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 how many citizens of Commonwealth countries of Tamil ethnicity who have been removed to Sri Lanka by the UK Border Agency have returned to the UK and subsequently been granted leave to remain; whether she has received any reports of the torture or maltreatment of such persons while in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The UK Border Agency records details of individuals on the basis of nationality only, rather than ethnicity.Since May 2009, the UK Border Agency records indicate that two Sri Lankans who have previously been removed by the UK Border Agency have subsequently returned and made applications to remain in the UK. One application was unsuccessful and one is still under consideration.The UK Border Agency carefully considers all applications, including asylum claims on their individual merits, in accordance with UK international obligations and against the background of the latest available country information. It is open to an individual applicant to submit any evidence in support of that application, including allegations of mistreatment.

Secondary information