Written question asked by Barbara Roche (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 January 2005. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Thursday, 27 January 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice his Department provides to its asylum officials regarding the grounds for granting refugee status to applicants who have fled persecution because of their homosexuality.

Answer: Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department provides to its asylum officials regarding the grounds for granting refugee status to applicants who have fled persecution because of their homosexuality. [210708] Mr. Browne: All caseworkers in the immigration and nationality directorate, who are responsible for considering asylum claims, are trained in the proper application of the 1951 UN convention relating to the status of refugees and the need to apply those principles to the circumstances of the particular case. All caseworkers have access to the Home Office asylum policy instructions, which are published on the Home Office website. Additional support is provided by senior caseworkers, who are on hand to give advice and to ensure that consistently high standards of decision making are maintained.

Secondary information