HC Deb 22 May 1997 vol 294 c109W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on refugees and asylum seekers from the Congo and neighbouring states. [1053]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

As my right hon. Friend explained in his reply to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Olner) on 16 May,Official Report, column 3, he has made a declaration under the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 that Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo) has undergone an upheaval such that we would not seek to enforce the return of refused asylum seekers to that country for the time being.

The declaration of upheaval relates to the fundamental changes which have occurred in Zaire and does not extend to neighbouring countries. We will of course continue to monitor the situation in the region generally.