HC Deb 14 January 1999 vol 323 cc278-80W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of Slovakia have sought political asylum in the UK in the last three months; how many applications have been accepted; and what were the figures in each of the last three years. [65263]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information is given in the table.

Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependents, and initial decisions on applications, September to November 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 for nationals of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Total applications Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Total refusals
1995
Slovakia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1996
Slovakia 15 35 — — 35
19972
Slovakia 160 205 — — 205
19982
Slovakia 380 210 — — 210
1Figures rounded to the nearest 5
2Provisional figures

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of(a) Bulgaria and (b) the Czech Republic have sought political asylum in the UK in the last three months; how many applications have been accepted; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last three years. [64754]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information is given in the table.

Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions on applications, September to November 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 for nationals of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Total applications Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Total refusals
1995
Bulgaria 145 15 — — 15
Czech Republic n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions on applications, September to November 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 for nationals of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Total applications Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Total refusals
1996
Bulgaria 75 115 * — 115
Czech Republic 15 15 — — 15
19972
Bulgaria 135 175 — — 175
Czech Republic 120 85 — — 85
19982
Bulgaria 25 35 — * 35
Czech Republic 230 75 — — 75
1Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2
2Provisional figures.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the accommodation of medically-qualified asylum seekers as regards(a) the adequacy of the accommodation and (b) its proximity to institutions where they could use their qualifications or requalify. [65595]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

There is no central record of the representations received from medically qualified asylum seekers.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation he(a) has carried out and (b) plans to carry out with (i) local authorities and (ii) other relevant bodies regarding his proposals for a new support scheme for asylum seekers. [65565]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Consultation with local authorities and other relevant bodies regarding the proposals for the new support scheme has been carried out principally in the following ways:

  1. (a) through the White Paper: "Fairer, faster and firmer—a modern approach to immigration and asylum";
  2. (b) through the formation of a stakeholder group which contains representatives from local authorities, housing associations and the voluntary sector and who have been consulted extensively on a wide range of issues associated with the support proposals;
  3. (c) through consultation on a "process manual" setting out the way in which the support scheme is intended to operate and which I hope to publish shortly;
  4. (d) through ad hoc meetings between the relevant bodies and the asylum seekers support project team which has been set up to carry forward the proposals in the White Paper.

In addition the Asylum Seekers Support Project Team includes the seconded deputy chief executive of the Refugee Council and two seconded officers from local authorities.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis transitional funding relief to local authorities for asylum seekers will be allocated for(a) passported refugees, (b) asylum seekers who declared their intention at the port of entry and (c) other asylum seekers. [65573]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Asylum seekers who declare their applications at their ports of entry may be eligible for income support and housing benefit. Other asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute may be eligible for support from local authority social services departments under the terms of the National Assistance Act 1948 and the Children Act 1989. In these circumstances, it is the Government's intention to reimburse local authorities in this financial year on the basis of a maximum unit cost provision of £165 per week for single adults; £230 per week for families (£240 per week for families in Inner London), £400 per week for unaccompanied children aged 15 or under; and £200 per week for unaccompanied children aged 16 and 17. Those asylum seekers who are subsequently recognised as refugees may also qualify for income support and housing benefit.

Mr. Forth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been found to be requiring NHS treatment on arrival in the United Kingdom in the past three years. [65468]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The information is not available to the Home Office.