HC Deb 15 January 2004 vol 416 cc870-81W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with EU partners concerning asylum. [145414]

Beverley Hughes

Government Ministers have regular discussions with counterparts in other member states on asylum issues. These discussions take place within formal bilaterals and Justice and Home Affairs Councils, as well as in the margins of other meetings.

Mr. Sarwar

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were made in 2003; what the countries of origin were; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes

The table shows asylum applications to the UK by nationality for the first three quarters of 2003.

Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. Data for the fourth quarter and consequently the whole of 2003 will be available in the next publication

Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by nationality and location where made, January-September 2003
Number of principal applicants
Quarter 1 Quarter 2
Nationality Total Applied at port Applied in country Total Applied at port Applied in country
Europe
Albania 230 10 215 140 10 125
Czech Republic 20 15 5 20 15 5
Macedonia 35 5 30 10 * 10
Moldova 185 5 170 5 10 65
Poland 35 0 25 20 10 15
Romania 245 30 215 95 15 75
Russia 70 15 55 65 5 60
SAM2 345 20 325 175 15 155
Turkey 645 355 290 585 325 260
Ukraine 95 15 80 65 20 50
Other Former USSR 175 20 155 135 25 105
Other Former Yugoslavia 215 * 25 10 * 10
Europe other 2055 5 20 20 10 10
Europe total 2,125 525 1,605 1,415 465 950
Americas
Colombia 90 15 70 60 20 40
Ecuador 65 15 55 40 10 30
Jamaica 390 65 325 215 35 180
Americas other 80 25 55 60 25 35
Americas total 625 120 505 370 85 285
Middle East
Iran 655 190 465 625 190 435
Iraq 2,135 270 1,865 635 65 570
Middle East other 265 85 180 230 80 150
Middle East total 3,055 540 2,515 1,490 340 1,155
Africa
Algeria 210 35 175 100 15 85
Angola 300 40 260 165 25 135
Burundi 210 35 175 145 25 120
Cameroon 185 20 165 95 25 70
Congo 145 25 120 55 15 45
Dem. Rep. Congo 460 100 360 300 65 235
Eritrea 245 115 135 185 80 110
Ethiopia 145 80 65 120 50 70
Gambia 15 5 10 30 15 20
Ghana 70 15 55 80 20 60
Ivory Coast 205 40 165 90 20 70
Kenya 85 20 65 60 10 50
Nigeria 350 180 170 250 130 120
Rwanda 120 15 105 70 30 40
Sierra Leone 165 90 75 85 40 50
Somalia 1,515 195 1,320 900 140 760
Sudan 95 25 75 135 30 105
Tanzania 10 5 5 5 * 5
Uganda 225 10 210 165 5 160
Zimbabwe 1,075 215 860 815 210 605
Africa other 410 210 200 340 170 170
Africa total 6,255 1,475 4,780 4,200 1,105 3,095
Asia
Afghanistan 950 200 755 485 185 300
Bangladesh 205 25 180 190 25 165
China 915 630 280 705 525 180
India 490 190 295 645 260 385
Pakistan 490 175 320 375 85 290
Sri Lanka 300 135 165 245 130 115
Vietnam 345 60 285 230 75 155
Asia other 215 45 170 210 80 130
Asia total 3,910 1,460 2,445 3,090 1,370 1,720
Other, and nationality 30 20 10 15 10 5
not known 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grand total 16,000 4,140 11,860 10,585 3,370 7,210

at the end of February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

Quarter 3 January-September 2003
Nationality Total Applied at port Applied in country Total Applied at port Applied in country
Europe
Albania 125 10 115 490 35 460
Czech Republic 25 15 10 65 45 20
Macedonia 10 * 5 55 5 45
Moldova 70 15 55 330 40 290
Poland 10 * 10 70 20 50
Romania 120 25 90 455 75 380
Russia 65 10 55 205 35 170
SAM2 170 10 155 690 50 640
Turkey 530 260 265 1,760 940 820
Ukraine 85 15 70 250 50 200
Other Former USSR 170 45 125 480 95 385
Other Former Yugoslavia 5 0 5 40 5 40
Europe other 15 5 5 55 20 35
Europe total 1,400 420 980 4,945 1,410 3,535
Americas
Colombia 40 10 30 190 45 145
Ecuador 25 * 25 130 25 110
Jamaica 190 20 170 790 115 675
Americas other 40 20 20 175 70 110
Americas total 290 50 245 1,290 250 1,035
Middle East
Iran 860 210 650 2,140 590 1,550
Iraq 690 50 640 3,465 385 3,080
Middle East other 285 105 180 780 270 505
Middle East Total 1,835 365 1,470 6,380 1,245 5,135
Africa
Algeria 125 10 110 430 60 375
Angola 215 40 175 680 105 570
Burundi 170 30 135 525 90 435
Cameroon 95 10 85 375 55 320
Congo 70 15 55 270 55 220
Dem. Rep. Congo 380 75 305 1,145 240 905
Eritrea 290 100 190 725 295 430
Ethiopia 190 55 135 455 185 275
Gambia 20 5 10 65 25 40
Ghana 85 20 70 235 55 185
Ivory Coast 50 15 30 345 75 265
Kenya 35 5 30 180 35 145
Nigeria 190 90 100 795 400 395
Rwanda 45 15 30 235 60 175
Sierra Leone 70 20 50 325 150 175
Somalia 1,440 200 1,240 3,850 535 3,320
Sudan 320 40 280 550 90 460
Tanzania 10 5 5 25 10 15
Uganda 170 10 160 560 25 535
Zimbabwe 710 145 565 2,595 565 2,030
Africa other 480 190 290 1,230 570 660
Africa total 5,155 1,100 4,055 15,605 3,680 11,925
Asia
Afghanistan 470 165 305 1,910 550 1,360
Bangladesh 190 25 165 580 70 510
China 965 715 250 2,585 1,875 715
India 655 310 345 1,790 765 1,025
Pakistan 495 150 340 1,360 410 950
Sri Lanka 85 30 60 630 290 335
Vietnam 260 10 245 835 150 685
Asia other 135 35 100 560 165 400
Asia total 3,255 1,445 1,810 10,255 4,275 5,980
Other, and nationality 20 15 10 65 45 20
not known 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grand Total 11,955 3,395 8,560 38,540 10,905 27,630
1 Figures are provisional and have been rounded to the nearest 5 with* = 1 or 2.
2 Serbia and Montenegro (SAM) replaced Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) from 5 February 2003. SAM comprises the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro, and the Province of Kosovo (administered by the UN on an interim basis since 1999)

Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many initial decision makers for asylum applications were in post on 1 October in each of the last six years. [142155]

Beverley Hughes

Records are available for the years from 2000. The number of staff deployed on decision-making depends on the volume of cases. Internal management information indicates that, as the backlog of outstanding applications has fallen and decisions have been made more quickly, the number of full-time equivalent staff deployed on making initial decisions for asylum applications was 477 in October 2000, 465 in October 2001,396 in October 2002 and 365 in October 2003.

Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what written representations he has received from the First Minister of Scotland concerning his policy in relation to the detention of families with children in removal centres. [142763]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 8 December 2003]No written representations have been received from the First Minister of Scotland on detention policy as this is a reserved matter. The First Minister has, however, written recently to me emphasising the importance of the UK Government's careful engagement with this issue.

Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to permit asylum seekers in general to take up employment. [142768]

Beverley Hughes

There are no plans to allow asylum seekers in general to take employment. The European directive on reception standards for asylum seekers comes into force in February 2005. At that time asylum seekers who have waited more than one year for an initial decision on their claim will be able to seek permission to work. Although the employment concession for asylum seekers was abolished on 23 July 2002 we retain discretion to allow asylum seekers to work. The discretion is exercised sparingly but might be appropriate in cases where an asylum seeker has, through no fault of their own, waited for longer than 12 months for an initial decision on their claim. The majority of asylum claims receive an initial decision well within this period. 81 per cent. of applications for asylum received in the period April to June 2003 had initial decisions reached and served within two months.

We are currently considering whether asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers currently in work whose employment would meet the requirements for the issue of a work permit should be allowed to remain in employment.

Mr. Gale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Kent county council will receive central government funding in respect of the costs of asylum seekers outstanding for the financial years(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; when funding will be received for the 2003–04 financial year; and what estimate he has made of the cost to Kent county council in respect of support of asylum seekers between April and November. [144468]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 16 December 2003]All amounts claimed for 2001–02 by Kent county council—in respect of support for Adults and Families and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children (UASCs)—have been settled. Payments on account of the 2002–03 claim have been made but the final claim is subject to audit before it can be settled.

Payments on account for Adults and Families have been made to Kent county council for 2003–04, based on grant claims submitted for the first two quarters. Payments on account have also been made in respect of UASC support costs, using the provisional rate for 2003–04.

Claims for the third quarter have not yet been submitted and so the Home Office's estimates have been made on the basis of the previous claims submitted for the current year.

Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were removed or made a voluntary departure to the 10 East European candidate states for membership of the European Union(a) in each of the last three years and (b) in the first half of 2003. [141552]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 4 December 2003]: Information on the destination of removals and voluntary departures is not available.

Estimates of the number of nationals of the 10 East European candidate states who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed between January 2001 and June 2003 are shown in the following table. These figures include persons departing 'voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration.

Information on the nationality of persons removed in 2000 and on those persons who departed voluntarily without informing the Home Office is not available.

Removals and voluntary1 departure of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, of EU accession states, January 2001 to June 20032,4
Nationality 2001 20025 January to

June 20035
Poland 605 635 470
Czech Republic 800 790 585
Hungary 5 10 5
Lithuania 320 310 125
Latvia 170 175 90
Estonia 60 65 25
Slovakia 60 75 30
Slovenia * — *
Cyprus3 5 15 5
Malta * — —
Total 2,035 2,070 1,340

1 Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.

2 Figures rounded to the nearest five, with* = 1 or 2, and may not sum due to rounding.

3 Data exclude nationals of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.

4 Data have been estimated due to data quality issues.

5 Provisional figures.

The number of applications from nationals of the accession countries fell from 250 in October 2002 to 25 in June 2003 following the introduction (in November 2002) of the non-suspensive appeal measure included in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

The Home Office will continue to remove nationals of the candidate states in the same circumstances as now up until accession, although this will be kept under constant review. This is being done in the interests of maintaining an effective immigration control and the need to control numbers prior to accession; because we are not legally obliged to grant free movement rights under 1 May; and because we are giving free movement rights earlier than some other member states.

Asylum appeals—Further appeals to the Tribunal, decisions, and the outcome of Tribunal Hearings, excluding dependants, 1994 to 20021
Number of principal appellants
Appeals to the Tribunal2 Outcome of Tribunal Hearings3
Received Determined Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn Remitted to adjudicators

for further consideration
1998 1,775 41,090 — — —
1999 2,135 1,790 — — — —
2000 1,615 2,635 815 1,385 220 215
2001 3,860 3,190 475 1,140 150 1,430
20025 6,920 5,565 620 2,015 225 2,700
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.
2 Figures based on data supplied by the Lord Chancellor's Department. Decisions and determinations do not necessarily correspond to applications and appeals received in any given year.
3 Figures supplied by the Presenting Officers Unit. Figures for October to December 1999 are based on data for November to December.
4 Revised figures.
5 Provisional figures.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis he judges that the terms of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill as regards the removal of the children of asylum seekers are compatible with(a) the Human Rights Act 1998, (b) the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and (c) section 1 of the Children Act 1989. [143061]

Beverley Hughes

The Bill creates no powers for the removal of children of failed asylum seekers from their parents. Insofar as the withdrawal of support from people who have failed to establish a right to political asylum and who refuse to co-operate in their removal from the country leads to consideratipn by local authorities of the need for support for their children, it will be provided in a way that is consistent with the Human Rights Act, the Children Act and the United Kingdom's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been granted permission to work due to exceptional circumstances; and what criteria are used to determine whether an application will succeed. [143461]

Data on the removals by nationality are available from the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases heard by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available the tribunal upheld the decision being appealed. [142582]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 8 December 2003]: Data on the number of cases in which the Immigration Appeals Tribunal upheld the decision being appealed, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, are given in the following table. Appeals received do not necessarily correspond to appeals determined in any given year.

Statistics on appeals to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal are published annually. The latest publication, Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2002, is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

Beverley Hughes

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Generally speaking, however, asylum seekers are not now allowed to take employment while their claim for asylum is pending. Prior to 23 July 2002 asylum seekers could request permission to work if their claim remained outstanding for longer than six months without a decision being made on it. The concession was abolished on 23 July 2002.

The majority of asylum claims receive an initial decision well within six months. 81 per cent. of applications for asylum received in the period April—June 2003 had initial decisions reached and served within two months. 74 per cent. of applications for asylum received in 2002–03 had initial decisions reached and served within two months, 84 per cent. within four months and 87 per cent. within six months. The number of asylum seekers who would have been able to benefit from the concession had it remained in force is now much reduced.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost to West Sussex county council of the judgment in Behre and othersv. Hillingdon London borough council, on asylum seekers in local authority care. [144993]

Beverley Hughes

The Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills are at present reviewing the grants arrangements for support of unaccompanied asylum seeker children (UASC) in the light of the Hillingdon judgment. A decision on the 2003–04 grant will be made shortly.

Mr. Keith Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from local authorities on the implications for them of children being taken into care under the provisions in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill. [145189]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 5 January 2004]: We received six representations on the provision in question from local authorities, or organisations representing them or the services they administer, during the consultation exercise we carried out recently. As we made clear in our response to this exercise, it is our objective to ensure that few, if any, children need to be taken into care as a result of this provision, and officials are meeting the Local Government Association in order to discuss its practical application.

Mr. Lansley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been housed at Oakington Immigration Reception Centre during 2003 as a result of the detention overspill facility. [145366]

Beverley Hughes

Following the success of the NSA process in 2002 that resulted in considerable intake reduction earlier than anticipated, there was the potential for utilisation of the Oakington facility. In line with considerations of public financial accountability a decision was taken to use part of the facility to detain families prior to removal on flights from nearby Stansted. It continued to be used for this purpose successfully throughout 2003.

The latest available information on people held in the immigration removal estate show that as at 27 September 2003–260 people were housed at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre. Information on the number of these who were there as a result of the detention overspill facility and on the total number of people detained in 2003 is not available except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Lansley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purposes, in addition to making initial decisions on asylum applications, detainees are housed at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre. [145369]

Beverley Hughes

Oakington is a designated place of detention and may be used to house persons under any of the published detention criteria, including detention under fast track procedures.

Mr. Keith Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific actions he expects local authorities to take to protect children who are not taken into care but whose parents have had their benefits stopped as a consequence of the implementation of clause 7 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill. [145584]

Beverley Hughes

We are discussing with representatives of local authorities whether guidance on the way in which they would exercise their responsibilities under these circumstances would be helpful.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the system to record the number of asylum seekers(a) entering the UK illegally, (b) applying for asylum and (c) being detained awaiting deportation; and if he will make a statement. [145676]

Beverley Hughes

There are no plans to change the system to record the number of asylum seekers(a) entering the country illegally, (b) applying for asylum and (c) being detained awaiting deportation. Information on asylum applications, detainees and removals is published quarterly. The next publication will be available at the end of February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website.

Mr. Coleman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to abolish the support only provision for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [146971]

Beverley Hughes

There are no plans to do so at present. Section 50 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 allows us to withdraw the opportunity for asylum seekers to apply for financial support only. During the passage of the Bill through Parliament we gave a commitment that there would be a full public consultation process before the provision was introduced. The provision is also subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made for the UN High Commission for Refugees to work with Home Office training programmes to improve decision making on asylum applications; what the terms of reference are for UNHCR involvement; and when these arrangements will be brought into effect. [147728]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 13 January 2004]: The London office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees already contributes to the training of asylum caseworkers. We intend that this fruitful relationship should continue and we are presently discussing with UNHCR what further assistance they might provide in support of our measures to assure high quality decision making processes.

Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was in each of the last five years of police involvement in immigration controls. [147789]

Ms Blears

This information is not held centrally. Local police involvement in immigration controls forms part of the arrangements made by Chief Constables in the light of police authorities' policing plans.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the powers under section 6 of schedule 3 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 have been used. [146492]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 8 January 2004]: We have not so far withdrawn support from any family under this provision, although its availability may have helped induce a number of failed asylum seekers to depart voluntarily.