REMOVAL OF APPEAL RIGHTS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS

Early day motion 1096, tabled 23 November 2005 by Peter Bottomley (Conservative). Signed by 25 members.

That this House shares the concern expressed by the Immigration Advisory Service that the forthcoming Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill will result in lawful immigrants whose applications for a variation of their leave have been rejected being classified as illegal overstayers; regrets that students and migrant workers may lose their right of appeal, despite the fact that a large proportion, 20 per cent. in 2003, of initial decisions on claims are later found to be wrong and are overturned under the current system; does not accept the Home Office's claim that the essential rights of the appellant will be retained under the proposed system; and believes, as the Right honourable Member for Sedgefield did when he was shadow Home Secretary, that immigration officers work more carefully knowing their work is subject to review and that it would be wrong to remove the right of appeal purely for reasons of administrative convenience.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Liberal Democrat 7, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Respect 1.