§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a resettlement system for citizens of Iraq in the United Kingdom in the process of applying for asylum or leave to remain. [116252]
§ Beverley HughesWe are consulting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration, refugee sector non-gobernmental organisations and Iraqi communities in the United Kingdom on the type of programmes that will be appropriate for an Iraqi Assisted Voluntary Return Programme. No decisions regarding the exact nature of the resettlement system that might be offered has yet been made.
We are working actively to ensure that Iraqis can be assisted to return voluntarily to their homeland as soon as practicable. Many Iraqis in the United Kingdom have skills, which will be of value to the reconstruction of Iraq. The government is committed to helping clear the way for them to do so.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a resettlement grant system was set up for Afghanistan; and how many Afghan citizens resident in the United Kingdom have benefitted from the grant. [116254]
§ Beverley HughesThe Return to Afghanistan Programme, under which resettlement grants are made, commenced 20 August 2002 for six months. This has been extended and the current end date is 19 August 2003. As of 31 March 2003 38 Afghans have benefitted from the grant.