Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 11 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 July 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 July 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers from Iraq, having exhausted all domestic remedies, are receiving support on the basis that there is no safe route of return. - Inc ref to Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers from Iraq, having exhausted all domestic remedies, are receiving support on the basis that there is no safe route of return. [173218] Mr. Browne: Prior to 25 March 2004 Kurds from the Kurdish Autonomous Zone of northern Iraq whose claim for asylum was finally rejected could, on application, be provided with accommodation under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, as amended, because there was no safe route of return available. It is now possible for Iraqis, including Kurds, to return home voluntarily. From 25 March Iraqi Kurds, like other unsuccessful asylum seekers, may be provided with accommodation under section 4 if they are unable to leave immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control and are complying with the process for return. Information on the number of Iraqis provided with accommodation because there was no viable route of return is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service is published quarterly and can be accessed on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html

Secondary information