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British government decides to postpone the pilot bond scheme

The British government has decided to "postpone" implementation of the controversial bond scheme on a trial basis in Casablanca and Manila.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Keith Vaz said in the House of Commons that the decision was taken jointly with the home office as "there was far from unanimous support for it".

The scheme was originally contemplated for a trial run in the Indian sub-continent but it was given up following stiff opposition from India.

Vaz said, "The idea for a visa bond came initially from some of the bodies representating various ethnic groups in Britain. We agreed to examine the possibility of piloting the scheme in one or two countries. Before going firm on the suggestion, however, we took more soundings."

These, he said, included views he obtained from governments and local people during his recent visits abroad.

"It became clear that there was far from unanimous support for the scheme and this finding, coupled with practical difficulties which emerged during our research, led to our decision, made jointly with the home office, to postpone a pilot scheme."

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