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Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 April 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 April 2017. It was answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 April 2017 on behalf of the Home Office.

Terrorism: British Nationals Abroad

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the withdrawal of the passport of Sufiyan Mustapha Hamza, whether they will withdraw passports from all other British jihadis currently in Iraq and Syria and fighting with ISIL or other terrorist forces.

Answer

The Government does not routinely comment on individual cases.

However the Government has made its position on the withdrawal of passports on public interest grounds clear. In a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 April 2013 (Hansard Column 69WS) the Secretary of State for the Home Department set out the terms under which the Royal Prerogative will be exercised to refuse or withdraw passports under the public interest criteria. All such cases are assessed on their merits and consider the rights of the individual balanced against the public interest criteria.

The Government may also deprive individuals of their British citizenship if it is conducive to the public good to do so. As a consequence of this their access to passport facilities is also withdrawn.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6651
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Armed conflict British nationals abroad Iraq Passports Terrorism Syria Islamic State
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk