E/CN.4/1999/63/Add.3 page 3 I. THE WHITE PAPER: THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY 6. On 27 July 1998, the United Kingdom Government published a White Paper setting out a comprehensive long-term strategy to deal with the problem of asylum seekers. This involved additional resources being made available for the implementation of the strategy and the enacting of appropriate legislation to better manage the problems of asylum seekers through streamlined and flexible procedures. The Government plans to achieve the following objectives: (a) Increased numbers of asylum decisions so that, based on current forecasts of asylum claims, the backlog will be cleared and a decision time of two months or less will be achieved by April 2001; (b) Expansion of the immigration appeals system, with the aim of reducing the average waiting time for an appeal to an adjudicator to four months by April 2001; (c) Increased removals of failed asylum seekers; (d) Expansion of the network of airline liaison officers to reduce the numbers of inadequately documented passengers travelling to the United Kingdom; and (e) Increasing detention capacities and to reduce backlogs and waiting times. 7. The objective is to efficiently run an asylum system which settles genuine refugees expeditiously while deterring abusive claims. The Government wishes to focus on creating an efficient system of protecting genuine refugees by scrupulous application of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, to resolve applications quickly and to ensure that no asylum seeker is left destitute while waiting for the application or appeal to be determined. The White Paper recognizes that it is essential that procedures for dealing with asylum applications be seen within the framework of an integrated immigration control. Potential abuse and exploitation of the institution of asylum harms the genuine refugee as much as it threatens to undermine proper controls on immigration. The White Paper suggests that it is in the best interest of genuine refugees that there should be firm action to improve current procedures, including measures to deter or prevent from travelling those who do not meet the criteria for entry into the United Kingdom. The Government inherited backlogs of over 50,000 cases awaiting decision and over 20,000 queuing for an appeal hearing. Some of the undecided cases dated back to 1990, and some of the appeals may take as many as 15 months to be listed for disposal. Such delays tend to be exploited by abusive applicants and harm the interests of those who genuinely need protection but await their fate with uncertainty for long stretches of time. 8. The Working Group notes with appreciation the intention of the Government to transform the asylum process. Some of the measures which the Government contemplates include the following: (a) Faster tests. Delivering faster decisions is crucial to the success of the Government’s overall strategy. The objective is to ensure that by April 2001, most initial asylum decisions would be taken within two months