§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements there are for the inspection of hostels used by asylum seekers under the dispersal programme. [129940]
§ Mrs. RocheThere is a twin track approach to the inspection of accommodation. First of all, officials in the National Asylum Support Service have signed a Service Level Agreement with the Property Advisors to the Civil Estate (PACE) part of the Office of Government Commerce. PACE officials are responsible for inspecting properties provided by accommodation providers and ensuring that housing conditions comply with the terms of the contract. Additionally, a Performance Monitoring Inspections Team has been established to carry out inspections in conjunction with PACE to ensure that the providers of accommodation comply fully with the contract in terms of effective housing management and access to support services.
§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what environmental and health and safety legislation applies to hostels used by asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the ways in which such legislation differs from that applying to houses in multiple occupation. [129939]
§ Mrs. RocheAll property must meet the requirements of the Housing Act 1985 or Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and meet all regulatory requirements, including environmental and health and safety obligations, whether under law or regulations issued by any public or local authority and any statutory or non statutory organisation or body.
597WThe provider is obliged through contract and specification to ensure that all necessary planning permission has been granted by the relevant authority. Where a house in multiple occupation scheme is in place the landlord must comply with the terms of the registration with the local authority.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department plans to take responsibility for all asylum seekers who have not yet received a final decision but who are currently supported by local authorities; and when the backlog of existing cases will be cleared. [130272]
§ Mrs. RocheWe have no plans at present to assume responsibility for the support of asylum seekers who have not received a final decision on their application and who are currently supported by local authorities.
We are on course to make a substantial reduction in the backlog of asylum applications by April 2001.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the National Asylum Support Service, in commissioning accommodation for asylum
seekers,
is commissioning within grant levels set for local authorities. [130273]
§ Mrs. RocheContractual negotiations between the National Asylum Support Service and potential providers of accommodation to asylum seekers are commercially confidential.
§ Mr. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many port-of-entry applicants the National Asylum Support Service has accepted responsibility to support since 1 April; and how many in-country applicants there have been(a) nationally and (b) in London boroughs since 1 April. [130270]
§ Mrs. RocheThe National Asylum Support Services (NASS) assumed responsibility for the support of those seeking asylum at ports of entry with effect from 3 April. From the same date they also assumed responsibility for those making in-country applications for asylum in Scotland and Northern Ireland. On 7 April NASS assumed responsibility for in-country applicants who made their application for asylum in Kent. Between 3 April and 10 July NASS has accepted responsibility for the support of 4,353 asylum seekers. These include all those who are eligible to receive support from NASS. It is not possible to break the figure down to show the number of port applicants receiving support. Since 1 April there have been 8,400 applications for asylum made in-country. Separate figures to show the number of applicants living in London boroughs are not available.