Maria Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the Cypriot authorities about who has responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of refugees arriving at RAF Akrotiri.

Penny Mordaunt

Under the collaborative arrangements in place since 2003 between the UK and the Republic of Cyprus, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA) and the Republic of Cyprus officials are co-operating on the handling and processing of the migrants. Their claims will be heard by the Republic of Cyprus should they claim asylum. The SBAA remains responsible for their safety and well-being in the Dhekelia transit facility until they are passed over to a Republic of Cyprus reception facility. If they are granted asylum they will be free to live and apply for work permits in the Republic of Cyprus and have the same rights as if they landed directly into the Republic of Cyprus. The SBAA has the obligation to meet the costs incurred by the Republic of Cyprus in handling the claims and supporting the migrants whilst their cases are being heard and, if they are successful, for up to one year.

If a migrant does not claim asylum, the SBAA as the territorial administration of this Overseas Territory remains responsible for their safety and wellbeing whilst detained pending deportation.