§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Afghans with(a) exceptional leave to remain in Britain and (b) awaiting a decision on an asylum application on appeal have received a resettlement grant in each month since August 2002. [108049]
63W
§ Beverley HughesThe table details the number of individuals who travelled under the Return to Afghanistan Programme (RAP) each month between 20 August 2002 (when the Programme commenced) and 31 March 2003. In total there were 39 returnees and each received a resettlement grant (£600 per individual, up to a maximum of £2,500 per family). Three families travelled during this period, and each family received the maximum £2,500 grant. Current available records do not distinguish between returnees who had exceptional leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and returnees who were awaiting either a decision or an appeal outcome following their asylum application. Enforced returns will begin later this month (April 2003).
Number of persons returned individually Number of persons returned as part of a family Total number of persons returned August 2002 1 0 1 September 2002 3 0 3 October 2002 2 1(6) 8 November 2002 3 1(7) 10 December 2002 0 0 0 January 2003 4 0 4 February 2003 1 0 1 March 2003 7 1(5) 12 Source:
Local management information provided by the Home Office Assisted Voluntary Return Team.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former residents of Sangatte Refugee Centre admitted to the UK with work permits following closure of the camp(a) are still being provided with accommodation at public expense and (b) have obtained employment and are self-supporting. [108917]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 11 April 2003]: Of the 1,023 people admitted from Sangatte, 148 remain in the temporary hotel accommodation originally provided and are being found longer term accommodation as the initial period of the programme winds down. Information on job entries is being collected and will be made available in due course.
§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been received by persons arriving at Stranraer and Cairnryan ports in each of the last three years. [108969]
§ Beverley HughesThe figures are not available for all of the period in question but the number of new applications for asylum lodged at Stranraer is as follows:
Month 1 January-31 December 2000 10 1 January-31 December 2001 36 1 January-30 November 2002 130