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Asylum Seekers: Removals

Answer

When assessing an individual asylum claim we will take account of country information relevant to that claim. This would include information, if available, on the treatment of returned failed asylum seekers. Where we refuse a claim and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal dismisses any appeal we therefore consider that it is safe for that individual to return. This is one of the reasons why the Home Office does not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. Another reason is that in some countries such monitoring could of itself place returnees at risk when otherwise they would not be. In addition, we cannot require such individuals to keep in touch with us. Therefore, we would consider some form of systematic monitoring only if particular circumstances made it appropriate for a given country. However, where specific allegations are made that any returnee, to any country, has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK, these are followed up through the FCO and the relevant British Embassy as a matter of urgency.The memoranda of understanding we have recently negotiated with Jordan and Libya do not relate to the removal of individuals who have no entitlement to remain in the UK, but to cases where we wish to deport the person on the grounds that their deportation from the UK would be conducive to the public good. The number of deportations, compared with the total number of removals, is small, and the number where we may feel it necessary to seek assurances is likely to be very small indeed. The purpose of the assurances in those particular cases is to enable the UK to satisfy itself that removal will be consistent with our international obligations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

2870; 677 c53-4WA

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Asylum Deportation Human rights Iraq Monitoring Afghanistan Zimbabwe Democratic Republic of the Congo Somalia

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk