asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the effects of the memoranda of understanding they have signed with other countries on arrangements for the return of failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants on the number of nationals of those countries who will need to be accommodated in immigration detention centres over the next five years and the average length of time such persons will spend in immigration detention centres. [HL4350]
We do not need a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to effect returns to the great majority of countries.
The MOUs that we do have are agreements with the governments concerned about the principles and practices of effecting returns—they are not predominantly about numbers, and would have no impact on detention planning.
No assessment has been made of the impact of particular MOUs on detention planning.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
To which countries failed asylum seekers were deported, and how many went to each country, in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. [HL4377]
The accompanying table shows the number of principal asylum applicants removed and departing voluntarily from the UK, by destination in each year from 2004 to 2006. Final figures on the total number of principal asylum applicants removed and departing voluntarily from the UK during 2007 will be published in the “Asylum Statistics: United Kingdom 2007” bulletin on 21 August 2008.
Destination data have only been recorded since 2004, so this information is not available for the earlier years specified.
Further information on asylum removals from the UK is available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
Destination(4) 2004 2005 2006(P) Albania 1,080 915 1,265 Macedonia 25 30 20 Moldova 65 55 50 Russia 50 60 75 Serbia and Montenegro(6) 1,595 1,305 775 Turkey 270 800 1.590 Ukraine 160 105 90 EU Countries(7) 2,965 2,380 2,160 Other Former USSR 130 140 175 Europe Other 150 135 135 Europe Total 6,485 5,925 6,335 Colombia 175 215 180 Ecuador 145 100 75 Jamaica 445 370 370 Americas Other 150 125 145 Americas Total 915 815 770 Algeria 170 190 215 Angola 85 120 95 Burundi 5 10 5 Cameroon 60 30 40 Congo 35 55 60 Dem. Rep. Congo 15 40 105 Eritrea - * * Ethiopia 20 35 80 Gambia 45 35 70 Ghana 240 220 155 Ivory Coast 50 15 30 Kenya 115 55 120 Liberia 45 25 15 Nigeria 270 560 640 Rwanda 35 5 15 Sierra Leone 45 65 90 Somalia 25 15 40 Sudan 25 45 75 Tanzania 25 35 50 Uganda 205 225 215 Zimbabwe 105 255 220 Africa Other 240 325 265 Africa Total 1,850 2,370 2,600 Iran 220 355 425 Iraq 425 795 1.725 Libya 20 30 35 Syria 25 30 40 Middle East Other 120 210 255 Middle East Total 810 1,415 2,480 Afghanistan 560 910 965 Bangladesh 310 220 240 China 90 245 270 India 275 340 515 Pakistan 455 660 880 Sri Lanka 410 380 655 Vietnam 15 50 130 Asia Other 255 275 410 Asia Total 2,365 3,070 4,065 Other, and not known 175 140 80 Total principal applicants removed 12,595 13,730 16,330
(1) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, excluding dependants.
(2) Includes persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily following enforcement action initiated against them and persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration.
(3) Since 2005, includes persons who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.
(4) Destination as recorded on source database.
(5) Figures rounded to the nearest five ( - = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding.
(6) Serbia and Montenegro continue to be shown as one entity for all years.
(7) Current EU countries, irrespective of the date at which they joined the EU.
(P) Provisional figures.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What mechanisms exist to monitor the fate of failed asylum seekers following their deportation from the United Kingdom. [HL4378]
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to him in my letter of 18 June 2008, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.