Written question asked by Humfrey Malins (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 February 2006. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Monday, 27 February 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Nepal

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government have made of the safety of removing failed Nepali asylum seekers to Nepal; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: [holding answer 14 February 2006]: We continue to monitor closely the political and human rights situation in Nepal through key governmental, non-governmental and other human rights organisations. The asylum determination process assesses the protection needs of individual claimants and where the situation in Nepal impacts on the circumstances of an individual claimant then it is duly considered as part of that individual's claim.All Nepalese asylum and human rights applications are considered by the Home Office on their individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Refugee status or other forms of leave are granted in appropriate cases.We enforce the return of an individual only where we are satisfied that the person concerned will not be at risk and has been unsuccessful in any appeals against the decision in their particular case. We do not regard it as unsafe to return failed asylum seekers to Nepal and by providing asylum or other appropriate forms of protection to those who need it we ensure that only those who are not at risk are returned.

Secondary information