§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 140W, on Kosovar refugees, if he will update the figures provided in his answer; how many of the 4,346 Kosovar refugees admitted to the United Kingdom under the UNHCR Humanitarian Evacuation Programme have left the United Kingdom voluntarily; and what action he intends to take in respect of those who have not yet left the United Kingdom to return to Kosovo. [108120]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information provided in my reply on 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 140W, on nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is the latest available.
As at 31 January, 1,570 Kosovans had returned. Of those 182 had left under the 'explore and prepare programme'.
All the evacuees were given 12 months' Exceptional Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom and will not have their stay curtailed. We have made clear that there will not be a general extension of leave for those granted Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR) under the Kosovan concession and Kosovans are expected to make arrangements to leave once their current leave to remain expires.
The voluntary return programme from the United Kingdom began on 26 July 1999 and is open to Kosovans who arrived under the Humanitarian Evacuation Programme and independent arrivals. Returnees are provided with the necessary travel documentation to enable them to travel under the arrangements put in place by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The Government are also running an Explore and Prepare scheme to enable heads of households and community leaders with ELR to return to Kosovo to make advance preparations for the permanent return of their families. We expect a large return this spring and are working to ensure that it comes about.