§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been removed during the financial year 1999–2000 to date by(a) the Immigration Service Ports Directorate and (b) the Immigration Service Enforcement Directorate. [107779]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information available concerning the number of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom during the financial year commencing 1 April 1999 and up to 31 December 1999 is shown in the table.
Port asylum removals1, 2, 3,. Enforcement asylum removals1,.2,.3, 1 April 1999 to 3,760 1,990 31 December 1999 1 Including voluntary departures 2 Excluding dependants 3 Figures are provisional and rounded to 10
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current unit cost of supporting asylum seekers. [107772]
§ Mrs. RocheIt is not possible to provide a single answer to this question. Asylum seekers who claim asylum at their port of entry may be eligible for social security benefits. This will include housing benefit which will be set at broadly the average rent for the area concerned. Asylum seekers who do not make their application at their port of entry may, if they would otherwise be destitute, be supported by local authorities. Local authorities are able to reclaim grant from central Government subject to a maximum of £140 per week for single adults and £240 per week for families.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average cost to public funds of an asylum seeker resident(a) in a detention centre and (b) in the community. [107836]
435W
§ Mrs. RocheThe unit cost of accommodating a single asylum seeker in a detention centre is currently £1,300 per week. It is not possible to give an average cost for accommodating an asylum seeker in the community. Currently, asylum seekers may be supported in one of two ways. Those who are port applicants are eligible for income support and housing benefit. Those who are in-country applicants may, if they would otherwise be destitute, be supported by local authorities. The Home Office will make grant available to enable local authorities to reclaim the costs of supporting asylum seekers. For this financial year reimbursement of £140 per week per single adult will be available.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the average cost to public funds of supporting an asylum seeker under the voucher scheme to be introduced on 1 April; and what is the current average cost of supporting an asylum seeker who is(a) in receipt of social security benefits and (b) in receipt of support under the interim scheme. [107835]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information is not available in the form requested. Single adult asylum seekers who are eligible for social security benefits currently receive income support set at 90 per cent. of the equivalent income support level. They are also eligible for housing benefit which is broadly set at the average rent for the area in question.
Asylum seekers who are being supported under the interim scheme are supported by local authorities. We do not yet have information from local authorities on the costs they are incurring in this financial year. But local authorities are able to reclaim grant from central government at the rate of £140 per week for single adults and £240 per week for families.
The National Asylum Support Service will be operating to similar unit cost targets.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate now of the number of additional staff which his Department will need to complement and administer the voucher support scheme and the accommodation scheme for asylum seekers, which are due to be introduced on 1 April. [107833]
§ Mrs. RocheIt is envisaged that the new National Asylum Support Service (which will be located within the Home Office), will have 512 full-time equivalent staff.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current estimate of the start-up costs and the annual running costs of administering(a) the voucher support scheme and (b) the accommodation scheme due to be introduced on 1 April. [107834]
§ Mrs. RocheAs I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Ms Southworth), of 19 January 2000,Official Report, column 452W, a contract has been awarded to Sodexho Pass International to administer the voucher scheme. The administrative costs associated with the running of this scheme are commercially confidential. No contracts have yet been awarded to accommodation providers.