HC Deb 13 January 1997 vol 288 cc44-5W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of refugee applications in each of the past five years. [10491]

Mr. Kirkhope

The information requested is given in the table.

Applications1 for asylum received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1992–96 (January to November)
Year Number of principal applications
1992 24,605
1993 22,370
1994 32,830
1995 43,965
1996 (January to November 25,590
1 Figures rounded to the nearest five.

Mr. Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he funds(a) the Refugee Council and (b) the refugees arrival project. [10489]

Mr. Kirkhope

We provide a core grant to the Refugee Council which contributes to a range of the council's activities as an umbrella organisation supporting the interests of refugees and refugee organisations.

The grant from the Home Office contributes about 80 per cent. of the total funding available to the refugee arrivals project to enable it to provide advice and support to asylum seekers arriving at airports in Greater London.

Mr. Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who advises him on the monitoring of the refugee situation and on the appropriate levels of financial support to those voluntary organisations who are providing services to refugees. [10493]

Mr. Kirkhope

Statistics are maintained on the number of people seeking asylum each year and those given permission to remain either as refugees or exceptionally outside the immigration rules. The voluntary agencies funded by the Home Office are alive to the changing refugee situation which influences the aims and objectives which underlie the grant we pay.

Mr. Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money has been made available to refugee agencies in each of the past five years. [10490]

Mr. Kirkhope

The total amount of grants given to refugee voluntary agencies in each of the past five financial years is set out in the table. The amounts vary from year to year due to the fluctuating level of funding needed to support the programme offering temporary protection to refugees from the former Yugoslavia.

Year Total grant £million
1996–97 5.2
1995–96 6.1
1994–95 9.4
1993–94 7.4
1992–93 4.2

Mr. Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the(a) Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster and (b) other Church and faith leaders about services to refugees. [10494]

Mr. Kirkhope

The provision of services to refugees is a matter for local authorities and those central Government Departments with policy responsibility in the relevant areas. We are always ready to listen to the views of Church and other faith leaders about issues affecting refugees.

Mr. Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific advice has been given by his Department to refugee aid and advice agencies about changes in the levels of funding in recent years. [10492]

Mr. Kirkhope

Home Office officials have regular discussions with the refugee organisations to which we make grants. We have made it clear during these meetings that, due to the need to control public expenditure, no guarantees could be given that the level of grants would necessarily be maintained.