Asylum Seekers

Lord Bishop of Newcastle Excerpts

Monday 20th May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I hope that I made the distinction between immigration and asylum seeking very clear indeed. I accept my noble friend’s point about the need to avoid driving asylum seekers underground, but that is trumped by the need to avoid making seeking asylum an attractive proposition.

[The Lord Bishop of Newcastle]

Is the Minister aware that the Church of England’s General Synod, representing local churches with considerable first-hand experience of the lives of asylum seekers, voted overwhelmingly that all asylum seekers should have access to work? Does he accept that 12 months is far too long to be unable to provide for their families while waiting for their claim to be resolved?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, I do not accept that 12 months is far too long, because it is backed up by European legislation.