Petitions – in the House of Commons at 7:03 pm on 16 December 2009.
I want to present a petition that is signed by 845 people, mainly residents of my Bristol, West constituency, who have signed a petition gathered by the Bristol refugee rights campaign.
The petition states:
The Petition of supporters of Bristol Refugee Rights and others,
Declares that Britain has an international obligation to provide sanctuary to people fleeing conflict or persecution; declares that three quarters of those seeking safety here are refused protection, but that many cannot go back to their home country; further declares that people in this situation are not allowed to work or claim benefits, and frequently become destitute rather than go back to countries where they would be in real danger; further declares that the Petitioners believe that such people deserve to be treated fairly, humanely and with dignity.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls on the Government to grant temporary protection to people who cannot return to their countries of origin; to end the threat and use of destitution as a tool of Government policy against refused asylum seekers; and to allow asylum seekers, including those whose application has been refused, the right to work if they have not been given a decision and/or they cannot leave the UK after six months.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P000655]