§ Sir Norman FowlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals are currently outstanding against an initial decision to refuse political asylum; and if he will make a statement. [45520]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAs at 30 April 1998 (the most recent date for which information is available) there were 23,815 asylum appeals outstanding with the Immigration Appellate Authority. The total number has been falling steadily from a peak of 26,180 in August 1997.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason interviews with asylum seekers at Heathrow are conducted in designated secure areas. [45634] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Immigration Service control accommodation is provided by the port operator. As the business of the Immigration Service at Heathrow is to process arriving passengers and conduct interviews under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971, the accommodation provided is most appropriately sited close to the immigration arrivals control. A designated secure area provides confidentiality and enables the Service to fulfil duty of care obligations to both interviewees and officials.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were issued by his Department to the Immigration Service at Heathrow regarding the revised arrangements for access to immigration and asylum interviews which came into operation on 1 March. [45636]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAt Heathrow, representatives are now required to provide details of employees in advance of their attendance at ports. This is to facilitate airside clearance for representatives and their interpreters.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued on how asylum seekers should be informed of a decision which affects their entitlement to benefits. [45632]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAsylum caseworkers have been instructed to notify an asylum seeker who is known to be in receipt of benefits of the refusal of the application at the same time as the Benefits Agency is notified of the refusal, if consideration is to be given to enforcing removal from the United Kingdom.
178W
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason asylum seekers whose cases are unresolved but who have permission to work are excluded from acting as interpreters in asylum interviews at Heathrow. [45635]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIt is not appropriate to allow asylum seekers, including those who have permission to work, to act as interpreters in asylum interviews. This is both to safeguard the security of the port and those in our care, whilst at the same time ensuring the integrity of an asylum application.
§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost to his Department of asylum seekers whose application has not been resolved in the last year for which figures are available. [45543]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe information requested is not available, but the total cost to the Home Office in 1997–98 of dealing with asylum seekers is estimated to be about £80 million. The estimate includes dealing with asylum seekers at ports of entry, deciding asylum claims, handling subsequent appeals work, removing failed asylum seekers and detaining some asylum seekers. It is not possible to give precise figures as not all the costs associated with asylum seekers can be identified separately within total immigration spending.
In addition, the Home Office paid grant of about £7 million to non-governmental organisations in assistance to asylum seekers and refugees.