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Zimbabwe

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis the decision to end the suspension of removals for failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe was taken; and whether this represents a change in the Government's assessment of the human rights situation in that country. [204030]

Mr. Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement on 16 November 2004, Official Report, column 78WS, announcing the end of the temporary suspension of enforced removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. That statement explains the reason for the change in policy and stresses the fact that it does not reflect any change in the Government's condemnation of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

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