HC Deb 12 April 2000 vol 348 cc227-8W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with the Cybercrime Convention. [117521]

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Asylum applications 33,855 51,255 176,062 n/a
Dependants 2— 2— 2— 2—
Asylum seekers and dependants being supported by public funds n/a n/a n/a n/a
Costs to public funds of supporting asylum seekers and their dependants3
Total (£ million) 375 475 597 n/a
Per head of population4 (£) 6.38 8.08 10.15 n/a
Per income tax payer4 (£) 13.44 17.03 21.40 n/a
Per household4 (£) 15.50 19.63 24.67 n/a
Percentage of total Government expenditure4 0.12 0.14 0.17 n/a

Mr. Charles Clarke

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister of State, Home Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng), to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 21 October 1999,Official Report, columns 621-22W, which remains valid as a description of the state of play.

At the request of the United Kingdom and some other member states, it has been agreed with our Council of Europe partners that the draft convention should be made publicly available and we expect it to be released shortly. We plan to consult relevant interests, including industry, and will place a copy of the draft convention in the Library.