Written question asked by Ian Gibson (Labour) on Thursday, 26 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 March 2009. It was answered by Phil Woolas (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 May 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Deportation: Zimbabwe

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will suspend all deportations of people to Zimbabwe until there is greater political stability in that country.

Answer: The court judgment on 19 November 2008 found that there is no prohibition to removing people who have no right to be here to Zimbabwe. However, the policy of Her Majesty's Government is that we will always take account of the political and humanitarian factors before doing so. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in September 2006 that we would be halting enforced returns to Zimbabwe and we are not currently enforcing the return of Zimbabwean nationals.

Secondary information