§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the planned timetable is for the implementation of smart cards for asylum seekers. [16052]
§ Angela EagleThe target dates for the Application Registration Card (ARC) project are: Cards issued to new applicants at Croydon by the end of January 2002; Card issue is to commence at remote sites by the end of March 2002.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of asylum seekers who have remained in the United Kingdom after their claims have been rejected in each of the last five years. [17087]
§ Angela EagleThere is no official estimate of the number of failed asylum seekers who remain in the United Kingdom for the period requested. No Government have ever been able to give reliable estimates of this nature.
However, we are currently in the process of commissioning a study that will consider the methods available for generating such an estimate.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) scope and (b) nature of advice and help for asylum seekers that will operate at (a) induction centres and (b) accommodation centres. [17081]
§ Angela EagleWith regard to legal advice and assistance, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 29 October 2001,Official Report, column 642, and to a reply given by me on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 80W.
We have also given a commitment to provide education and health facilities at accommodation centres, though the full range of services is yet to be settled. Details will be in the White Paper.
445W
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure the provision of legal advice for asylum seekers at induction centres. [17083]
§ Angela EagleI refer the hon. Member to replies given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19 November 2001,Official Report, column 642, and by myself on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 80W. Full details of the plans will be included in the forthcoming White Paper on asylum and immigration. It is envisaged that this will be issued in January 2002.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long asylum seekers will remain at(a) induction centres and (b) accommodation centres. [17082]
§ Angela EagleAsylum seekers will remain in induction centres for a few days while a number of the present National Asylum Support Services (NASS) functions, as well as initial asylum processes, are undertaken.
Asylum seekers will remain at accommodation centres for the duration of the asylum process. We expect accommodation centres to result in faster processing of asylum cases.