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Immigration: Illegal Entrants
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many illegal Chinese immigrants in the United Kingdom have been repatriated in each of the past five years; how many are awaiting repatriation; of those awaiting repatriation, how many are detained; and where those detained are being held. [HL2337]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The accompanying table shows the number of Chinese nationals removed from the UK to China from 2004 to 2007. Destination data have been collated only since 2004 so information prior to this is not available.
Information on the number of persons awaiting removal from the UK is not centrally collated; it could be obtained only through examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
While information is published on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at the last Saturday of each quarter, information on the number of people who are recorded as being detained awaiting removal from the UK is not centrally collated; it could be obtained only through examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
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National statistics on removals and persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
| Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns(1)(2), nationals of China removed to China, 2004-07(3) | ||||
| Number of Removals | ||||
| Year | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 (P) | 2007 (P) |
- (1) Includes enforced removals, persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
- (2) From January 2005 onwards, includes those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.
- (3) Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding.
Immigration: Refugee Doctors
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to encourage and assist refugee doctors to work in the National Health Service. [HL4321]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): A number of strategic health authorities (SHAs) fund programmes of work to support refugee doctors to become “job-ready” for the National Health Service.
In addition, NHS employers working as part of the NHS Confederation, have agreed with SHAs, the European Refugee Fund and the Home Office, to implement a national programme that enables refugee healthcare professionals to compete in the NHS job-market.
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many refugee doctors based in the United Kingdom who have met all the requirements to work in the National Health Service are still unemployed. [HL4322]
Lord Darzi of Denham: This information is not collected centrally.
The British Medical Association (BMA) maintains a voluntary register of refugee doctors. As of 4 June 2008 the BMA register shows that 234 refugee doctors
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- Source: www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/refugeedoctorstats june2008.
Immigration: Restaurant Raids
Lord Dholakia asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Kingdom Border Agency has a specific code of practice regarding raids on ethnic restaurants; and, if so, whether they will publish it. [HL4345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): There is no code of practice specifically regarding visits to ethnic restaurants. The UK Border Agency has, however, issued a code of practice for employers on how civil penalties for illegal working are issued and determined and this is available to view at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/preventingillegalworking/.
UK Border Agency staff are required to follow published guidance on how to conduct enforcement visits. Prior to a visit a thorough risk assessment is completed in conjunction with the police which includes an assessment of impact on the local community. The full guidance is available in chapter 31 of the enforcement guidance and can be viewed at: www.ukba.home office.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/enforcement/oemsectione/.
Immigration: Suicide
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many asylum seekers tried or succeeded in committing suicide in the United Kingdom in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. [HL4379]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): We do not hold data on the number of asylum seekers who have tried, or succeeded, in committing suicide in the United Kingdom.
Immigration: Undocumented Migrants
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will make an assessment of the new European Union directive on the detention of undocumented migrants; whether they will publish it; whether this directive covers those whose documents have expired or who are overstaying leave to enter; and whether a maximum 18-month detention period is appropriate in the absence of a sentence imposed by a court and of other legal safeguards. [HL4352]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Agreement was reached on 18 June 2008 in the European Parliament on the European Returns Directive and it now stands to be adopted at a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
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The directive covers all categories of illegal migrants including overstayers and those whose documents have expired.
The UK has not opted into this directive. While there are no plans to undertake an assessment we shall now follow the implementation in member states and its impact on the UK.
We shall provide the European Committees of the Lords and Commons with an update on the directive once final amendments are presented.
Iran: Death Penalty
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Slovenian presidency of the European Union has received a response from the Government of Iran following its statement of 4 June on the death sentences imposed on Behnood Shojaee, Mohammad Fadaei and Saeed Jazee, who were aged under 18 at the time of their alleged offences; and whether they will make representations to the Government of Iran about their obligations under international covenants on death sentences. [HL4235]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): Following the 4 June statement about planned juvenile executions in Iran, the EU presidency issued a further statement on 10 June calling for the Iranian authorities to halt the execution of juvenile offenders Mohammad Fadaei, Behnood Shojaee and Saeed Jazee. The embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran also spoke to an official from the Iranian Judiciary to make further representations and draw attention to the EU's statement. The executions of Fadaei and Shojaee, which had been scheduled for 11 June, were subsequently stayed for one month to allow time for further negotiations with the respective families. However, a 17 year-old juvenile offender, Mohammad Hassanzadeh, was executed on 10 June and Saeed Jazee's execution remains scheduled for 25 June.
The position of the EU and the Government on the death penalty is clear, and the execution of juveniles is against all international human rights standards. The EU issued a further statement on 13 June which strongly condemned the execution of Mohammad Hassanzadeh in direct contravention of international law and Iran's obligations as set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The statement reiterated that there is “absolutely no justification for the use of the death penalty by the Iranian authorities in the case of juvenile offenders” and called for an end to all executions of juvenile offenders, a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in all instances and for Iran to bring her own legislation in line with the international human rights conventions into which she entered freely and indeed ratified.
We will continue to make representations to the Government of Iran regarding their obligations on these matters.
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Iran: Human Rights
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they and the European Union presidency have received to representations made to the Government of Iran concerning (a) persecution of members of the Baha'i faith; and (b) the arrest of seven national leaders of that faith in March and May. [HL4233]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government remain very concerned by the treatment of the Iranian Baha'i community at the hands of the Iranian regime and the ongoing detention of all members of the informal Baha'i leadership in Tehran who were arrested in May. These concerns have been raised both bilaterally and through the EU at least five times this year. On 21 May, following a recommendation from the UK, the EU presidency declared its concern about the systematic discrimination and harassment of the Baha'is and called on Iran to uphold the right to practise a religion of choice and to release the six members who were arrested on 14 May. At the last session of the UN Human Rights Council on 6 June, the UK and the EU issued statements about specific issues of concern. Both statements referred to the Baha'is detained in Iran and called for their release. The December 2007 resolution on Iran's human rights situation adopted by the UN General Assembly also secured a strong message of international concern at the situation of the Baha'is in Iran.
Regrettably, there has been no response from the Iranian Government regarding this issue yet. However, we will continue to raise our concerns and to call for their release.
Iraq: Status of Forces Agreement
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are seeking a status of forces agreement between the United Kingdom and Iraq to have effect when the current United Nations mandate expires later this year. [HL4347]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The multi-national force, including British forces, operates in Iraq under the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1790, and at the request of the Government of Iraq. We are in discussion with the Government of Iraq and coalition partners over our legal requirements following the anticipated expiry of the UN Security Council mandate at the end of 2008, with a view to ensuring that any future UK military assistance to Iraq remains on a sound legal footing.
Mail: Bio-screening
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate they have made of the costs of effective bio-screening of mail in the national postal system to protect recipients from anthrax and other biological and chemical agents; and [HL4409]
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What assessment they have made of the risk to recipients of mail delivered through the national postal system of not carrying out effective bio-screening. [HL4410]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): The Government have not made an assessment of the costs of introducing screening to the postal system. Screening is, however, in place for high risk recipients. These services are provided on a commercial basis.
Central government departments and the emergency services work with Royal Mail and other operators to ensure that effective measures and procedures are in place for managing any risk to their operations and staff or to members of the wider public from chemical or biological agents in the postal system.
Official Visits: Muslim Delegations
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many delegations from the Muslim community on behalf of the Government have gone abroad since 7 July 2005. [HL4264]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We have organised 26 projecting British Islam delegations since 7 July 2005.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much delegations from the Muslim community on behalf of the Government on overseas visits have cost the British taxpayer since 7 July 2005. [HL4265]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The projecting British Islam project has cost £442,067 since 7 July 2005. (The figure originally given was £564,162. The Government corrected this in August.)
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which countries delegations from the Muslim community on behalf of the Government have visited; and what benefits these trips have had to the British taxpayer. [HL4266]
Lord Malloch-Brown: Delegations have visited 24 countries with Muslim majorities or significant Muslim minorities since 2005:
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