HC Deb 05 November 2001 vol 374 cc83-9W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information will be stored on the asylum seekers' identification smart card. [12055]

Angela Eagle

The Application Registration Card or 'ARC' will have a microchip which could enable it to support financial transactions in due course. In addition, it is currently envisaged that the following data will be stored within the microchipPrinted on card

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Nationality
  • IFB ref no
  • Place of original issue
  • Date of original issue
  • Card Issue No
  • Date of application
  • Number of dependants
  • Dependant of
  • Language 1
  • Language 2

Contained in microchip

  • Name
  • Address
  • IFB ref no
  • Home Office ref no
  • Port/LEO reference
  • NASS ref no
  • Originating Port/LEO code
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Nationality Code
  • Case Type
  • Asylum/Non-asylum
  • Place of original issue
  • Date of original issue
  • Next report date
  • Case Status
  • Card Issue No
  • Card Serial No
  • Face image
  • Fingerprints
  • Issuing Officer
  • Fingerprint used
  • Date of application
  • Number of dependants
  • Dependant of
  • Language 1
  • Language 2.

However, these lists are still subject to change. Card design will not be confirmed until 9 November.

Ms Buck

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims by(a) families, (b) unaccompanied minors and (c) all persons were rejected on the grounds of non-compliance (i) as an initial decision and (ii) as a final decision, as a percentage of all decisions, for each of the last six months. [10749]

Angela Eagle

The available information on initial decisions made on asylum claims made by (a) principal applicants and (b) families are included in the table. Decision data for unaccompanied minors are unavailable.

Initial decisions made1,2,3 and refusals on non-compliance grounds of asylum and exceptional leave, principal applicants, February 2001-July 20014
Initial decisions made Refused on non- compliance grounds Percentage of total decisions
February 2001 14,430 3,460 24
March 2001 18,895 3,110 16
April 2001 9,455 1,415 15
May 2001 9,645 1,625 17
June 2001 8,205 1,400 17
July 2001 7,600 1,285 17
1Figures (other than percentages) rounded to nearest 5.
2Information is of initial decision excluding the outcome of appeals of other subsequent decisions.
3May include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
4Provisional.

Initial decisions made1,2,3 and refusals on non-compliance grounds of asylum and exceptional leave, families, February 2001-July 20014
Initial decisions made Refused on non- compliance grounds Percentage of total decisions
February 2001 780 170 22
March 2001 1,165 205 18
April 2001 705 165 24
May 2001 750 175 23
June 2001 655 100 15
July 2001 590 70 12
1Figures (other than percentages) rounded to nearest 5.
2Information is of initial decision excluding the outcome of appeals of other subsequent decisions.
3May include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
4Provisional.

Refusals1,2,3 of asylum and exceptional leave, excluding dependants, by nationality, February 2001-July 20014
Europe Total decisions Total refused Percentage of total decisions Refused on non-compliance grounds Percentage of total decisions Percentage of total refusals
Albania 975 885 91 245 25 28
Czech Republic 595 595 100 60 10 10
FRY 6,035 4,805 80 1,110 18 23
Poland 455 445 98 95 21 21
Romania 1,300 1,265 97 760 58 60
Russia 525 495 94 120 23 24
Turkey 4,495 4,265 95 445 10 10
Ukraine 705 685 97 165 23 24
Other former USSR 1,650 1,560 95 545 33 35
Other former Yugo. 525 480 91 100 19 21
Others 485 440 91 65 13 15
Total 17,745 15,910 90 3,710 21 23
Americas
Colombia 420 375 89 65 15 17
Ecuador 345 330 96 65 19 20
Others 400 370 93 90 23 24
Total 1,165 1,080 93 220 19 20
Middle East
Iran 3,360 2,900 86 545 16 19
Iraq 4,735 3,520 74 745 16 21
Others 1,110 940 85 140 13 15
Total 9,200 7,360 80 1,430 16 19
Africa
Algeria 1,670 1,585 95 345 21 22
Angola 695 380 55 95 14 25
Dem Rep of Congo 1,455 1,115 77 125 9 11
Ethiopia 650 515 79 40 6 8
Gambia 45 35 78 10 22 29
Ghana 230 180 78 55 24 31
Ivory Coast 305 285 93 50 16 18
Kenya 540 490 91 105 19 21
Nigeria 640 555 87 210 33 38
Rwanda 585 300 51 120 21 40
Sierra Leone 1,425 365 26 210 15 58
Somalia 4,180 1,505 36 745 18 50
Sudan 465 370 80 40 9 11
Tanzania 75 65 87 10 13 15
Uganda 640 570 89 70 11 12
Zimbabwe 945 885 94 85 9 10
Others 3,710 3,020 81 480 13 16
Total 17,305 11,330 65 2,720 16 24
Asia
Afghanistan 7,175 1,470 20 795 11 54
Bangladesh 555 535 96 165 30 31
China 2,340 2,255 96 595 25 26

Information on final decisions are not readily available and would only be obtained by examination of individual case files relating to the outcomes of initial decisions, appeals and reconsiderations, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Ms Buck

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the percentage of applications for asylum refused on non-compliance grounds at the initial decision stage by country of origin in the last six months. [10724]

Angela Eagle

The information requested has been provided in the table.

Refusals1,2,3 of asylum and exceptional leave, excluding dependants, by nationality, February 2001-July 20014
Europe Total decisions Total refused Percentage of total decisions Refused on non-compliance grounds Percentage of total decisions Percentage of total refusals
India 1,775 1,740 98 790 45 45
Pakistan 2,420 2,260 93 800 33 35
Sri Lanka 6,375 5,215 82 485 8 9
Others 1,340 1,240 93 445 33 36
Total 21,980 14,710 67 4,070 19 28
Other and unknown nationalities 825 635 77 140 17 22
Grand total 68,230 51,030 75 12,285 18 24
1Figures (other than percentages) rounded to nearest five.
2Information is of initial decision excluding the outcome of appeals of other subsequent decisions.
3May include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
4Provisional

Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose asylum seekers will be required to present their application registration cards. [11744]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 1 November 2001]: Asylum seekers will not be required to present Application Registration Cards (ARCs) other than for immigration and asylum purposes. They are being introduced to help them identify themselves in order to access Asylum Support services. The current standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) is too open to forgery and counterfeiting.

Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether employers will be required to check the Application Registration Card of employees they believe to be asylum seekers. [11745]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 1 November 2001]: Employers are not currently required to check an asylum seeker's standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) but they must ensure that any person they are proposing to employ has permission to work in this country. Employers who fail to carry out such checks may be committing an offence under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.

The Application Registration Card will be issued to all new asylum seekers. It is not envisaged that it will in itself confer permission to work and a statement to that effect will be on the reverse of the card. Other evidence will have to he provided for employers to check eligibility for employment. However, the card will help the holder to establish his/her identity.

Mr. Illsley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money per(a) individual and (b) family was allocated to Barnsley metropolitan district council in respect of (i) council housing for asylum seekers and (ii) financial support for asylum seekers in the last 12 months. [10947]

Angela Eagle

In the year from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 Barnsley metropolitan district council received £629,478.62 in grant for supporting asylum seekers, including unaccompanied asylum seeking children. This was based on unit costs of(a) £140 per week per single person and (b) £240 per week for a family. This amount is inclusive of (i) housing and (ii) other support.

Barnsley is a member of the Yorkshire and Humberside consortium and provides housing under contract to National Asylum Support Service but it is not possible to identify the amounts directly attributable to Barnsley.

Mr. Illsley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in Barnsley metropolitan borough council are funded by the Government. [10942]

Angela Eagle

The available information comes from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) which supports asylum seekers who applied for asylum on or after the 3 April 2000. Information is not available centrally on the number of asylum seekers in Barnsley who are funded by the Government under the Interim Support Scheme.

Statistics from NASS, for the end of July 2001, show that 1601,2asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in NASS accommodation in Barnsley.

A further 1501,2, asylum seekers (including dependants) were receiving voucher only support from NASS in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, which includes Barnsley.

  • 1Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
  • 2Cases which have had their support ceased are excluded from these figures.
Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) asylum seekers, and (b) others applying under immigration law whose cases and appeals have failed (i) left the UK voluntarily and (ii) remained in the UK; if he is aware of their whereabouts; and if he will make a statement. [9442]

Angela Eagle

550 persons left the United Kingdom under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme in 2000. It is not possible to say how many other persons voluntarily left the United Kingdom without the knowledge of the Home Office, or left voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated.

Comprehensive information on the number and location of persons who remain in the UK after having exhausted their rights of appeal is not available.