§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Mr. Tharcisse Muvunvi and Captain Valentine Strasser have been granted asylum within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [113142]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 7 March 2000]I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.
§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been relocated to Morecambe in the last 12 months. [120014]
§ Mrs. RocheLocal authorities have been responsible for accommodating destitute asylum seekers in the last 12 months. Therefore, we do not know the number of asylum seekers who may have been relocated to Morecambe in the last 12 months.
§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy regarding the relocation of asylum seekers to seaside resorts through(a) voluntary and (b) compulsory dispersal schemes; and if he will make a statement. [120017]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Home Office has not dispersed any asylum seekers under the voluntary dispersal arrangements. This is an arrangement between local authorities.
Under the New Asylum Support Service arrangements, brought in on 3 April 2000, all areas of the United Kingdom will be expected to share the responsibilities of destitute asylum seekers. Those asylum seekers who are eligible for support are being dispersed on a fair and rational basis around the country. On this basis, destinations may include seaside resorts. However, it is our clear intention that no local authority should have a disproportionate share of the responsibility.
§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy on consulting hon. Members on the relocation of asylum seekers to their constituencies; [120016]
(2) what information is provided to hon. Members representing constituencies in the North West of England from the National Asylum Support Service and the North West Regional Consortium about proposals for relocating asylum seekers in their constituencies. [120019]
§ Mrs. RocheA letter will shortly be sent to Members of Parliament advising of the likely cluster areas for dispersal during the first three months of the new arrangements.
592W
§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the National Asylum Support Service has to use the Grosvenor Hotel in Morecambe to house asylum seekers; [120015]
(2) what visits have been made by his Department's officials to Morecambe to look at potential properties to house asylum seekers. [120018]
§ Mrs. RocheThe National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has no plans to use the Grosvenor Hotel to house asylum seekers. NASS officials have not visited Morecambe to look at potential properties.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means it is possible for a person with a well-founded fear of persecution in another country legally to enter the United Kingdom(a) when holding valid travel documents from the regime which they are fleeing and (b) in the absence of such documents. [120052]
§ Mrs. RocheAll asylum applications, irrespective of the applicant's method of entry, are considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. To be recognised as a refugee, a person must be outside his or her country of nationality and have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
As a matter of law, any asylum applicant who gains entry by material deception having presented a valid travel document or who enters without any documents or using false documents is an illegal entrant.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford will receive a reply to his letter of 24 January to the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), concerning the proposal to house asylum seekers in the Maldon district. [119963]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information necessary to provide the answer has been subject to protracted inquiries. I apologise for the delay and a reply will be sent to the hon. Member shortly.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the amount(a) spent, (b) claimed and (c) reimbursed to each local authority in the United Kingdom, and in total, in relation to expenditure on asylum support in each six month period since 1 April 1999; how many payments to local authorities are (i) outstanding and (ii) in dispute; and if he will make a statement. [120055]
§ Mrs. RocheTables showing the amount spent, claimed and reimbursed to each local authority in the United Kingdom have been placed in the Library. It is not shown in six month periods; for the first eight months from 1 April 1999 to 5 December 1999, these costs were covered by a special grant report, for the four months 593W from then until 31 March 2000, the costs were covered by grant paid under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. These are shown separately. In each case, the amount claimed is the amount that has been paid.
All claims received by the National Asylum Support Service so far have been paid, but all are still subject to audit.
§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria must be met by those wishing to provide accommodation to the National Asylum Support Service. [120057]
§ Mrs. RocheThe accommodation provider will have a contract with the National Asylum Support Service. They will ensure that the accommodation is "suitable" in that it will be of an adequate standard; the relevant standard. The relevant standards are the same as those applied by local authorities when re-housing any homeless residents.