HC Deb 05 March 1996 vol 273 cc201-2W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants are accompanied by a child or children. [19115]

Mr. Kirkhope

In 1995, 43,965 principal applicants applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. Of these, approximately 5,400–12 per cent.—were accompanied by dependants. The estimated total number of dependants was 11,000 of which approximately half were minor children.

The figures quoted include dependants accompanying or subsequently joining the principal applicant prior to an initial decision on the application being made.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly cost to the public funds of maintaining an asylum seeker in(a) a detention centre (b) a prison. [19113]

Mr. Kirkhope

For financial purposes, no distinction is made between people who have applied for asylum and others detained under Immigration Act powers. The average cost of detaining a person in a centre in the immigration service detention estate is currently estimated at £540 per week. This figure includes the cost of administrative support from headquarters.

The majority of asylum applicants detained in Prison Service accommodation will normally be housed separately in specially designated establishment, where the average cost per place in 1994–95 was £449 per week. This figure excludes headquarters costs.

The large majority of those who are detained who have claimed asylum at some stage have already had their applications rejected.