Press Archives

Monday 9 July 2004

Campaigners blast lack of Commons debate on ground-breaking laws

Ground-breaking proposals which are "firsts" for the UK look set to become law on Monday after just five hours' discussion by Members of Parliament. At the eleventh hour and for the first time

• The principle of "no win, no fee" will be introduced into public law
• Some UK citizens and others legally settled here will have to ask the Home Secretary's permission to marry
• And people who have been convicted of no crime could be compelled to carry out "directed labour"
  

According to a Joint Committee on Human Rights report, many of the proposals fly in the face of people's rights as set out in international human rights law which the UK is signed up to.
The proposals are being put forward as part of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants ) Bill's Third Reading on Monday. The MPs have had no opportunity to debate the
proposals previously because they were not introduced until the Bill's Report stage in the Lords a month ago.

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants is concerned that the lack of debate in the Commons means that the proposals will breach the rights of asylum seekers, and in some cases, those of UK nationals and others legally settled here - as well as being unworkable, and resulting in costs to the tax-payer through bureaucracy and legal challenges.

Habib Rahman, Chief Executive for JCWI, said:

"It is appalling that democratically elected representatives will have just five hours to discuss these highly controversial and discriminatory proposals.

"They could have far reaching consequences for the rights of not only potential migrants, but also of British Citizens and others legally settled here for a long time and who have made this country their home".