Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general, told the Court of Appeal yesterday that vital reforms of the asylum system had been jeopardised by a High Court ruling last month

In six test cases Mr Justice Collins said the removal of benefits from asylum seekers who did not apply on arrival in the country was unfair and breached their human rights.

But Lord Goldsmith said this ran counter to the will of parliament, which was to reduce the attraction of Britain for asylum seekers, and was the result of "important errors" by the judge.