Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many rejected asylum seekers remain in the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.

Fifteen failed asylum seekers remain resident in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA). They were among a group of approximately 70 individuals who were rescued from a boat in distress in 1998 near Akrotiri. These failed asylum seekers have indicated many times they do not wish to be returned to their countries of origin, or re-apply for asylum in the Republic of Cyprus. It has not been possible to identify a third country willing to accept them. They are entitled to access, education and healthcare in the Republic of Cyprus.

No failed asylum seekers remain in the SBA from those migrants who arrived in the Areas in October 2015.