Written question asked by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 29 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 July 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Thursday, 14 July 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum/Immigration

Question: (2) what measures are taken to ensure that asylum seekers from the Kurdish area of Iraq deported from the UK are given safe passage to their home area; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Government announced their intention in February 2004 to commence enforced returns to Iraq, but this has yet to start. The overriding reason has been the need to co-ordinate our operational logistics and preparations with the changes in the administrations in Iraq since this announcement was made. The enforced return of any individual to Iraq will be directed to areas assessed as sufficiently stable and where the Home Office is satisfied that the individual concerned will not be at risk. Great care will be taken with all travel arrangements.A programme of assisted voluntary returns is operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on behalf of the Home Office. Iraqi citizens continue to return to Iraq voluntarily on the overland route from Jordan to Baghdad with the assistance of the IOM. The Home Office does not record the destination of returnees in its statistics.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 9139; 436 c1212-3W;436 c1212-3W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Asylum/Immigration
Thursday, 14 July 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Deportation Iraq