Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has ever given direction, pursuant to Schedule 3 of the Immigration Act 1971, to an airline to carry out enforced returns.

Schedule 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 provides a legal requirement to serve Removal Directions on airlines for the return of any individual against whom a deportation order is in force.

Schedule 2 provides the ability to prosecute captains, owners and agents of airlines should they refuse to carry an individual.

When working with airlines, wherever possible, we make efforts to ensure they are familiar with their statutory obligations so as to avoid having to in-voke the provisions of Schedule 2.