HC Deb 06 April 2001 vol 366 c356W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifications there were to his Department in each year from 1997 to date of criminal convictions of asylum seekers resident in the United Kingdom. [157168]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The information is not available centrally.

The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not hold information about the characteristics of individual cases apart from those that are evident from the description of the offence with which the defendant has been charged.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he has made for education materials to be made available in appropriate languages for asylum seekers held at Winchester prison. [157012]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 5 April 2001]: Provision for education materials in appropriate languages is made available to detainees as and when the need arises. On arrival each detainee is offered an education induction involving an assessment and interview to find out what his needs are. The education department provides dictionaries, "English as a second language" packs, basic readers and cassettes and has recently employed an "English as a second language" teacher. The education department also provides detainees with information and advice about education and employment opportunities available on release.

Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are recipients of voucher-only support; and if he will make a statement. [157173]

Mrs. Roche

As at the end of February 2001,111,630 asylum seekers (including dependants) were allocated voucher-only support by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). 1 Figure rounded to the nearest ten