To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he or his officials have had with the Governments of non-EU states on (a) the deportation from the United Kingdom of their citizens in custody in the UK and (b) arrangements for their citizens to serve the remainder of their custodial sentence in their own countries in the last three years; and with which Governments such discussions have been held. (187107)

In addition to our normal contact with other Governments over the deportation of individuals, where there are difficulties in obtaining documentation these issues are taken up directly with the respective embassy or high commission. The UK has now established safe routes and re-documentation arrangements with a significant number of countries and this is aiding our ability to return prisoners and other people at an improving pace. In particular we have recently signed a returns agreement with China and we are working ever more closely with Governments around the world to facilitate removals.

Since 2005, discussions on prison transfer agreements have taken place with St. Lucia, Tunisia, Yemen, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Argentina, Ghana, Libya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Botswana, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Columbia, Laos and Lesotho. The United Kingdom currently has agreement with 98 countries.