Extracts from Lords
debate on Asylum: UK-Rwanda Agreement
(CB):...Thirdly,
Article 10(3) of the treaty states that no one we have
transported to Rwanda can be sent on to a third country, whether
or not they have asked for asylum in Rwanda and whether or not
asylum in Rwanda has been granted. The only place they can be
sent to is back here, if we decide we want them back. On the face
of it, that is a reassuring fail-safe if the new procedures prove
inadequate to prevent removal to a third country. Actually, it is
not—because, as the report points out at paragraph 37, Article
10(3) goes on to lay an obligation on us and Rwanda
“to agree an effective system”
to ensure that removals do not in practice occur and to check on
where the refugee in question now is. Hang on, that is the clock
striking 13 times, casting doubt on all that has happened before.
It shows the Rwanda Government acknowledging in the treaty that,
despite all the assurances in the treaty, it is possible that
refugees will in practice be sent back to the countries from
which they originally fled—and well might the Rwandans admit that
possibility, because that is exactly what happened with their
arrangement with Israel
causing the Israelis to break it off...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office () (Con):...The noble
Lord, Lord Kerr, referred to the Supreme Court and Israel and
the various comments that have been made about its agreement with
Rwanda. We do not agree that it sets a relevant precedent or
implies that Rwanda will not adhere to its obligations under our
treaty. The terms of the arrangements between Israel and
Rwanda are not available for scrutiny, are not transparent and
are not monitored in the way that ours are. The scheme referenced
was voluntary and open-ended and did not openly commit to
guaranteed acceptance or a custodial role on the part of Rwanda.
So on the information known, it bears little resemblance to the
UK-Rwanda treaty and the lessons there are not directly
applicable...
To read the whole debate, OPEN HERE
Extract from Commons
consideration of the Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023
(Caerphilly) (Lab):...Across
the middle east, of course, we have seen an increase in
Iranian-sponsored terrorism. We all understand that Iran has
close links to Hamas, proxies in Yemen who are acting against
international shipping, and close links to Hezbollah, which is a
very real threat to the north of Israel
and, as we all know, Iran has been—and is—supplying drones to
Russia for use in Ukraine...
To read the whole debate, OPEN HERE
