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Annex C
ITEM 6
STATEMENT ON ASSISTANCE BY MR B GOULD
My Government have studied the chapter on the UK with considerable interest, not least because this is the first
time that the UK has featured separately in the Assistance Report. They were gratified to note the recognition given. to the valuable work undertaken by voluntary organisations in the UK and to the effective cooperation which has developed
between UNHCR and the Disaster Unit of the Ministry of Overseas
Development. There are, however, some aspects of para 517 of the Assistance Report which might leave delegates with a
misleading impression. As is the case in many other countries the UK practice is that refugee status is examined in connection with requests for asylum. The Immigration Rules which are part of British law provide that a person will not be sent away if the only country to which he can be removed is one to which he is unwilling to go, owing to a well- founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.
It is explicitly provided for and stated in the Immigration Rules that the criterion for the granting of asylum is in accordance with Article I of the 1951 Convention. Persons so recognised have the rights provided for in the 1951 Convention as ratified by the UK and are, in particular, protected against refoulement.
I shall revert to this subject in greater detail when the
item on International Protection is discussed.
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