To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 April, Official Report, columns 445–46, what changes have been made in the last 24 months to the criteria applied to refugees with exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom when assessing whether or not they should be granted United Kingdom travel documents.
There has been no change in our policy during the last 24 months. Reinforcement of the asylum division has allowed closer consideration to be given, in accordance with that policy, to some applications where we believe it would be possible for a national passport to be obtained.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 April, OfficialReport, columns 445–46, what criteria are applied to individuals from Sri Lanka on exceptional leave to remain when requesting travel documents.
All asylum applicants who are found not to be refugees but who are granted exceptional leave to remain may apply for Home Office travel documents if they are unable to obtain a national passport. As with other nationalities, applications from people from Sri Lanka are considered on their individual merits.