Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill Debate
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Lord Paddick
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Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill
Lord Paddick ExcerptsMonday 12th February 2024
(2 months, 2 weeks ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 View all Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 Debates Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts Amendment Paper: HL Bill 41-II Second marshalled list for Committee - (12 Feb 2024)
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
I have not yet had a chance to read the report, which I believe was published only today, but I will of course read it in due course and respond accordingly.
Lord Paddick (Non-Afl)
My Lords, the Minister seems to rely on the emergency transit mechanism on which Rwanda works with the UNHCR. Can he confirm that this mechanism—which has a maximum capacity of 700—is a temporary processing point for asylum seekers from Libya, and that none of the 1,453 evacuated to Rwanda has actually opted to stay in the country?
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
My Lords, I do not rely on that at all. As I tried to explain, a variety of aspects of the UNHCR’s work are included in our safety assessment—and that is just one of them.