§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra provision he plans to make for accommodating asylum seekers in the Torbay Unitary Authority; how many asylum seekers he estimates will be placed in that area in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [120342]
§ Mr. StrawSince 3 April 2000, any local authority that signs a contract with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) to provide accommodation for asylum seekers will submit an invoice for payment. The local authority will be reimbursed by the Home Office in accordance with the terms of the contract.
Although Torbay is considered a potential cluster area to accommodate destitute asylum seekers and their families, there are no immediate plans to disperse asylum seekers to Torbay. The National Asylum Support Service is unable to consider dispersal to a particular area until there is suitable accommodation available.