UK Parliament / Open data

Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill

We are not quite sure whether the Minister is in listening mode this afternoon. She certainly did well on the previous amendment, and she may be able to satisfy us on these amendments. We particularly look forward to hearing the explanation for the seemingly onerous requirement of six months rather than the one-month period in the noble Baroness’s amendment. I want to add to what my noble friend has said about Amendment No. 62, on the power to share information with any foreign law enforcement agency. That power could affect the position of an asylum seeker, putting him at risk if his application fails, because nothing in the clause prevents disclosure to agencies such as it mentions in states that do not respect human rights and where a person may be at grave risk of persecution if he goes back. Secondly, nothing in the clause prohibits disclosure to agencies in states that do not have data protection regimes as effective as those that we have in the European Union. Therefore, the Minister should give us some more information about what is meant by ““foreign law enforcement agency””. Does it mean in any state whatever, such as Zimbabwe or Burma?

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

677 c209GC 

Session

2005-06

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords Grand Committee
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