HL Deb 25 February 2004 vol 658 c62WA
Baroness Cox

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of the Afghans who landed at Stansted Airport in February 2000 in a hijacked aircraft are still in Britain; and what their immigration status is now. [HL1393]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Of the 170 people on the hijacked plane, 89 have returned (voluntarily) to Afghanistan and 22, including 13 dependants, have been granted asylum.

The remaining 59 are still in the UK, most pending completion of appeals or legal processes of one kind or another. Of this 59, the accused hijackers and their families comprise 34 people. Nine of the hijackers were convicted and imprisoned until recently. In the case of these nine hijackers their convictions have now been oveturned by the Court of Appeal. Action will be taken to remove them once it is clear that there is no legal or other barrier to their removal.