To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were requested to complete an application for a travel document from the Iranian embassy with a view to deportation in each of the last five years; how many have done so; and if he will make a statement. (140161)

The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost. On 19 February the chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee to provide the most recent information available on the deportation of foreign national prisoners. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were deported to Iran in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (140160)

Information on the destination of persons removed from the UK has only been recorded since the start of 2004.

The number of persons removed from the UK to Iran was 265 in 2004 and 435 in 2005. These figures include people departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them and people leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. 2005 removal figures also include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. These figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

The number of persons removed from the UK in 2006 will be published in August on the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.