Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Friday, 13 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 October 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Thursday, 2 November 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum/Immigration

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has received any information about a Tamil asylum seeker returned by UK authorities and subsequently killed; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We have recently seen reports of the deaths of two individuals in Sri Lanka after they have been returned to Sri Lanka by the UK. We are looking into these with the assistance of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I will write to the hon. Member with the result of our inquiries when these have been completed.We do not consider on the basis of the information we currently have about these incidents that there is reason to stop the removal of people to Sri Lanka who have had their claims rejected and any appeal dismissed.

Secondary information