§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been deported from the United Kingdom since May 1979; what proportion have been asked to pay their own fares; and how much money was involved.
§ Mr. WaddingtonFour thousand, three hundred and seventy-two persons were deported from the United Kingdom between May 1979 and March 1984. The other information requested is not readily available.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what determines whether or not his Department requires deportees to pay their own fares; what sanctions exist if the deportee refuses to pay the fare; and what instructions are issued to the police in these circumstances.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Immigration Act 1971 provides for deportation expenses to be met by the Secretary of State. He may, however, apply any money belonging to a deportee to the cost of deportation and maintenance prior to departure.
The instructions to the police require them to ensure that a deportee (and any dependants) possesses appropriate subsistence money. If a deportee possesses an amount in excess of that, the surplus may be used towards the cost of his fare and incidental expenses personal to the deportee and any balance returned to the deportee. Prison earnings and money which the deportee may have received from official sources and welfare and charitable organisations to assist with his rehabilitation must not be so applied.