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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.

Asked by

Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

30 March 2004

Reference

419 c1342W;419 c1343-4W; 162411

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqi asylum seekers (a) have been refused asylum or other legal status to remain in the UK and (b) exhausted their rights of appeal in each year since 1997. - Including tables.

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 January 2004

For answer on

23 February 2004

Answered on

23 February 2004

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum seekers (a) have been refused asylum or other legal status to remain in the UK and (b) exhausted their rights of appeal in each year since 1997. [150620] Beverley Hughes: The tables show the available information, relating to the outcomes of initial decisions, including refusals of leave to remain, and grants of asylum and the outcome of appeals at the IAA, for Iraqi nationals, who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, for each year from 1997 to September 2003. Data by nationality are not available for outcomes at the other levels of appeal. Information on the numbers of asylum applications by nationality and on the outcome of appeals is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, available from the Home Office website at http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February. Initial decisions on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom1, 1997-September 2003, Nationals of Iraq Number of principal applicants _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Cases considered under normal procedures3 Backlog clearance exercise4 Initial Granted Granted Granted Granted Refused Granted Refused decisions2 asylum exceptional humanitaria discretiona asylum or under leave to n ry leave exceptional backlog remain protection leave to criteria5 remain under backlog criteria 1997 665 255 295 6-- 6-- 110 -- -- 1998 1,100 510 500 6-- 6-- 90 -- -- 1999 745 315 320 6-- 6-- 100 5 7-- 2000 5,530 845 2,455 6-- 6-- 2,220 10 7-- 20018 9,035 830 1,885 6-- 6-- 6,315 -- -- 20029 11,905 715 8,195 6-- 6-- 2,995 -- -- January to March 20039 2,915 65 2,105 6-- 6-- 770 -- -- April to June 20039 335 5 6-- 7-- 7-- 330 -- -- July to September 20039 1,790 7-- 6-- -- 15 1,775 -- -- _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, 2 Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 3 Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria. 4 Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum application backlog. 5 Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds. 6 Not applicable 7 Equals 1 or 2 8 Revised figures 9 Provisional figures Outcome of appeals1,2 determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Iraq, 1997-September 2003 Number of principal appellants _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Appeals determined by adjudicators Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn Total Total As percentage Total As percentage Total As percentage determined of total of total of total determined determined determined 19973 15 10 64 4-- 14 5 21 19983 45 15 29 25 51 10 20 1999 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 2000 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 5-- 2001 1,655 445 27 1,065 64 145 9 20026 4,570 1,130 25 2,970 65 470 10 January to March 20036 1,355 280 21 910 67 160 12 April to June 20036 205 40 20 145 69 20 10 July to September 20036 1,220 50 4 1,040 85 130 10 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages), Figures may not add up due to independent rounding. 2 Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant. 3 Figures are based on the cases for which information is recorded on the Refugee Index. 4 Equals 1 or 2 5 Not available. 6 Provisional figures

Date

23 February 2004

Reference

418 c223-4W; 150620

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which countries, other than Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia, asylum seekers can claim hard case support if their claims are refused on appeal. - (Holding answer 12 February 2004).

Asked by

Clive Betts (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 February 2004

Reference

418 c226-7W; 154336

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a time frame in which failed Iraqi asylum seekers are expected to return home. - (Holding answer 12 February 2004).

Asked by

Clive Betts (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 February 2004

Reference

418 c227W; 154337

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers he estimates are in the UK without legal basis for their presence; and how many are failed Iraqi asylum seekers.

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 January 2004

For answer on

2 February 2004

Answered on

2 February 2004

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers he estimates are in the UK without legal basis for their presence; and how many are failed Iraqi asylum seekers. [150621] Beverley Hughes: Information on the total number of asylum seekers currently in the UK, including failed asylum seekers, is not currently available. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. Even such an exercise, however, would not produce a valid estimate as some applicants may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration Service. The Government have commissioned research into the methods used in other countries to estimate the size of the illegal population in order to define methods appropriate for the UK. The work required is challenging because, by definition, illegal migrants fall outside of official statistics and are therefore difficult to measure. People illegally present in the UK are also motivated to ensure they remain hidden, further compounding the difficulties of conducting research. The number of cases (principal applicants) awaiting initial decision or awaiting appeal determinations continues to fall as the level of applications falls, initial decisions continue to outstrip the number of applications, and record numbers of appeals are determined by the IAA. The latest published figures show that as at the end of September 2003 there were: 29,100 cases awaiting an initial decision (of this total, 8,500 cases were work in progress, i.e. the application had been outstanding for six months or less), the lowest level for a decade; an estimated 16,000 appeals lodged with the Home Office which had not been sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority (a proportion of appeals lodged do not result in appeal bundles being sent to the IAA); and 28,800 asylum cases work in progress in the IAA (18,100 at the Adjudicator Tier, 5,600 applications for permission to appeal to the Tribunal, and 5,100 Tribunal Appeals). Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will be available at the end of February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Date

2 February 2004

Reference

417 c700-1W;417 c701W; 150621

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed Iraqi asylum seekers (a) have been removed from the UK, (b) have voluntarily left the UK with government support and (c) have otherwise been recorded as leaving the UK in each year since 1997. - Inc table.

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 January 2004

For answer on

2 February 2004

Answered on

2 February 2004

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed Iraqi asylum seekers (a) have been removed from the UK, (b) have voluntarily left the UK with government support and (c) have otherwise been recorded as leaving the UK in each year since 1997. [150619] Beverley Hughes: Estimates of the number of nationals of Iraq who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed from the UK from 1997 to June 2003 (the latest date for which figures are available) are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing `voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. Removals and voluntary1 departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): January 1997 to June 2003 2,3,4 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Nationals of Iraq 1997 40 1998 40 1999 n/a 2000 n/a 2001 90 2002 195 January to June 2003 175 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. n/a = Not available. 1 Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country, grounds. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to total due to rounding. 3 Data have been estimated due to data quality issues. 4 Provisional figures. At present removals to Iraq are on a voluntary basis only, enforced returns will commence when the circumstances are right. Information on the destination of these removals and whether they departed voluntarily with government support is not available, except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost. Estimates of the nationality of those asylum seekers who were removed from the UK in the third quarter of 2003 are due to be published on 24 February 2004 on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigration1.html

Date

2 February 2004

Reference

150619; 417 c700W;417 c700-1W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqi asylum seekers have returned to Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. - Inc table.

Asked by

James Clappison (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 January 2004

For answer on

2 February 2004

Answered on

2 February 2004

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum seekers have returned to Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. [150622] Beverley Hughes: Estimates of the number of nationals of Iraq who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed from the UK since the fall of Saddam Hussein in April 2003 to June 2003--the latest available figures--are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing `voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. Removals and voluntary1 departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): April 2003 to June 2003 2,3,4 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Nationals of Iraq April 2003 45 May 2003 25 June 2003 20 Total 85 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to total due to rounding. 3 Data have been estimated due to data quality issues. 4 Provisional figures. Information on the destination of these removals is not available. At present removals to Iraq are on a voluntary basis only, enforced returns will commence when the circumstances are right. Figures for principal asylum applicants removed from the United Kingdom in the period July to September 2003 will be available after publication of Asylum statistics Quarter 4 2003 on 24 February 2004 on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html

Date

2 February 2004

Reference

417 c701-2W; 150622

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers from (a) Somalia, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Iraq have been deported in each of the last six months. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Iain Coleman (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

9 December 2003

For answer on

5 January 2004

Answered on

5 January 2004

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers from (a) Somalia, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Iraq have been deported in each of the last six months. [143858] Beverley Hughes: Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed. Estimates of the number of nationals of Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed between January and June 2003 are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing `voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. Removals and voluntary1 departures of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, of Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, January to June 2003 2,3,4 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Nationality January February March April May June Total Afghanistan 20 15 30 45 60 40 210 Iraq 20 35 40 45 25 20 175 Somalia * 5 * * 5 5 25 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest five with * = 1 or 2. 3 Data have been estimated due to data quality issues 4 Provisional figures Information on the nationality of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom during the third quarter of 2003 will be published at the end of February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Date

5 January 2004

Reference

143858; 416 c7W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) on what basis and (b) when decision making on Iraqi asylum applications resumed. - Inc ref to 409 c266W, 15 July 2003.

Asked by

Lynne Jones (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 November 2003

Reference

133595; 413 c666W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

(Pursuant to reply on 11.07.2003 at 408 c1065W) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when it became his Department's policy not to enforce removals of people refused asylum to (a) Iraq, (b) Zimbabwe and (c) Somalia; and what the reasons are for this policy in each...

Asked by

Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 November 2003

Reference

124239; 413 c675W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqi asylum seekers have been required to return to Iraq in the past year; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures and fact that data on removals by nationality on www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html.

Asked by

Harold Best (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

15 July 2003

Reference

125103; 409 c265W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the UNHCR's observations on the situation in Iraq and large scale return of Iraqi refugees; if he will implement a moratorium on (a) Iraqi asylum decisions and (b) the proposals to return rejected...

Asked by

Harold Best (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

8 July 2003

For answer on

15 July 2003

Answered on

15 July 2003

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the UNHCR's observations on the situation in Iraq and large scale return of Iraqi refugees; [125104] (2) if he will implement a moratorium on (a) Iraqi asylum decisions and (b) the proposals to return rejected applicants. [125105] Beverley Hughes: Decision making on Iraqi asylum applications was suspended on 20 March 2003 at the onset of military action. The rapidly changing country conditions meant that there was insufficient information to make a fully considered decision, either positive or negative, about an applicant's claim and whether they would qualify for asylum under the United Nations Convention. We decided to resume processing of Iraqi asylum applications with effect from 16 June 2003. This coincided with a decision by the Independent Appellate Authority (IAA) to begin relisting asylum appeal hearings from the same date. While there remain security and humanitarian concerns in some areas, the threat of persecution from Saddam Hussein's regime no longer exists. We did not want to keep applications on hold longer than necessary given the uncertainty this creates for the individuals concerned. Having obtained information about conditions in Iraq from a range of sources, we concluded that there was sufficient information on which to base decisions As with asylum applications from all nationalities, each case will be considered individually on its merits. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) is currently making preparations for the eventual return of large numbers of Iraqis and is developing a return and reintegration plan. UNHCR understands that there are people who wish to return right now and is aware that we are making plans for voluntary return programmes. We are aware of their concerns and will continue to work closely with them. With this in mind, we are developing a coherent returns strategy. Initially the emphasis will be on facilitating voluntary returns. Enforced returns will only be considered once we are satisfied that conditions on the ground allow for this.

Date

15 July 2003

Reference

409 c265-7W; 125104;125105

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Iraqi asylum applications have been refused in each of the last five years. - Inc table.

Asked by

Harold Best (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

8 July 2003

For answer on

15 July 2003

Answered on

15 July 2003

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum applications have been refused in each of the last five years. [125101] Beverley Hughes: The table shows the number of Iraqi asylum applicants, excluding dependants, refused asylum or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom between January 1998 and December 2002. These statistics relate to initial decisions only and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. Initial decisions on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom1 for nationals of Iraq--1998 to 2002 Number of principal applicants _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Cases considered under normal procedures3 Backlog clearance exercise4 Initial Granted asylum Granted ELR Refused Granted asylum Refused under decisions2 or ELR under backlog backlog criteria criteria5 1998 1,100 510 500 90 -- -- 1999 745 315 320 100 5 * 2000 5,530 845 2,455 2,220 10 * 20016 8,880 815 1,855 6,210 -- -- 20026 11,785 700 8,130 2,955 -- -- _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. 2 Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 3 Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria. 4 Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum application backlog. 5 Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds. 6 Provisional data. Information on initial decisions on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to June 2003, and will be available provisionally from 28 August 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html

Date

15 July 2003

Reference

125101; 409 c266W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when it became his Department's policy not to enforce removals of people refused asylum to (a) Iraq, (b) Zimbabwe and (c) Somalia; and what the reasons are for this policy in each case. (Further information on 17.11.2003 at 413 c675W)

Asked by

Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 July 2003

For answer on

11 July 2003

Answered on

11 July 2003

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it became his Department's policy not to enforce removals of people refused asylum to (a) Iraq, (b) Zimbabwe and (c) Somalia; and what the reasons are for this policy in each case. [124239] Beverley Hughes: Returns of failed Iraqi asylum seekers have not been enforced since the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1990 due to the nature of the Saddam regime and subsequently due to the recent conflict. It is important that Iraqis start returning to their country now the conflict is over. At present only voluntary returns are appropriate but we will start enforced removal once conditions allows. Returns of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers have not been enforced since 15 January 2002. On that date my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that removals had been suspended. This decision was initially made in the light of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe in the run up to elections due in March 2002. Since that date we have not considered that it would be right to recommence enforcing removals to Zimbabwe. Returns of failed Somali asylum seekers have not been enforced since 1988 to the north of Somalia and since 1991 to the country as a whole. The original reason for this was the civil war and the overthrow of Siad Barre's administration in 1991. Somalia has since remained without a functioning central government and the security situation in much of the south of the country remains poor. Nevertheless, there are regions of the country, most notably Somaliland, where a functioning administration is in place and to which the Home Office believes enforced returns to be sustainable subject to agreement with the regional authorities. Home Office officials have been undertaking negotiations with the authorities in Somaliland on such an agreement.

Date

11 July 2003

Reference

124239; 408 c1065W;408 c1063-4W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for asylum in the UK have been made since January by Iraqi (a) Ba'ath and (b) ex-Ba'ath party officials. - No one identified as either a current or former Ba'ath Party official has applied for asylum since...

Asked by

Bill Wiggin (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 July 2003

Reference

122018; 408 c322W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures and incentives will be in place to facilitate the return of Iraqi asylum seekers to Iraq.

Asked by

Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 June 2003

Reference

117660; 406 c667W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will establish a resettlement system for citizens of Iraq in the United Kingdom in process of applying for asylum or leave to remain.

Asked by

Jim Cousins (Labour)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 June 2003

Reference

116252; 406 c152W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether senior Iraqi republican guard commanders have applied for asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

13 May 2003

Reference

112643; 405 c217W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Iraqi prisoners of war being treated in hospitals in the UK will be eligible to claim asylum. - (Holding answer 8 April 2003).

Asked by

Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 April 2003

For answer on

13 May 2003

Answered on

13 May 2003

Mr. Djanogly:: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Iraqi prisoners of war being treated in hospitals in the UK will be eligible to claim asylum. [108032] Beverley Hughes: [holding answer 8 April 2003]: There is currently a hold on deciding all asylum claims from Iraqis. However, there is currently no question of Iraqi prisoners of war in the UK being granted asylum or Humanitarian Protection. Despite the hold, all Iraqi asylum applicants are fingerprinted and checked against the Immigration Service Warnings Index computer system. As part of the initial screening process, all claimants are interviewed comprehensively about the routes and methods employed to reach the UK. Any cases giving rise to security concerns are immediately referred to the appropriate agencies. When decision-making is resumed, all claims will be considered on their individual merits against the circumstances which then apply in Iraq. But anyone who commits a war crime or is guilty of terrorist acts will be denied asylum, as the Refugee Convention requires. So, too, will anyone committing a serious non-political crime before arrival in the UK. In addition, any other person whether asylum seeker or refugee who poses a threat to national security will be denied the protection of the Refugee Convention. It will not be possible to establish a claim for asylum simply on the basis of having been a Ba'ath Party official, of having supported Saddam Hussein or having been forced to join the party or fight against UK/US troops. We do not expect Iraqis to face persecution following its liberation. We therefore envisage the progressive return ofIraqis to their country now that large scale combat operations are over. They will have an important role to play in rebuilding Iraq's economy and civic society. Arrangements will be made for senior officers to consider any claims raising security concerns, including any evidence of having fought against UK/US troops, or where anything other than outright refusal is anticipated.

Date

13 May 2003

Reference

108032; 405 c216-7W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his policy to refuse applications for asylum from people recently engaged in hostilities against British forces.

Asked by

David Heathcoat-Amory (Conservative)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

2 April 2003

For answer on

13 May 2003

Answered on

13 May 2003

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to refuse applications for asylum from people recently engaged in hostilities against British forces. [107666] Beverley Hughes: There is currently a hold on deciding all asylum claims from Iraqis. However, there is no question of people recently engaged in hostilities against British forces being granted asylum or Humanitarian Protection. Despite the hold, all Iraqi asylum applicants are fingerprinted and checked against the Immigration Service Warnings Index computer system. As part of the initial screening process all claimants are interviewed comprehensively about the routes and methods employed to reach the UK. Any cases giving rise to security concerns are immediately referred to the appropriate agencies. When decision-making is resumed, all claims will be considered on their individual merits against the circumstances which then apply in Iraq. But anyone who commits a war crime or is guilty of terrorist acts will be denied asylum, as the Refugee Convention requires. So, too, will anyone committing a serious non-political crime before arrival in the UK. In addition, any other person whether asylum seeker or refugee who poses a threat to national security will be denied the protection of the Refugee Convention. It will not be possible to establish a claim for asylum simply on the basis of having been a Ba'ath Party official, of having supported Saddam Hussein or having been forced to join the party or fight against UK/US troops. We do not expect Iraqis to face persecution following its liberation. We therefore envisage the progressive return of Iraqis to their country now that large scale combat operations are over. They will have an important role to play in rebuilding Iraq's economy and civic society. Arrangements will be made for senior officers to consider any claims raising security concerns, including any evidence of having fought against UK/US troops, or where anything other than outright refusal is anticipated.

Date

13 May 2003

Reference

107666; 405 c208-9W

House

House of Commons

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