Asylum seekers could be assessed in African centres, Ministers told

BRITAIN SHOULD establish “overseas assessment centres” in Morocco or Algeria to deal with asylum seekers, Ministers have been told.

Opposition peers criticised the Government for exploring “inhumane” options after reports emerged of ideas being considered by Ministers and officials to change the asylum system.

Suggestions included processing those with claims on Ascension Island, 4,000 miles from the UK, and placing them on disused ferries in the sea.

But Conservative Viscount Trenchard offered fresh locations in the style of Australian “detention centres”, as peers considered a private notice question on asylum processing. He told the House of Lords: “Does ( Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford) agree that it is essential to destroy the business model as currently used by the people traffickers?

“Either by reaching agreement with the French government that British ships may intercept migrant boats within French territorial waters and return them to France, or by establishing assessment centres overseas – possibly by agreement with countries such as Morocco or Algeria – along the lines of the former Australian detention centres in Papua New Guinea or the Republic of Nauru?

“Would the Minister agree such a policy would indeed comply with our international obligation to provide protection as required by the UN refugee convention of 1961?”

Lady Williams replied: “We need to explore diplomatic avenues, legal avenues and avenues that comply with international law in order to explore some of the options that will be available to us.”

It follows the Home Secretary’ Priti Patel’s announcement on Sunday that the UK’s asylum system is “fundamentally broken” as she promises to introduce a new one that is “firm and fair”.

In a speech at the Conservative Party conference, Ms Patel, inset, pledged to deliver “the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades”.

She also said that under Tory leadership, the UK “has and always will provide sanctuary”.