House of Lords written question – answered at on 14 June 2010.
Lord Avebury
Liberal Democrat
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the expression "any other attribute or circumstance that the Secretary of State thinks appropriate" in Section 94(5C)(h) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 covers sexual orientation.
Baroness Neville-Jones
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The powers in Section 94(5C) of the 2002 Act to certify an asylum or human rights claim as clearly unfounded have to date been used only in respect of gender. The Government have no plans to use the powers in Section 94(5C) to designate any state or part of a state in respect of people whose asylum or human rights claims are based on their sexual orientation.
Yes2 people think so
No1 person thinks not
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The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
