UK REFUGEE PROCEDURES
POINTS TO MAKE
CONFIDENTIAL
UK Attitude
1 We fully support the "stress laid on the need for absolute observance of the principle of non-refoulement in the recent
30th Session of UNHCR's Executive Committee,
UK Practice
2 The local representative of UNHCR considers that the United Kingdom has a good record in non-refoulement; to his knowledge no Convention refugee has ever been required to return to the borders of a country in which he feared
persecution.
Review of UK Refugee Procedures
3 The past two years have seen a thorough-going review of UK refugee recognition procedures, As a result of this, some changes have been made or are in process; discussion is taking place with the local representative on a revision of the relevant immigration rules. As the UK delegate at EXCOM (Mr Raison, Minister of State, Home Office) stated, he considered that the comparative lack of formality from UK recognition procedures worked generally in favour of the applicant for refugee status or asylum.
Incorporation of 1951 Convention into Domestic Legislation 4 Ministers of this Government and the previous one have considered this subject, but we are not persuaded that such a course is either necessary or desirable; it is not the UK practice invariably to bring treaties or conventions into domestic legislation,
CONFIDENTIAL