HC Deb 13 December 1996 vol 287 cc396-9W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the procedures for interviewing, at Home Office immigration offices, applicants for asylum who are (a) accompanied by a solicitor or adviser and (b) unaccompanied; and if he will make a statement. [8839]

Mr. Kirkhope

The procedures followed for asylum interviews are the same whether or not the applicant is accompanied by a representative.

At the initial screening interview, all applicants are asked standard questions to establish their identity and method of entry to the United Kingdom. During the substantive asylum interview, the purpose of the interview is explained to the applicant, who will then be asked to confirm personal details and to give the interviewing officer as much information as possible about the basis of their claim for asylum. At the end of the interview, the applicant and interviewer will sign the interview notes as an accurate record of the interview and the applicant will be given a copy of the interview notes.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what written information his Department provides to people seeking refugee status concerning the documentation that they need to provide; and if he will make a statement. [8847]

Mr. Kirkhope

Asylum seekers who apply by post are sent a letter inviting them to attend a screening interview and advising them of the documentation they will be required to produce at that interview. Those asylum seekers who apply in person and who do not have the necessary documentation with them are given a copy of the standard invitation letter containing details of the documentation they will have to produce on a subsequent occasion. A new information leaflet on asylum procedures will be introduced shortly.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to staff working at Home Office immigration offices who deal with people seeking refugee status. [8837]

Miss Widdecombe

All new asylum caseworkers attend a two-week induction course which provides specialist training in asylum issues and procedures. After three months in post, staff receive training in the skills necessary to enable them to carry out interviews of asylum applicants. Refresher training, and training in new developments such as legislation, is provided from time to time as necessary.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made by staff at Home Office immigration offices of the documentation handed in by applicants for asylum to enable mistakes to be rectified. [8836]

Mr. Kirkhope

It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply the correct documentation. Home Office staff are not normally in a position to identify mistakes within documents, other than checking that the document refers to the applicant and not to some other person. If a self-completion questionnaire contains obvious mistakes or discrepancies, these may be pursued with the applicant during the asylum interview.

Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have had their applications considered under the short procedure from 30 June to date; and how many of these applications were(a) granted and (b) refused, indicating which countries they were from. [7784]

Mr. Kirkhope

I will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 507, how many asylum seekers have been detained at the point of entry since 1 January; and how many were subsequently held for longer than one month. [7801]

Mr. Kirkhope

It is estimated that 1,530 persons who had sought asylum on arrival in the United kingdom between 1 January 1996 and 5 November 1996 were placed into detention for one night, or longer, during that period.

Further analysis of the information given in the reply of 6 November has led to a downwards revision of the figure of 642 port asylum seekers placed in detention between 1 July and 30 September 1996. It is now estimated that 520 such persons were placed into detention for one night or longer during this period.

The breakdown of those detained during a specific time period, by length of detention, is not available.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff at Lunar house speak foreign languages; and if he will list members of staff who are able to communicate with applicants in languages other than English. [8838]

Mr. Kirkhope

The information requested is not readily available in the form requested and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. However, 42 staff in Lunar house are registered as qualified in at least one foreign language which they may be called upon to use in the course of their official duties. These staff receive a foreign language allowance.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the procedures when an application is made to a Home Office immigration office seeking asylum, with particular reference to the procedures followed once documents have been handed in; and how the applicant is informed of the procedures. [8846]

Mr. Kirkhope

Asylum applicants who submit their applications to the Home Office are required to attend a screening interview in order to establish their identity and method of entry to the United Kingdom. Their fingerprints will also be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. Once identity has been satisfactorily established, the applicant will be issued with a standard acknowledgement letter confirming their identity as an asylum seeker. If it is not possible to conduct a substantive interview with the applicant about his claim at that time, he will be asked to complete a questionnaire. When the questionnaire has been returned, it will be considered by the caseworker together with any other documentation submitted in support of the claim.

Applicants are informed of the procedures by letter at each stage of their application. A new information leaflet on asylum procedures will be introduced shortly.