§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers ordinarily resident in a non-EU European country sought entry to the UK, by country of residence, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what were(a) the numbers of Roma people and (b) the citizenship of the applicants, within each of the individual country totals. [59906]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe available information regarding persons applying for asylum in the United Kingdom gives a breakdown only by nationality. I regret, therefore, that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been provided with accommodation by local authorities in seaside towns since 1996. [60351]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThis information is not held by my Department.
§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on securing accommodation(a) directly and (b) by contracting with local agencies in seaside towns for asylum seekers under the proposed new national support scheme. [60350]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe project team is currently considering the issue of the provision of accommodation, but it is too soon to indicate precisely how accommodation will be supplied. The issue is appropriate accommodation availability, not proximity to the sea.
§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he or his Department have had with local authorities and other interested parties in seaside towns regarding the availability of accommodation for asylum seekers under the proposed new national support scheme; [60348]
(2) what assessment he has made of the availability of accommodation in seaside towns for asylum seekers under the proposed new national support scheme. [60347]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere has been no such assessment on discussions directed at seaside towns.
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§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for consultation on the operation of the proposed new national support scheme for asylum seekers with(a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) voluntary bodies and (d) the private sector. [60352]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI have set up a stakeholder group, consisting of representatives of Government, local authorities, housing associations and voluntary bodies. That group will meet with the project team at key stages of the project. In addition, the project team will be consulting widely, including with representatives of the private sector, about the plans for the support system.
§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on directing local authorities and housing associations to provide surplus accommodation for asylum seekers under the proposed new support arrangements. [60349]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere will be a general duty on local authorities to assist the Secretary of State in discharging his functions to provide accommodation. That duty is to extend to registered social landlords, but only so far as is compatible with their memoranda and articles of association. A local authority is also to be under a duty to supply such information about its housing stock in such manner as the Secretary of State may reasonably direct. There will also be a power for the Secretary of State to direct local authorities to provide accommodation if he concludes that a particular local authority is unreasonably refusing to do so.