Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of Sri Lankan nationals located on Diego Garcia that will be eligible to claim asylum in the UK.

This Government inherited a deeply troubling situation that remained unresolved under the last administration for years after the migrants’ arrival on Diego Garcia.

Arrangements are being made for the temporary relocation, subject to entry clearance applications and biometrics being submitted and there being no adverse information found as result, of 61 individuals located in Diego Garcia, given serious welfare and safeguarding concerns including for children on the island. Those with criminal convictions or under investigation will be excluded.

Any asylum claims made in the UK and admitted to the UK asylum system, will be carefully considered in line with our international obligations.