Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 21 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 29 October 2002. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 October 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants who were suspected victims of trafficking have been deported from the UK in each of the last five years; from which countries they came; and if he will make a statement. - The number of people removed is given in the table. Information requested on those removed who were suspected victims of trafficking and the country from which they came is not available.

Answer: Mr. Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who were suspected victims of trafficking have been deported from the UK in each of the past five years; from which countries they came; and if he will make a statement. [76788] Beverley Hughes: The number of people removed as a result of illegal entry action in each of the past five years is given in the table. I regret that the information requested on those removed who were suspected victims of trafficking and the country from which they came is not available. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(p)1 Illegal entry action1 4,540 5,585 5,225 6,115 6,760 Of whom: principal asylum 2,605 3,095 2,615 2,820 3,775 applicants2 Of whom: non-asylum cases 1,935 2,485 2,610 3,290 2,985 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures for 2001 have been estimated. 2 Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. Figures exclude 200 dependants of asylum seekers removed as a result of enforcement action in the period April to December 2001; data on the dependants of asylum seekers removed have only been collected since April 2001.

Secondary information