CONFIDENTIAL
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NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT ASYLUM PROCEDURES. THE
GOVERNMENT SHARES THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE COMMITTEE AT THE
LENGTH OF TIME TAKEN TO DECIDE INITIAL ASYLUM APPLICATIONS. AS
ITS REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE INDICATES, IT IS TAKING A NUMBER OF
MEASURES TO REDUCE DELAYS. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE STAFFING OF
THE REFUGEE UNIT HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED AND A TEMPORARY UNIT IS
BEING SET UP TO HELP TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF CASES. ON MOST OF
THE OTHER MATTERS COVERED IN THIS PART OF THE REPORT THE
GOVERNMENT HAS EITHER ACCEPTED THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS OR
SOUGHT OTHER WAYS OF MEETING ITS CONCERN. THE MAIN ISSUE ON
WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS FELT UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
VIEW IS ITS RECOMMENDATION THAT A DECISION IN PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE
TAKEN TO EXTEND THE RIGHT OF APPEAL TO ALL ASYLUM APPLICANTS. AT
PRESENT MOST UNSUCCESSFUL ASYLUM APPLICANTS ALREADY HAVE A RIGHT
OF APPEAL IN THIS COUNTRY TO THE APPELLATE AUTHORITIES. THE MAIN
CATEGORY WHERE THERE IS NO FORMAL RIGHT OF APPEAL BEFORE REMOVAL
IS THOSE REFUSED ENTRY AT THE PORTS. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES
THAT TO PROVIDE SUCH A RIGHT OF APPEAL WOULD RESULT IN A
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN UNFOUNDED APPLICATIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO
SIMPLY WISHED TO PROLONG THEIR STAY IN THIS COUNTRY WHILE AN
APPEAL IS HEARD. THERE ARE ALREADY A NUMBER OF SAFEGUARDS,
INCLUDING A PROCEDURE FOR REFERRING CASES OF UNSUCCESSFUL ASYLUM
APPLICANTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM IMMIGRANTS ADVISORY SERVICE,
WHICH ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY REVIEWED BEFORE REMOVAL.
ENDS
2.
YOU ARE AWARE THAT YOU MAY NOT REFER TO OR DRAW ON THIS
TEXT UNTIL 1430 HOURS UK TIME ON 26 SEPTEMBER.
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CONFIDENTIAL