§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the European women's lobby on gender-sensitive asylum policy; and if he will make a statement. [123615]
§ Mrs. RocheRecent representations from groups representing women's issues have focused on the treatment of women seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, the delay in resolving asylum claims and the support available for women awaiting the outcome of their applications.
All applications, whether from women or men, are considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. To qualify for asylum, a person must be outside her/his country of nationality and have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
360W
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry May to December 1997 Port May June July August September October November December Total Aberdeen * — — — * — * * 5 Ashford * 5 5 * * 5 * * 20 Belfast — — — — — * * * 5 Birmingham 5 5 * * 5 5 5 5 30 Bristol (sea) * — — — * — 5 * 5 Cardiff — * — 5 * * * — 10 Cheriton — * — — * — — — 5 Unknown — — — — — — * * * Dover 80 95 100 95 155 215 145 205 1,090 Caseworkers dealing with these applications are given awareness training in gender and cultural matters and special training is given for dealing with those who have been tortured. It is recognised that women's experiences as asylum seekers may be different from those of men and their applications are handled with due sensitivity.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what detailed programmes the Government(a) has in place and (b) has planned, to improve the education, skills and qualifications of asylum seekers; what are the costs of these programmes; and if he will make a statement. [123729]
§ Mrs. RocheAsylum seekers who receive a positive decision on their application are eligible to enrol on courses at further education colleges. Asylum seekers who have not received a decision on their application after six months can seek permission to work and as part of this can gain access to work based learning. The costs of this would be borne by the Department for Education and Employment, but information relating to the costs of educating asylum seekers is not recorded separately.
School-age children (under 16 years of age) of asylum seekers are entitled to attend school irrespective of when the application for asylum was lodged. The costs to the Department for Education and Employment of providing places in schools for the children of asylum seekers are not recorded separately.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who entered the United Kingdom at(a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Stansted and (d) Luton airports since 1 January have claimed asylum on arriving at these airports. [124482]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information requested is given in the table:
Applications1 for asylum received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by port of application, January to April 2000 Total Heathrow 3,000 Gatwick 1,215 Stansted 340 Luton 25 1Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have claimed asylum at each relevant port in the United Kingdom in each month since 1 May 1997. [125105]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information requested is given in the tables.
361W
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry May to December 1997 Port May June July August September October November December Total Edinburgh * * * 10 * 5 — — 15 East Midlands — * — * * — * * 5 Felixstowe 5 * 10 5 5 * * 10 40 Folkstone — — — — — * * — 5 Gatwick North 265 245 190 125 160 110 95 180 1,380 Gatwick South 90 80 95 135 105 110 90 80 790 Glasgow — * * * 5 5 * 5 20 Harwich 5 * 5 15 5 15 15 30 95 Hull — — — * * * — 5 5 Immigham — — * — — — — — * Leeds Bradford * * 5 * * * * * 10 London City (air) 5 5 5 20 10 35 45 55 180 Liverpool — — — — * * * * 10 Luton 5 * * * 5 5 5 5 25 Manchester Terminal 1 5 * * * * — — * 10 Manchester Terminal 2 15 15 30 20 15 15 10 20 145 Newhaven — * — — — — * — 5 Tyne * — * — — — * — 5 Plymouth 5 * * — — — * 5 10 Poole — — * * — — * — 5 Portsmouth * — — 5 — 5 — — 10 Prestwick — — — * — — — — * Ramsgate 5 5 10 10 5 5 * 5 45 Sheffield City — 5 * — * * — * 10 Humberside (air) — — * — * — — — * Stansted 15 10 25 30 35 35 40 50 240 Southampton (sea) — — * — * — — * 5 Swansea — — — — — — 5 — 5 Heathrow Terminal 1 130 90 125 170 140 155 170 210 1,185 Heathrow Terminal 2 250 210 245 145 140 195 160 300 1,645 Heathrow Terminal 3 190 190 245 190 225 270 260 335 1,905 Heathrow Terminal 4 105 130 160 110 140 90 80 145 960 Teesport 15 * — * * — — — 20 Waterloo 160 175 280 415 160 150 120 195 1,660 Others 15 10 — 10 5 — — 5 35 Total 1,365 1,285 1,545 1,530 1,345 1,445 1,265 1,865 11,645 1Figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*'= 1 or 2 362W 363W
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry January to December 1998 Port January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Ashford 5 * 5 5 — 5 5 * 5 * 5 5 35 Belfast — — * — — 5 * * 5 * * * 15 Birmingham 5 5 15 * * * 5 5 5 10 5 10 60 Bristol (sea) — — — — * — — 5 * * * * 10 Cardiff — — — * — * — * 5 5 * 5 15 Dover 240 260 265 155 225 255 325 450 540 480 475 570 4,235 Edinburgh — * * * * * * * — * — 5 15 East Midlands — * * — — * * — * * — * 10 Felixstowe 5 * 10 10 5 * 5 * 5 5 5 50 Folkstone — — 5 * 5 — 15 5 * — — * 30 Gatwick North 125 230 100 90 115 155 160 135 195 175 175 285 1,940 Gatwick South 105 65 75 90 105 115 135 105 130 135 105 145 1,305 Glasgow 5 5 * — 5 * 5 * 5 5 * 5 30 Harwich 25 15 30 50 50 60 55 85 85 90 45 45 630 Hull — * * — * 5 * 10 * 5 10 5 40 Leeds Bradford 5 * * * — * * 5 * * * 5 25 London City (air) — 10 10 45 20 30 35 30 45 60 35 40 395 Liverpool * * — * * * — * — * — — 10 Luton 5 5 5 5 5 10 10 5 * * 5 5 60 Manchester Terminal 1 * — — 5 * * * * * 5 — * 20 Manchester Terminal 2 30 20 25 20 15 25 30 30 75 40 35 35 385 Newhaven — * — * * — 10 10 25 5 10 5 75
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry January to December 1999 Port January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Norwich — — — — — * — — — * 5 * 10 Tyne — * 5 * 5 5 5 * 15 5 10 5 55 Plymouth * — — — — — * — * — — — 5 Poole — — — — — — — — — — * — * Portsmouth — * * * 10 10 * 10 10 5 15 5 75 Ramsgate 5 * — — — — — — * — — — 5 Sheffield City * * — — * — — * * — 10 — 20 Humberside (air) — — * — — — — — * — — — * Stansted 40 15 15 20 25 30 20 25 30 15 35 40 300 Southampton (sea) — — — — — — — — — * — * * Swansea — * — — — — — — — — — — * Heathrow Terminal 1 215 160 185 135 150 140 150 230 200 350 240 245 2,425 Heathrow Terminal 2 200 180 195 265 170 215 260 410 500 305 395 250 3,345 Heathrow Terminal 3 185 185 250 240 220 265 315 320 335 220 245 285 3,080 Heathrow Terminal 4 135 110 140 140 140 115 140 165 165 175 165 180 1,775 Teesport * — — — — 5 * 5 — — — 5 20 Waterloo 210 205 220 215 180 320 245 320 200 200 200 290 2,810 Other 20 15 — * 5 10 15 15 — * — — 20 Total 1,605 1,490 1,555 1,500 1,465 1,790 1,940 2,395 2,585 2,295 2,230 2,495 23,345 1Figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2 364W 365W
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry January to December 1999 Port January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Aberdeen — — * — — — — — — — — — — Ashford 5 * 5 5 10 20 10 10 5 * 5 10 85 Belfast 5 — * — * 5 * — * * * — 10 Birmingham 15 5 10 5 5 5 10 5 * 5 5 5 75 Bristol (sea) 5 — — — * * — — — — * * 5 Bournemouth * — — — — — — — — — — — — Cardiff * * 5 — * — * 5 — — — — 10 Coqelles — — — — — — * — — — — * — Dover 600 485 470 435 480 585 670 605 510 630 680 710 6,860 Edinburgh * 5 * * — — 5 * — * — 5 15 East Midlands * — * * — * — — — * * — — Felixstowe * 5 5 15 — — — — — — * — 25 Folkstone — — — — * 10 * 5 — — — * 15 Gatwick North 190 195 205 180 210 215 240 230 220 185 215 305 2,590 Gatwick South 125 95 75 50 120 70 75 80 115 120 80 185 1,190 Glasgow 5 * 5 * 10 — * — * * * — 20 Harwich 60 40 35 40 40 45 25 20 60 50 35 55 505 Hull 5 * * 5 * * * — 20 35 65 10 140 Leeds Bradford 5 5 5 * * 5 — — — — * — 20 London City (air) 30 25 70 35 25 60 40 70 15 10 10 15 405 Liverpool — — — 5 — — — — * — * — 5 Luton 5 * * — 10 15 10 10 10 5 5 10 80 Manchester Terminal 1 — * * — 5 — — * * 5 5 * 15 Manchester Terminal 2 20 15 10 10 10 10 15 10 15 15 10 15 155 Newhaven 5 * 5 5 * 5 * 5 — — * — 25 Norwich — — — — — — — — * — — — — Plymouth * — — — * — * 5 * * * — 5 Poole — — — — — — * — — — — * — Portsmouth 10 5 5 5 15 5 5 15 * * 10 75 Ramsgate * — — — — — — — — — — — — Sheffield City * — * — — * * — — — — — — Humberside (air) * — — — — — * — — — — — — Stansted 20 15 30 20 20 20 20 35 85 55 35 80 435
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry January to December 1999 Port January February March April May June July August September October November December Total Southampton (sea) — — * — — — — — — — 5 * 5 Swansea — — — — — * — — — — 5 — 5 Heathrow Terminal 1 175 120 160 195 185 190 260 350 395 400 440 550 3,420 Heathrow Terminal 2 200 205 245 215 385 420 510 520 365 295 265 215 3,870 Heathrow Terminal 3 270 185 190 250 245 190 255 270 280 250 280 430 3,095 Heathrow Terminal 4 120 120 110 95 145 150 115 140 120 120 170 165 1,570 Teesport 5 — * * * * — 10 5 5 * 5 30 Tyne 5 5 * — 5 10 * 5 * 5 * 5 40 Waterloo 265 270 260 270 435 605 515 195 180 175 160 250 3,580 Other 50 * * * — — 200 140 245 185 35 215 1,075 Total 2,200 1,800 1,905 1,870 2,360 2,640 2,980 2,740 2,645 2,550 2,510 3,250 29,455 1Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2 366W
Asylum applications1, excluding dependants, by port of entry January to April 2000 Port January February March April Total Ashford 5 10 10 10 35 Belfast — — * — — Birmingham * 5 * * 5 Bristol (sea) * 5 * * 5 Cardiff * — * — — Coqelles — * — — — Dover 690 640 645 410 2,385 Edinburgh * — — 5 5 Felixstowe — 15 5 — 20 Folks tone — 5 — — 5 Gatwick North 205 200 250 160 815 Gatwick South 125 95 125 55 400 Glasgow * * * * — Harwich 45 30 40 30 145 Hull 20 * 10 5 35 Leeds Bradford — — * — — London City (air) 10 10 10 15 45 Liverpool — — * * — Luton 5 10 5 5 25 Manchester Terminal 1 5 5 5 * 15 Manchester Terminal 2 15 25 10 5 55 Newhaven — — * — — Plymouth — * * — — Poole 10 — — — 10 Portsmouth * 10 — * 10 Stansted 50 140 115 35 340 Heathrow Terminal 1 210 220 245 145 820 Heathrow Terminal 2 245 200 200 145 790 Heathrow Terminal 3 265 230 270 175 940 Heathrow Terminal 4 120 105 135 90 450 Teesport — * * — — Tyne * 5 10 — 15 Waterloo 220 295 310 315 1,140 Other * * * 200 200 Total 2,245 2,260 2,400 1,805 8,710 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people the National Asylum Support Service(a) has dispersed and (b) plans to disperse to each of the cluster areas listed in the letter to all hon. Members of 25 May from the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche); [125055]
(2) if he will list the local council areas to which asylum seekers have been dispersed by (a) local authorities and (b) his Department; and how many dispersed asylum seekers are resident in each such area. [125064]
§ Mrs. RocheAs of 2 June, 2,049 asylum seekers, including dependants, have been dispersed by the National Asylum Support Service. They have been dispersed to Scotland, the North East, the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, West Midlands, East Midlands and Sussex. The figures also include a small number of asylum seekers with specialist medical needs who have been provided with accommodation in London. The number of future dispersals to particular areas will depend on a number of factors including the type of accommodation required by asylum seekers and its availability in any area.
The National Asylum Support Service does not record details of the local council areas to which it disperses asylum seekers.
Information of the type requested on dispersal by local authorities under the interim arrangements is not held by the National Asylum Support Service. This is a voluntary scheme between local authorities and is sponsored by the Local Government Association and the Association of London Government.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the people aboard the Afghan airline hijacked to Stansted are still in the United Kingdom; what is the status of each of their asylum claims; and if he will make a statement. [125032]
§ Mr. StrawOf the 170 people on the plane, 81 have left the United Kingdom, 89 remain in the United Kingdom, including 12 who are the subject of criminal charges in relation to the hijacking. Of those remaining who have applied for asylum, nine have been granted asylum including six as dependants, and 36 have been refused including five dependants. All of the latter have 367W appealed against refusal and the substantive hearings commenced on 8 May. Of the remaining 32, 14 are the dependants of those facing charges and their applications will not be considered until the outcome of the prosecution is known. A further two originally faced charges which were subsequently withdrawn, and consideration is being given to their applications and those of their eight dependants. The wife and six children of one of those facing charges—who had originally applied as his dependants—have now applied in their own right and consideration is being given to their applications also. One application awaits consideration of information from The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. Consideration of further action will be given as soon as the outcome of the appeals is known.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers and dependants sent to Oakington detention centre have(a) been granted refugee status or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, (b) been dispersed to other accommodation in the United Kingdom, (c) left the United Kingdom, (d) been detained elsewhere and (e) absconded from Oakington. [125050]
§ Mrs. RocheAs at the end of May, of those asylum seekers and their dependants who were sent to Oakington, three were granted asylum and three granted exceptional leave to remain; 147 were dispersed to other accommodation, mainly under the National Asylum Support Service scheme, and 101 were granted temporary admission and released to private addresses; 26 main applicants refused asylum have left the United Kingdom, 11 of whom were removed after their appeals had been dismissed. In addition, 16 main applicants and seven dependants withdrew their claims and departed before being accommodated at Oakington. Forty nine were detained elsewhere and seven have absconded, of whom three have been apprehended.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers and dependants have been sent to the Oakington detention centre since it was opened; and how many of those people have had their cases decided while at Oakington. [125052]
§ Mrs. RocheAs at 31 May, 338 main applicants and 23 dependants have been accommodated at Oakington since the centre opened on 20 March. A total of 265 applications have been decided at Oakington.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time that an asylum seeker sent to Oakington resides there. [125051]
§ Mrs. RocheThe majority of asylum seekers whose cases have been processed have remained seven days or less.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to open further detention or reception centres to house asylum seekers; how many people these centres will accommodate; what will be the start-up costs and running costs of each new centre; and if he will make a statement. [125098]
§ Mrs. RocheWe have made clear on a number of occasions that more detention places are required to support our commitment to remove people whose asylum368W applications are refused and subsequently do not leave the country voluntarily. We have not yet determined precisely how many detention places are required or how they should be provided but, because of the lead-in time, planning notifications have been submitted to local authorities for the provisions of centres on the DERA (Tunnel) site at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire, at Harmondsworth and at Aldington in Kent. Together these three sites would deliver about 1,800 extra places. Potential suppliers have been asked to prepare proposals on that basis, but estimates of start-up and running costs will depend upon the outcome of the competitive tendering process.
We have no current plans to open further reception centres, but are keeping the need for additional facilities under review as capacity at Oakington increases.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to have information available on the number of asylum seekers being supported by each local authority. [125034]
§ Mrs. RocheIn the reply I gave the hon. Member on 7 April 2000,Official Report, column 633W, I explained that the Home Office had launched an exercise to obtain information from local authorities on how many asylum seekers they were supporting, together with the status of those asylum seekers and where they were being accommodated. The exercise is still on-going and, at this stage, I am unable to say when it will be concluded. The information requested will be available once the exercise is completed.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is towards the proposal that the European Court of Justice should have jurisdiction over asylum matters in accordance with Article 68. [125046]
§ Mrs. RocheArticle 68 of the Treaty of the European Community already provides for the highest domestic court to refer to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for a preliminary ruling on an issue concerning the interpretation or validity of a Community measure made under Title IV (which covers immigration and asylum policy), or on the interpretation of Title IV itself. In the context of the current Inter-Governmental Consultation negotiations, the Government will be seeking an amendment to article 68 to ensure that cases that require a preliminary ruling can be quickly referred to the ECJ, in order to facilitate the prompt resolution of such cases.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many units of accommodation for asylum seekers are(a) being provided and (b) planned to be provided by each regional consortium; how many asylum seekers have been dispersed to such accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [125061]
§ Mrs. RocheThe arrangements with the regional consortia enable the amount of accommodation provided by each region to vary over time according to the changes in demand for accommodation. As there are ongoing negotiations with the regional consortia about the provision of accommodation, information relating to these negotiations is currently commercially confidential. The Scottish Regional consortium has provided 441 units of accommodation to date.
369WAs of 2 June, 2,049 asylum seekers including dependants had been dispersed.