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Immigration: Kurdish Asylum Seekers

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many asylum seekers from Iraq, including those of Kurdish origin, have been voluntarily or forcibly returned to Iraq in the past 18 months; and how many are currently held in detention centres pending removal. [HL4434]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The latest published information on removal of asylum seekers covers the final quarter of 2005. The number of persons of Iraqi nationality, including those of Kurdish origin, removed to Iraq, for the past 18 months, by type of removal is shown in the accompanying table. These figures include people departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five, and are provisional. As at 31 December 2005, there were 35 Iraqi nationals held in detention centres solely under Immigration Act powers. This figure is rounded to the nearest five. Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available on the Home Office's research development and statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
 


Removals and voluntary departures(1) of asylum applicants, nationals of Iraq, Q3 2004 to Q4 2005(2)(P)

Type of Removal	Q3 2004	Q4 2004	Q1 2005	Q2 2005	Q3 2005	Q4 2005	Total
Persons removed as a result of enforcement action(3)(4)	*	-	*	*	5	20	30
of whom: principal asylum applicants(5)	*	-	*	*	5	20	30
of whom: dependants of asylum applicants	-	-	-	-	*	-	*
Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes(6)	90	150	145	100	195	310	990
of whom: principal asylum applicants(5)	90	145	145	100	185	300	965
of whom: dependants of asylum applicants	-	5	-	-	10	10	25
Total persons removed(1)	90	150	145	105	200	330	1,020
of whom: principal asylum applicants(5)	90	145	145	105	190	320	990
of whom: dependants of asylum applicants	-	5	-	-	10	10	30

(1) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.


(2) Figures rounded to the nearest five, with - = 0, * = 1 or 2, and may not sum due to rounding.


(3) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them and those it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.


(4) Excludes assisted voluntary returns.


(5) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, excluding dependants.


(6) Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.


(P) Provisional figures.
 
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The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Turkish asylum seekers of Kurdish origin have been returned to Turkey in the past 18 months; and which areas of Turkey are regarded as safe for their return. [HL4436]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office does not record ethnic groupings electronically; therefore the number of failed asylum seekers of Kurdish origin returned to Turkey is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The number of persons of Turkish nationality removed to Turkey, for the past 18 months, by type of removal is shown in the accompanying table. These figures include people departing voluntarily after
 
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enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five, and are provisional.

We enforce the return of an individual only where we are satisfied that the person concerned will not be at risk and has been unsuccessful in any appeals against the decision in their particular case. We do not regard any part of Turkey as being unsafe for failed asylum seekers of Kurdish origin as a class. In an individual case, parts of Turkey might be considered unsafe for a failed asylum seeker, in which case we would only remove to an area that was safe.

Removals and voluntary departures(1) of asylum applicants, nationals of Turkey, Q3 2004 to Q4 2005(2)(P)

Type of Removal	Q3 2004	Q4 2004	Q1 2005	Q2 2005	Q3 2005	Q4 2005	Total
Persons removed as a result of enforcement action(3) (4)	80	55	65	95	215	320	830
of whom: principal asylum applicants(5)	80	55	65	95	205	315	815
of whom: dependants of asylum applicants	*	*	5	-	5	5	20
Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes(6)	10	5	5	10	5	5	45
of whom: principal asylum applicants(5)	5	5	5	10	5	5	35
of whom: dependants of asylum applicants	5	*	8	8	*	-	10
Total persons removed(1)	90	60	75	105	220	320	875
of whom: principal asylum applicants(5)	85	55	70	105	210	320	845
of whom: dependants of asylum applicants	5	5	5	*	10	5	30

(1) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.


(2) Figures rounded to the nearest five, with - = 0 and * = 1 or 2; and may not sum due to rounding.


(3) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them and those it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.


(4) Excludes assisted voluntary returns.


(5) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, excluding dependants.


(6) Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.


(P) Provisional figures.

IRA

Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 8 February (WA 102), whether they are reliant solely upon the Independent Monitoring Commission in their assessment of the continued existence, capacity and intention of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. [HL4186]

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): The Independent Monitoring Commission plays a vital role reporting ongoing paramilitary activity. However, the Government also rely on regular discussions with security advisers including, in particular, the Chief Constable. The Independent
 
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International Commission on Decommissioning has a distinct function from the IMC but its assessments are, similarly, highly valued by the Government.

Israel and Palestine: Gaza

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the quartet has taken to ensure that workers from Gaza have access to the Eretz Industrial Park; and how many workers have such access; and [HL4325]

Whether the quartet is overseeing the commencement of works in Gaza on (a) a fishing harbour; (b) repairing the airport; (c) design and construction of a seaport; (d) sewerage improvements; and (e) other industrial and commercial premises and investments, including offshore natural gas and access to the West Bank. [HL4326]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We fully support the work of Quartet Special Envoy James Wolfensohn in overseeing the implementation of the movement and access agreement. The quartet (EU, UN, US and Russia) will commence work on the airport truck convoys between Gaza and the West Bank and the seaport once discussions with the government of Israel over the operational arrangements have been finalised. There are several donors active in sewerage projects in Gaza. However, project implementation has been slowed down by the current security situation in Gaza and by Israel's establishment of a buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip.

Gas supplies, the fishing harbour and Eretz Industrial Park are not part of the Movement and Access Agreement. The quartet will aim to improve these services for the Palestinian people as well. No work has yet commenced on offshore gas supplies or the fishing harbour. Access is currently limited to Eretz Industrial Park for Palestinian workers. We continue to raise freedom of movement issues across the board with the Israeli Government. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv last raised the crossing between Gaza and Israel with the Israeli Prime Minister's special adviser on 2 March.

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