asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they deport from Britain members of Iraq's minorities, particularly the Christians and Mandaeans. [HL5993]

All asylum claims, including those from Iraqi nationals, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights against the background of the latest accurate, sourced and up-to-date country information.

The UK Border Agency will only enforce the return of individuals whom it and the courts are satisfied are not in need of international protection and do not elect to leave voluntarily. We do not accept that each and every asylum seeker who presents themselves as being from a particular country or religion should automatically be afforded protection in the United Kingdom. Removal will only be carried out where it is considered both appropriate and safe to do so.

The August 2008 version of the Home Office country report for Iraq is available to view at www.home office.gov.uk/rds/country_reports.html.