text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill - Burden of proof should be on the government not the asylum seeker when the issue of a late claim arises - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  The majority Not-Contents rejected an amendment[1] to the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020041_en_1 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill].
  
  The Bill allows the government to refuse support to asylum seekers who make a late claim[2]. It is also the asylum seekers responsibility to prove that they did not make a late claim. The amendment in this vote aimed to reverse this so that it would be the government's responsibility to prove the asylum seeker made a late claim. However, it was defeated.
  
  The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill became law in 2002. Its main aims were to:[3]
  
  * Allow asylum seekers to be detained at any time
  * Disallow appeals from within the UK from failed asylum seekers who are citizens of a specific country
  * Deny asylum seekers support unless they make their claim "as soon as reasonably practicable" after arrival into the UK
  * Create accommodation centres to house destitute asylum seekers
  
  ----
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2002-10-24a.1464.0 Lord Goodhart], House of Lords, 24 October 2002
  * [2] [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020041_en_5#pt3-l1g55 Section 55 in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act]
  * [3] Based on The Guardian's [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/15/nationality-immigration-asylum-act A-Z of legislation]
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  