Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill — Allow failed asylum seekers to be given cash rather than vouchers — rejected — 29 Mar 2006 at 17:00

The majority No voters rejected an amendment^[1] to the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill.

The amendment concerns asylum seekers who have been turned down and who have no further appeals open to them, but who cannot yet leave the country. They get vouchers for food and accommodation. Lords amendment No. 18^[2] widened the scope of the vouchers to include other services (possibly including travel), but explicitly said asylum seekers could not be given money.

In this particular vote the amendment would have removed the word "not"^[3], making it possible (but not necessary) for a future Secretary of State to issue cash rather than vouchers to failed asylum seekers. However, the amendment was defeated.

The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill became law in 2006. Its main aims were to:^[4]

• Restrict appeals from those are refused entry to the UK to work or study. Only rejected asylum applications can have a full appeal
• Criminalise employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants
• Allow biometric data to be taken from people entering the UK
• Requires that asylum is refused to anyone who is involved in terrorist activities

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• [1] Neil Gerrard MP, House of Commons, 29 March 2006
• [2] Lords amendments to the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill, (scroll down to number 18)
• [3] Neil Gerrard MP, House of Commons, 29 March 2006
• [4] Based on The Guardian's A-Z of legislation

Debate in Parliament | Source |