Lord Harries of Pentregarth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harries of Pentregarth on 2014-04-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on returning gay and lesbian asylum seekers to Uganda.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach

All asylum and human rights claims are considered in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. We recognise that, in general, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) persons may be at risk of persecution and warrant protection and that this may have increased following the signing of the Anti-Homosexual Act into law. However, each case needs to be considered on its individual facts.

Where we consider that an individual does not require protection, and the courts have not reached a different view, then we expect these individuals to leave the UK at the earliest opportunity. If individuals refuse to leave voluntarily, it may become necessary to enforce their removal. Returns are undertaken only when we conclude that it is safe to do so.