Asylum Seekers (Hansard, 7 November 2002)

§ Bob Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has commissioned on the factors which are attracting asylum seekers and illegal immigrants to Britain. [78585]

§ Beverley Hughes
Research examining the decision making of asylum seekers and the reasons why they seek asylum in the UK in preference to other countries has already been conducted. This was based on interviews with a small sample of asylum seekers and refugees. Because the sample size was relatively small, the 811W conclusion that can be drawn from the research must be interpreted with caution. The report of the findings was published by the Home Office in July 2002 ('Understanding the Decision Making of Asylum Seekers' by Vaughan Robinson and Jeremy Segrott Home Office Research Study number 243/Home Office Findings number 172).
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has commissioned research to survey a small sample of people in detention centres who have been illegally resident in the UK (some of whom may not have entered illegally but have become illegal since entering the UK). My right hon. Friend is considering commissioning a study of a small sample of overstayers. Again, the relatively small sample size means that any results would need to be interpreted with caution. Both research studies take the form of in-depth interviews with these people, and the findings are expected to include some information about the factors that attracted them to the UK.

§ John Thurso
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on asylum towards those seeking refuge from slavery in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [79339]

§ Beverley Hughes
[holding answer 5 November 2002]Applications for asylum in the United Kingdom are considered individually on their merits in accordance with the UK's obligations under the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. Unless the Dublin Convention applies or the applicant may reasonably be expected on other grounds to seek asylum in a third country, asylum is granted where the applicant fulfils the criteria of the 1951 UN Convention.
Slavery can constitute persecution. Where the application is based upon slavery we will assess whether that slavery relates to one of the Convention grounds, whether the state authorities are willing or able to offer effective protection against it, and whether the applicant could reasonably be expected to move to another part of the country where he or she would be safe.

§ Mr. Luff
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to employ independent consultants to assess the effectiveness of asylum accommodation centres that are opened as part of the initial trial of such centres. [79480]

§ Beverley Hughes
The evaluation will be led by the Immigration, Research and Statistics Service—part of the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate. It will include a combination of management information, consultation with relevant people and more formal research carried out by independent researchers under contract to the Home Office. The results of the accommodation centres evaluation will be publicly available and made available to Parliament.

§ Mr. Luff
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to invite contractors to tender for the construction and operation of the trial asylum accommodation centres. [79482]

§ Beverley Hughes
Tender documents for each for the trial accommodation centre sites will not be issued until planning consent has been obtained.
812W

§ Mr. Luff
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had about the provision of(a) a floating asylum accommodation centre with possible suppliers of such facilities and (b) core and cluster asylum accommodation centres with the Refugee Council; and if he will make a statement. [79484]

§ Beverley Hughes
I met the Refugee Council on 21 October to discuss their proposals. That dialogue will continue. We have not ruled out the possibility of using floating accommodation centres for asylum seekers.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in Blackburn; and how many are resident in(a) private accommodation and (b) publicly provided accommodation. [79702]

§ Beverley Hughes
The information is not available in the form requested. We currently only have statistics on the location of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
As at the end of June 2002 there were 880¹ asylum seekers (including dependants) who were being supported in NASS accommodation in Blackburn. The number of asylum seekers who have been placed by NASS into private or publically owned accommodation is not available. ¹ Figure rounded to the nearest five and excludes cases where support has been ceased.

§ Mr. Nigel Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide new accommodation for asylum seekers in Newport, South Wales. [79705]

§ Beverley Hughes
Newport is a designated cluster area. As at 30 June 2002 there were 20^* asylum seekers including dependants supported in the National Asylum Support Service accommodation in Newport. Within Wales as a whole a further 175^* asylum seekers, including dependants, are in receipt of subsistence only support.
^* figures rounded to nearest five.