Written question asked by Siobhain McDonagh (Labour) on Monday, 20 June 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 June 2011. It was answered by Damian Green (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 June 2011 on behalf of the Home Office.

Deportation: Tamils

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of citizens of Commonwealth countries of Tamil ethnicity who have (a) been held for removal to Sri Lanka by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), (b) been booked by the UKBA onto flights for removal to Sri Lanka, (c) attempted acts of self harm while awaiting removal to Sri Lanka, (d) committed suicide while awaiting removal to Sri Lanka and (e) been removed to Sri Lanka since May 2009.

Answer: The UK Border Agency records details of individuals on the basis of nationality only, rather than ethnicity."(a) There are currently 95 Sri Lankan nationals in detention.""(b) 10 Sri Lankan nationals currently have arrangements in place for their return to Sri Lanka""(c) It is not possible to establish the total numbers of attempted acts of self harm from May 2009 without reviewing each and every case record""(d) No individuals have committed suicide while awaiting return to Sri Lanka""(e) Between 1 May 2009 and 31 March 2011, 1,025 Sri Lankan nationals were removed."

Secondary information