Written question asked by Damian Green (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 5 June 2008. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Thursday, 12 June 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Asylum: Iraq

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi citizens who applied for asylum as a result of their work for UK forces in Iraq had been granted asylum by 31 March 2008.

Answer: Information on the reasons for grants of asylum is not collated centrally. Establishing how many Iraqi citizens were granted asylum as a result of their work for the UK forces could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Under the separate scheme of assistance for locally engaged Iraqi staff, published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in his written ministerial statements of 9 October 2007, Official Report, columns 27WS-28WS, and 30 October 2007, Official Report, columns 30WS-33WS, certain Iraqi citizens are eligible for assistance as a result of their work for UK forces in Iraq. This scheme provides for individuals who meet the published criteria to qualify for a financial package, indefinite leave to enter the UK, or resettlement to the UK under the Gateway refugee resettlement programme for eligible staff: it does not represent a grant of asylum. Under immigration rules, asylum cannot be claimed from abroad.

Secondary information