HC Deb 16 July 2001 vol 372 cc48-9W
Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government determined that family groups of asylum seekers would be treated on arrival in the UK as one person and as individuals when departing in statistics on asylum seekers; and how this decision was published. [2026]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 4 July 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdescombe) on 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 206W.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on assisting people seeking asylum appeals who do not have the finance for the payment of legal representatives to assist them in the presentation of their case; and if he will make a statement. [2843]

Angela Eagle

The Home Office currently provides grant-in-aid under section 81 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to three voluntary organisations: the immigration advisory service, the refugee legal centre, and the law centre (Northern Ireland). They provide free legal advice and representation to those with rights of appeal under the Act including asylum seekers. Additional funding for this purpose is also available in England and Wales in the form of franchised contracts awarded under the community legal scheme, which is administered by the Legal Services Commission (which replaced the Legal Aid Board).

Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current weekly unit cost of housing an asylum seeker in Oakington detention centre; and what proportion of that cost is accounted for by(a) IND staff and related costs, (b) supervisory and care staff and related costs and (c) security staff and related costs. [3306]

Angela Eagle

The current weekly unit cost of housing an asylum seeker at Oakington, based on an average occupancy of 229 in June, is estimated at £1,203. This can be broken down into the immigration and nationality directorate (IND) staff and related costs of £184 and supervisory, care and security staff and related costs of £745. (The balance is attributable to other running costs, primarily the costs of interpreters and accommodation). The unit cost is subject to variation because of changes in occupancy.

The contract for the management and operation of the establishment does not disaggregate costs for each element of the service so it is not possible to provide the information in the form requested.