Written question asked by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 15 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 March 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 March 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK who are liable to be forcibly returned to Iraq. - Inc figure and ref to Home Office website.

Answer: Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK who are liable to be forcibly returned to Iraq. [162411] Beverley Hughes: At present, removals to Iraq are on a voluntary basis, but on 24 February 2004 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that the UK was the first country to reach agreement with the Coalition Provisional Authority to begin enforced returns of failed Iraqi asylum seekers. The pilot scheme will begin in April and will allow 30 Iraqis per month to be returned initially; it will be linked to a package of assistance with accommodation and employment, and will operate alongside the voluntary returns programme. Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication is due to be published on 25 May 2004 on the Home Office website at: http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Secondary information