Written question asked by Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 5 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 June 2007. It was answered by Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour) on Monday, 25 June 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Detainees

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department embassy officials from which countries have met asylum seekers detained in the UK in the last 12 months.

Answer: Certain countries have specific arrangements with the Border and Immigration Agency to interview individuals, for the purpose of agreeing to issue an Emergency Travel Document if nationality cannot be confirmed by other means. We do hold the information requested but agreements between the Home Office and other countries are sensitive and disclosure could damage our relationship with the country concerned, our relations with other states and prejudice our ability to operate an efficient removals system.Countries where return is facilitated by documents other than an Emergency Travel Document may also request an interview to establish nationality. Data is not centrally collated on these cases and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information