Written question asked by Barbara Roche (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 March 2005. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Thursday, 17 March 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances homosexual people from Jamaica applying for asylum in the UK would be returned to their country of origin.

Answer: Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances homosexual people from Jamaica applying for asylum in the UK would be returned to their country of origin. [221815] Mr. Browne: Asylum and human rights claims by Jamaican homosexuals are, like those of all claimants, from all countries, considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). If the claimant meets the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If an application is refused, and any appeal is unsuccessful, then we expect the individual concerned to leave the UK voluntarily. If they do not, we consider that it is entirely reasonable for us to enforce the return of that individual.

Secondary information