HC Deb 08 February 2001 vol 362 cc668-9W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue guidance notes in languages other than English to assist applicants to complete a statement of evidence form to support a claim for asylum. [149569]

Mrs. Roche

The explanatory notes which accompany the statement of evidence form are being revised and translated into over 60 languages. Non-governmental organisations have been consulted about the content of the revised document. The purpose of the explanatory notes is to help applicants complete the statement of evidence form and understand how their application will be processed. The explanatory notes also provide information on how to seek legal advice, access translation services and obtain medical assistance as required. The intention is to issue the first translated documents later this month.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the outcome of his review of the voucher scheme for asylum seekers. [149570]

Mrs. Roche

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 8 January 2001,Official Report, column 413W.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement setting out the reasons for the difference between the number of asylum appeals(a) received by his Department and (b) referred by his Department to the Immigration Appellate Authority during 2000. [149571]

Mrs. Roche

The data recently published are provisional. The main reasons for the difference between the number of asylum appeals received in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and the number referred to the Immigration Appellate Authority are(a) increased work in progress on the appeals received within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate as decision output has risen; (b) a number of cases in which a non-compliance decision was originally made but it has subsequently emerged that a statement of evidence form had been received in time. We have undertaken to reconsider these cases; and (c) because the current data on appeals lodged are taken from manual records and we believe that they overstate the actual number of appeals lodged. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is in the process of transition from manual to electronic records for appeals. The total number of appeals lodged is likely to be revised downwards once the reliability of new electronic data have been established.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will end the use of Winchester prison to house asylum seekers. [149520]

Mrs. Roche

It is the Government's intention that the current use of remand accommodation at Winchester prison should cease by the end of October 2001 when new dedicated immigration detention and holding centres become available.