Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Remove the government's power to remove subsistence-only support from all asylum seekers — rejected — 24 Oct 2002 at 15:51
The majority Not-Contents rejected an amendment[1] to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill.
The Bill gives the government the power to set up accommodation centres for destitute asylum seekers and people with residency restrictions[2]. The government also has the power to stop supporting asylum seekers under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 if they are being housed in these accommodation centres[3].
The aim of the amendment in this vote was to prevent the government removing this support because of concerns over family and child welfare[4]. However, it was defeated.
The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill became law in 2002. Its main aims were to:[5]
- Allow asylum seekers to be detained at any time
- Disallow appeals from within the UK from failed asylum seekers who are citizens of a specific country
- Deny asylum seekers support unless they make their claim "as soon as reasonably practicable" after arrival into the UK
- Create accommodation centres to house destitute asylum seekers
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- [1] Lord Dholakia, House of Lords, 24 October 2002
- [2] Section 16 in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act
- [3] Section 43 in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act
- [4] Lord Dholakia, House of Lords, 24 October 2002
- [5] Based on The Guardian's A-Z of legislation
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