Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) foreign national offenders and (b) immediate family members of foreign national offenders were removed from the UK under the Facilitated Return Scheme in the last 12 months.

Since this Government came to power almost 10,000 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned, an increase of 36%, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.

The information you have requested regarding the Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) is not available from published statistics.

FRS offers all FNOs with a determinate prison sentence the opportunity to volunteer to return to their country of origin. The scheme also allows for immediate qualifying family members departing the UK with the eligible FNO a financial support package.

It is not an alternative to removal or deportation but facilitates the early removal of FNOs and helps them to re-settle and remain in their country of origin. Voluntary removals benefit the UK taxpayer as detention and appeals are significantly reduced.