David Norris (Independent)

The Minister's reply illustrates the value of this process. It was illuminating and helpful for Members on all sides to confront the practical difficulties and realities of the system which the Minister and his officials have to operate. I do not envy him the responsibility, I would not like to have to make the decisions. I have known the Minister and his officials to make humane judgments in certain cases.

The Minister said, appropriately, that transparency is a two way process and those applying should tell the truth. I agree but there are circumstances where, on first applying, people may not disclose the truth or may fudge things. I have known people who came through horrendously traumatic experiences in Sabra and Chatila, when they witnessed their entire families being wiped out in front of their very eyes as children, and learned a complete distrust of authority while living in the camps. I have been in there and I know the way the Lebanese, their fellow Arabs, treat these people. They come here and do not believe that we will behave in the decent and civilised way the Minister has indicated. I hope and trust that the Minister will take the view that in a situation where someone has been badly traumatised the fact that he does not possess full information or that, in a panic, he massages it, and the situation is confirmed, he should not be punished for the initial panic. That was behind what I felt the Minister was saying and I would like him to confirm that.