Written question asked by David Nicholson (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 21 March 1997. It was answered by Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative) on Friday, 21 March 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: What instructions he has given to the immigration authorities for discretionary treatment of Albanian nationals currently present in the United Kingdom; what estimate he has made of the number of Albanian nationals who are currently in the United Kingdom. - Inc fact that statistics on the number of Albanians currently present in the UK are not available.

Answer: Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has given to the immigration authorities for discretionary treatment of Albanian nationals currently present in the United Kingdom; what estimate he has made of the number of Albanian nationals who are currently in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [21772] Mr. Kirkhope: We are urgently reviewing the situation in Albania, in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Pending the outcome of this review, instructions have been given that action on all outstanding Albanian asylum claims should be frozen and that any removal directions for Albanians to Albania should be suspended. Statistics on the number of Albanians currently present in the United Kingdom are not available.

Secondary information