Clause 11 - Unfounded human rights or asylum claim
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill
10:15 am
Ms Beverley Hughes (Minister of State (Citizenship and Immigration), Home Office; Stretford and Urmston, Labour)
We certainly want to avoid that. People are interested in coming here—our research suggests that the numbers will be nothing like the estimates given in the media—because they know that we have a buoyant labour market. It is straightforward for people who can come in legally to get jobs at much better pay than they can expect in their own countries, if they can get jobs at all there. Those people will want to work and to support themselves. That is the opportunity that they seek. Where that suits our labour market we want that to happen. I understand the point that my hon. Friend makes. I know that he speaks from experience in his constituency. I will consider that point further, if I may, outside the context of the Bill, and give him further information on our work to try to prevent the potential adverse consequences that he outlines.
The hon. Member for Somerton and Frome, who has now left unfortunately, asked about Roma applications. I will give him full details in writing. However, I made it clear in relation to the non-suspensive appeal system and its operation that there has been a dramatic fall in applications for asylum from the first-wave countries—the accession countries. That will be reflected in applications from Roma people as well as from other citizens of those countries. I hope that hon. Members will accept the amendments. Although the matter is open to wider debate on accession, the amendments are technical: we need to remove those countries from the list in the 2002 Act.
Amendment agreed to.