Clause 7 - Failed asylum seekers: withdrawal of support
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill
9:45 am
Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking, Conservative)
Like the hon. Member for Winchester, I am reassured by the Minister. It has been a useful debate, because the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Harborough and the hon. Member for Winchester have all raised points of detail that the Minister has addressed very helpfully. I do not doubt the Government's good faith on the issue at all. I am sure that their objective is to do the job properly, with humanity and efficiency. The Government are clearly aware that there are potential difficulties that they must overcome. I was reassured, as was the hon. Member for Winchester, by the Minister's comment that, in practice, the certificate would be served on the asylum seeker's legal representative. Almost the first thing that a solicitor in a normal civil process would do is to write to the opposition solicitors to say, ''I am authorised to accept service on behalf of my client.'' It is deemed at law to be good when such documentation is served on the solicitor or representative and the
courts. The Minister's reassurance was helpful, and I infer from it that service could be not only on the solicitor if instructed, but on a non-governmental organisation, such as the Immigration Advisory Service, that was on the record as representing.
Beverley Hughes indicated assent.