GOVERNMENT policy on asylum seekers came under fire from Harpenden MP Peter Lilley in the House of Commons.

Addressing Parliament last week Mr Lilley focused on what he considers to be the Overnment's mishandling of the asylum issue.

The Harpenden MP drew attention to measures that he believes could be taken to curtail what he argued was the one-way flow of immigrants currently entering Great Britain from France.

He said: "Under the Geneva Convention, asylum seekers should seek sanctuary in the first safe country they come to, rather than shop around for the one offering the most favourable conditions.

"We have the right to return those who come from a safe country like France. Between 1995 and 1997 many unacceptable asylum seekers were returned to France.

"This was done under a bilateral agreement negotiated by the Conservative Government.

"This agreement was allowed to lapse in 1997."

Mr Lilley urged the government to re-think its attitude towards asylum seekers before the problem gets out of hand.

He proposed a move back to the bilateral agreement with France as soon as possible.

It was the second time in a week, Mr Lilley addressed the Commons.

On the previous Tuesday the MP attacked the Labour government's policy over key public services.

In the attack Mr Lilley criticised the rising class sizes in secondary schools.

The harpenden MP also said that the government tried to hide the problem of teacher recruitment by restricting the definition of teacher vacancies.

He claimed this painted a "different picture" about Labour and its hard won improvements in education.

Mr Lilley went on to condemn the health service provided within Hertfordshire. He cited the increase in vacancies for doctors, and shortages of nurses, as contributing factors to the closure of the maternity and children's unit at Hemel Hempstead Hospital.

In his final comment, Mr Lilley claimed the £2 billion the Government promised to the Thameslink 2000 project would not result in a single extra train service at peak times.

When asked to respond to this question, the secretary of state, Stephen Byers did not answer Mr Lilley's question directly. Mr Byers said the issue was being dealt with by maintaining that it was being looked into by Railtrack.