§ 11. Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers throughout the United Kingdom. [118136]
§ Dr. ReidI have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to discuss various matters.
§ 21. Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current number of asylum seekers and refugees placed in Scotland. [118146]
§ Dr. ReidAs at 28 January 2000, the most recent date for which figures are available, 610 asylum seekers were being supported by local authorities in Scotland.
In addition, about 250 of the refugees from Kosovo who came to Scotland in 1999 under the Kosovo Humanitarian Evacuation Programme currently remain in Scotland.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many asylum seekers have registered with each local authority in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available. [117658]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 4 April 2000]: As at 28 January 2000, the most recent date for which figures are available (from claim forms submitted by local authorities), the number of asylum seekers being supported by local authorities in Scotland were as follows:
Local authority Number of asylum seekers Aberdeen City 18 Aberdeenshire 2 Argyll and Bute 1 Dumfries and Galloway 2 Dundee City 8 East Renfrewshire 6 Edinburgh, City of 308 Fife 11 Glasgow City 225 Midlothian 2 North Lanarkshire 15 Renfrewshire 3 South Ayrshire 1 South Lanarkshire 2 Stirling 4 West Dunbartonshire 1 West Lothian 1 East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk and Highland also assisted asylum seekers during the year, but were not doing so at 28 January.