NEWS RELEASE – Asylum & Immigration Bill

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release 12th February 2004

Minister a disgrace on asylum, says Green MSP

Green MSP Patrick Harvie this afternoon expressed his anger and disgust at the Executive?s blistering attack on MSPs who are attempting to challenge the controversial Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Hugh Henry, Deputy Justice Minister, this morning lashed out at the Greens, SNP and SSP after they refused to support a Sewel motion on the contentious Bill. Mr Henry accused the opposition parties of cowardice, and of opposing the protection of the victims of trafficking. Mr Harvie hit back at these comments, describing them as ?outrageous and insulting?.

Mr Harvie said: ?Hugh Henry?s assault on those who challenge this inhumane and draconian Bill was appalling. His remarks were unfounded to the point of absurdity. The Minister refused to take on board any criticism of the Asylum and Immigration Bill – even though it is the cause of grave concern to a vast number of Scottish people. We must have the opportunity to examine the full aspects of the Bill before any Sewel motions are passed.

Mr Henry’s attack was repeated in a face-to-face exchange outside the Debating Chamber, and he again accused Harvie and others of cowardice and of the abandonment of trafficked people.

Harvie responded by saying: “If the Minister really wanted to convince people of his arguments, he has gone the wrong way about it. It’s the Scottish Executive which time and time again turns its eyes away from the sight of persecuted asylum seekers in Scotland, and they do so because the persecutors are their own Labour colleagues in Westminster. It’s Labour heads which should hang in shame today.”

He continued: ?Ministers continue to duck these serious issues. The Bill will remove the right of appeal for asylum seekers. The shockingly poor record of decision making in asylum cases has been well documented in this week’s press. It will criminalise the innocent. I am disgusted by the fact the Executive continually passes the buck on these issues ? Hugh Henry?s attack on his critics today did absolutely nothing to further this crucial debate.?

Mr Harvie concluded: ?This Bill will inflict destitution on families with children. It is degrading and cruel and yet the Executive expect opposition parties not to raise their voice in dissent. Already scores of ?failed? asylum seekers in Scotland have been evicted and made destitute. To meekly vote for a Sewel motion and leave these people to the tender mercies of David Blunkett is unthinkable?.

Today?s row was ignited after Cathy Jamieson proposed a motion to allow the UK Parliament to legislate on the creation of a new offence to combat human trafficking for non-sexual exploitation in the Asylum and Immigration Bill. The tightly-worded Sewel motion was designed to prevent substantive debate on other aspects of the Bill, though Harvie argued that there were at least three measures in the Bill which would persecute the very victims at whom the trafficking measure was aimed at.

Notes:

The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill creates a new offence of trafficking for non-sexual exploitation, a move which all parties have welcomed.

Other aspects of the Bill which would work against the interests of trafficking victims include:

Clause 2: the creation of an offence of entering the UK without valid immigration documents;
Clause 7: the removal of accommodation and support for families with children;
Clause 11: the removal of the right to appeal an asylum refusal.