Written question asked by Christopher Chope (Conservative) on Monday, 3 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 March 2003. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Monday, 10 March 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passengers have been removed from the United Kingdom on scheduled airlines pursuant to Government deportation or removal orders under section 27 of the Immigration Act 1971 in each of the last three years; and at what cost to public funds. - Inc fact that no passengers have been removed under section 27 of the Immigration Act 1971. (Holding answer 6 March 2003).

Answer: Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers have been removed from the United Kingdom on scheduled airlines pursuant to Government deportation or removal orders under section 27 of the Immigration Act 1971 in each of the last three years; and at what cost to public funds. [101416] Beverley Hughes: [holding answer 6 March 2003]: No passengers have been removed under section 27 of the Immigration Act 1971. This section of the Act refers to offences committed by carriers rather than passengers. It does not contain powers for removal. Section 27 makes it an offence for a captain of a ship or aircraft to knowingly permit a person to disembark when this is prevented under schedules 2 or 3 of the 1971 Act, or to fail to make arrangements for a person's removal under this Act. The power to remove persons refused leave to enter and illegal entrants lies in schedule 2 of the 1971 Act. Paragraph 9 of that schedule provides for removal at the carrier's expense and paragraph 10 provides for removal at public expense. Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act allows the Secretary of State to set removal directions pursuant to a deportation order, with the expenses defrayed by the Secretary of State. Section 10(6) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 gives a power to set removal directions for persons who breach their conditions of leave or who obtain leave to remain by deception. The costs must be met by the Secretary of State.

Secondary information