HC Deb 22 October 1992 vol 212 c377W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give the number of voluntary repatriations over the past 12 months showing(a) how many of those who were repatriated suffered from mental illness and (b) to what countries they were repatriated;

(2) if he will make a statement on the legal and administrative processes involved in the decision to authorise repatriation.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Between September 1991 and October 1992 there have been 44 cases of voluntary repatriation under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, involving 56 individuals. None of these individuals was suffering from any form of psychiatric illness at the time of departure. Under the section 29 scheme, financial assistance is available in certain circumstances from public funds for non-British citizens settled in this country who wish to return permanently to their country of origin. This scheme is administered on behalf of the Home Office by the International Social Service of the United Kingdom, which assesses each application for assistance on its merits, according to certain conditions. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, he is invited to write to me and I shall send a substantive reply.

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