§ Mr. BradshawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many comments he has received on the White Paper on immigration and asylum; and if he will publish them. [64783]
§ Mr. Straw334 comments have been received on the White Paper 'Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum'. A list of those who commented together with copies of their comments, with the exception of six whose authors requested that they should not be published, have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998,Official Report, columns 107–08, what plans he has to require courts to notify the Immigration and Nationality Directorate when someone subject to immigration control is convicted of an offence resulting in a sentence of (a) imprisonment of less than 12 months and (b) a community service order. [64688]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAsylum seekers who declare their application in-country may be eligible for support under the terms of the National Assistance Act 1948 or the Children Act 1989. In both cases, this support is provided by local authority social services departments. It is for the local authorities concerned to decide how best to discharge their responsibilities. Under current legislation, the Home Office has no role in those decisions.
My hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Best) has written to me about this matter and I will be replying to him shortly.