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

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |