§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the number of(a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers currently residing in the areas administered by (i) East Sussex County Council, (ii) Eastbourne Borough Council and (iii) Wealden District Council; [63231]
(2) how many asylum seekers or refugees are currently residing in council or housing association accommodation in Eastbourne Borough; [63232]
(3) how many asylum seekers or refugees are currently living in emergency accommodation within the Eastbourne Borough. [63234]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThis information is not available to the Home Office and the hon. Member should approach the local authority.
Asylum seekers and refugees who are able to support themselves are currently free to live within the United Kingdom in a place of their own choosing. Asylum seekers who register their application for asylum at their port of entry may be eligible for Income Support and Housing Benefit and can then find their own accommodation. Refugees may also qualify for such benefits and are in a similar position. Asylum seekers who do not qualify for benefits, but who may be supported under the terms of the National Assistance Act 1948, or the Children Act 1989 are supported by local authorities under the terms of that legislation. The Home Office currently has no role in providing support and is consequently not aware of the information sought. The Government plan a fundamental reform of the asylum and immigration laws to remove cash benefits and more strictly control where asylum seekers live.
466W
§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people currently residing in Eastbourne have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. [63233]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI regret that reliable information on the number of people residing in Eastbourne who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.