§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Kosovo came to the United Kingdom under the United Nations humanitarian and medical evacuation programmes; how many are still in the United Kingdom; how many have claimed political asylum; and if he will make a statement. [123791]
§ Mrs. RocheA total of 4,346 evacuees from Kosovo arrived in the United Kingdom under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Evacuation Programme from Macedonia between 25 April and 25 June 1999, including 19 medical evacuees and their families. A further 109 Kosovans (26 patients with their immediate family members) have, so far, arrived on subsequent medical evacuation flights from Kosovo.
As of 1 June, 1,527 of the evacuees had returned permanently to Kosovo under the voluntary return programme from the United Kingdom which began on 26 July 1999.
Since March 2000, 241 principal applicants have sought an extension of exceptional leave to enter, 79 have applied for asylum and 90 have applied for both exceptional leave and asylum. These applications are currently under consideration.