HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 cc659-60W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the repatriation of Afghan refugees. [116627]

Beverley Hughes

The Government's preferred option for repatriating Afghan asylum applicants whose asylum claims have been rejected is assisted voluntary return, in line with the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Voluntary Return between the UK, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Afghan Transitional Administration. As agreed with the Afghan authorities from spring this year onwards those not choosing voluntary return and found to be without protection or humanitarian needs will be subject to enforcement action. We started enforced returns on 28 April 2003 and there will be flights once a month from now on.

We are working closely with the Afghan authorities to ensure that all returns, whether enforced or voluntary, are phased, managed and dignified. We offer all returnees a training and employment package designed to ensure that their return is sustainable and that they can therefore make a positive contribution to the reconstruction of their homeland.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan with a view to developing our returns programme accordingly.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Afghan citizens who arrived on the hijacked plane at Stansted in February 2000(a) have been returned to Afghanistan, (b) have been granted asylum or leave to remain and (c) are still in the UK. [114721]

Beverley Hughes

Of the 170 people on the hijacked plane, 84 have returned voluntarily to Afghanistan and 18, including 13 dependants, have been granted asylum in the UK.

The remaining 68 are still in the UK, most pending completion of appeals or legal processes of one kind or another. Of this 68, 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 overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Action is being taken to remove all such remaining people as soon as possible as it is clear there is no legal or other barrier to their removal.