solutions for all long-term refugees.","date":"2008-06-16","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"35519","proposer":"10105","edm":"1284","session":"2007-08","title":"Mr Gafar Ali Hassan And Mrs Ali Hassan","text":"That this House is most concerned that Mr Gafar Ali Hassan and Mrs Ali Hassan who fled from Iraq to the UK in 2006 in fear of their lives have been told to prepare to return: considers that this decision fails to comprehend that Mr Hassan's Baa'th connections and rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Iraqi armed forces until 2000 make him a militia target; believes that if he were returned to Iraq there is a high risk of Mr Hassan being murdered; and calls on the Minister for Immigration and Asylum to intervene and give him and his wife the right to sanctuary until their well-being can be guaranteed.","date":"2008-03-31","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"35429","proposer":"11672","edm":"1203","session":"2007-08","title":"Deportation Of Asylum Seekers At Risk Of Religious Persecution","text":"That this House notes with deep concern and regret that many of those who come to this country seeking asylum are currently facing deportation to countries where they are at risk of persecution, torture and worse as a result of their religious beliefs; believes that this is the case with deporting practising Christians to Iran with evidence that shows that they face persecution; notes the case of Mr Ali Pourakaberian who faces deportation back to Iran despite the fact that the Iranian authorities are aware that he is a practising Christian; and believes that there should be a moratorium for all those facing deportation when there is a serious and credible risk that they will face persecution in their country of origin as a result of their religious beliefs and that this should include Iranian Christians.","date":"2008-03-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"35401","proposer":"10001","edm":"1180","session":"2007-08","title":"Mehdi Kazemi And The Treatment Of Homosexuality In Iran","text":"That this House is concerned by the case of Iranian teenager Mehdi Kazemi who is currently living in Holland; notes reports that Mr Kazemi's boyfriend was forced by Iranian authorities to denounce other gay men, including Mr Kazemi himself; is appalled at reports that Mr Kazemi's boyfriend was then hanged for the offence of homosexuality; believes that Mr Kazemi's life is in serious danger if he were returned to Iran; further notes that the Dutch authorities have rejected Mr Kazemi's appeal for asylum in Holland and are likely to deport him to the UK; believes that the Home Office view that Iran is safe for homosexuals as long as they hide their sexuality is contrary to human rights standards on sexual freedom; and calls on the Government to uphold its asserted position as a supporter of human rights by refraining from sending Mr Kazemi back to Iran and near-certain human rights abuses.","date":"2008-03-12","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"34779","proposer":"11589","edm":"626","session":"2007-08","title":"Right To Marry In The UK","text":"That this House expresses concern at the Home Office Certificate of Approval scheme which provides that only those immigrants seeking to marry at an Anglican church in England or Wales are exempt from the scheme; considers the requirement of permission to marry in the UK for immigrant members of other religions, or no religion, or in other parts of the UK, not only to be discriminatory but to be a violation of Articles 8, 9 and 12 of the European Convention of Human Rights; notes that this questionable scheme applies to immigrants regardless of the fact that they may be in the UK lawfully as recognised refugees or foreign students and cannot in any case obtain any immigration advantage by marrying; recognises the Court of Appeal decision in the case of Baiai and Others that the Home Office Certificate of Approval scheme is unlawful; regrets that the Home Office has since raised the fee for Certificate of Approval applications to \u00c2\u00a3295 per person; and calls on the Home Office to rescind this scheme.","date":"2008-01-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"34751","proposer":"10459","edm":"600","session":"2007-08","title":"Deportation Of Mr Alhassan Bangura","text":"That this House notes with concern the decision to deport Alhassan Bangura to Sierra Leone; expresses alarm that Mr Bangura is being forced to return to the country he fled at the age of 15, escaping witchcraft and threats to mutilate him; notes that this deportation affects not only Mr Bangura but his girlfriend and newly born child and ignores the valuable contribution he has made to his community through playing for Watford Football Club; further notes the overwhelming support from fans at the Championship football club where a rally in support of Mr Bangura was held on Saturday 15th December; welcomes the support of the honourable Member for Watford who has drafted a petition calling for Mr Bangura to remain in Britain; emphasises that this high-profile case is one among many facing the same grave situation; and calls upon the Home Secretary urgently to review the case of Mr Bangura and grant him indefinite leave to remain in the UK.","date":"2007-12-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"34523","proposer":"11641","edm":"401","session":"2007-08","title":"Iraqi Employees","text":"That this House recognises the courage of Iraqis who have worked alongside British troops and diplomats in southern Iraq, often saving British lives; notes that many such Iraqis have been targeted for murder by Iraqi militias in Basra, and that an unknown number have already been killed, whilst many others are in hiding; further recognises that many Iraqis who have worked for fewer than 12 months for the UK are threatened by death squads; and therefore calls upon the Prime Minister to meet the UK's moral obligations by offering resettlement to all Iraqis who are threatened with death for the \"crime\" of helping British troops and diplomats.","date":"2007-11-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"34497","proposer":"11923","edm":"376","session":"2007-08","title":"Tortured Asylum Seekers","text":"That this House expresses concern at the detention of asylum seekers who have been tortured; and calls upon the Home Department to reform the asylum system to allow new arrivals in detention with a history of torture to be quickly identified and released, to reaffirm its commitment to detain asylum seekers who have been tortured only in `exceptional circumstances' to introduce pre-screening medical checks to identify torture survivors before they are detained and to end the present standard practice of detaining unsuccessful asylum applicants together with foreign national prisoners facing deportation.","date":"2007-11-26","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"34322","proposer":"10224","edm":"220","session":"2007-08","title":"Access To Healthcare","text":"That this House notes the commitment by the Home Office and the Department of Health to a joint review of overseas visitor access to the National Health Service, now due for publication in December 2007; recalls the findings of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' Tenth Report of Session 2006-07 that the current arrangements for overseas visitor access deny healthcare to vulnerable individuals, including asylum seekers and their children, resulting in various breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights; applauds the Trade Union Congress's NHS Together campaign to defend the achievements of the free NHS; and supports the charity coalition campaign co-ordinated by the charity Medact against any measures that would compel general practitioners, and other primary care staff, to be forced to charge refused asylum seekers or other vulnerable foreign nationals for NHS care.","date":"2007-11-13","status":"c"},{"topic":"Asylum","id":"34261","proposer":"10614","edm":"165","session":"2007-08","title":"Iraqi Locally Employed Staff","text":"That this House welcomes the statement by the right hon. David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, that Government support will be offered to specified locally employed staff in Iraq; recognises that many of these individuals and their families live in extreme danger; notes the obstacles and the time that it will take for some of these individuals to apply through the special refugee programme which would require them to travel to Syria or Jordan; and calls upon the Government to ensure with utmost urgency that their safety is secured and the processing of applications does not suffer from any unnecessary delays.","date":"2007-11-08","status":"c"}]