§ Mr. Hanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of people assisted by Her Majesty's Government with voluntary repatriation, including their families, since 1970, together with the annual aggregate financial assistance provided.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe principal scheme for assisting people to return permanently to an overseas country is operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 on behalf of the Government by International Social Services Great Britain Ltd. A separate facility with different conditions of eligibility is offered by the Department of Health and Social Security under the supplementary benefit scheme. The available information about the assistance provided under each scheme is as follows:
Scheme operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 Financial year Number of people assisted (including members of family or household) Cost (Travel expenses of persons assisted plus administration costs) £ 1972–73 122 15,176 1973–74 277 41,828 1974–75 156 32,307 1975–76 221 50,636 1976–77 112 31,181 1977–78 130 46,508 1978–79 178 65,533 1979–80 131 61,991 1980–81 139 78,454 1981–82 251 169,206 1982–83 152 162,203 1983–84 144 169,259 1984–85 81 118,982 1985–86 72 120,882
People assisted by supplementary benefit scheme. Year Number of people assisted Cost £ 1972 213 18,940 1973 172 14,686 1974 129 16,780 1975 139 19,878 1976 90 15,710 1977 112 21,848 1978 84 16,929 1979 51 12,406 1980 44 15,791 1981 29 9,120 1982 49 16,534 1983 41 15,677 1984 36 14,435 1985 13 5,088 1986 6 2,796