§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission report, "Halfway Home: An Analysis of the Variation in the Cost of Supporting Asylum Seekers". [157981]
§ Mrs. RocheFollowing the publication last year of the Audit Commission's Report, "Another Country" we requested that it undertake research into why some local authorities were able to live within the grant limits set for supporting asylum seekers, while others, in similar circumstances, could not. The report, "Half Way Home" is the result.
We welcome this report and the sensible recommendations it makes about the way local authorities are reimbursed for supporting asylum seekers. We will discuss with the Local Government Association and the Association of London Government the best way of taking this forward, with a view to implementing a new grant scheme for this (2001–02) financial year.
555W
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of asylum seekers from Zimbabwe who applied for asylum in(a) each of the last six months and (b) in total have received a positive initial decision on their application (i) in total and (ii) of those who have been sent to Oakington; and if he will make a statement. [157980]
§ Mrs. RocheThe number of asylum applications from nationals of Zimbabwe during the last six months is shown in the table.
Month Asylum Applications1.2 September 2000 85 October 2000 90 November 2000 130 December 2000 145 January 2001 125 February 2001 125 Total 700 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 2 Provisional figures The number of initial decisions relating to applications of asylum from Zimbabwean nationals between September 2000 and February 2001 is only available for applicants dealt with at Oakington—the monthly breakdown is shown in the table. Information on the other Zimbabwean applications made in that period could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.
Months Total Principal Applicants (Zimbabweans) Number of Grants of Asylum Percentage of Grants from Total September 2000 42 0 0 October 2000 54 0 0 November 2000 60 4 6.7 December 2000 59 0 0 January 2001 83 1 1.2 February 2001 89 2 2.2 Total 387 7 n/a
§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been housed in(a) England, (b) Barnsley and (c) Doncaster in the last 12 months. [157298]
§ Mrs. RocheAs at the end of February 2001, 21,4101 asylum seekers (including dependants) were allocated accommodation in the UK by the National Asylum Support Service. Of these, 1101 were allocated accommodation in Barnsley and 4001 were allocated accommodation in Doncaster.
Information on the number of asylum supported by local authorities under the previous arrangements is not held centrally.
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limits he has placed on the period an asylum seeker can be held in prison. [157011]
§ Mrs. RocheThere is no time limit on the period an individual may be detained under the Immigration Act 1971. However, detention is used only sparingly and for the shortest period necessary.
556W
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports the Immigration and Nationality Directorate have received of asylum seekers convicted of offences while in the United Kingdom since 1999; and if he will make a statement. [157529]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is not routinely informed of the immigration status of all third country nationals convicted of criminal offences in the United Kingdom. The number who were referred for court recommended deportation in 1999 was 350. In the first half of 2000, 320 persons were recommended for deportation by the courts. It is not recorded how many of these had claimed asylum.
Details of the nationality or immigration status of a defendant charged or convicted with committing a criminal offence are not collected centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of asylum support is, including unaccompanied minors(a) in the period 2000–01, (b) estimated for the current financial year 2001–02 and (c) estimated for the period 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [157522]
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 9 April 2001]: Estimated expenditure on asylum support, including unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in 2000–01 is £751 million (estimated final outturn). This is made up of:
- Grant payments to local authorities for Adult, Families and unaccompanied asylum seeking children—£575 million
- Support payments by the National Asylum Support Service—£115 million
- Payments to Department of Social Service (DSS) for supporting asylum seekers on benefit—£56 million
- Payments to the Scottish Executive for support to adults and families who applied before April 2000—£5 million.
sThe budget of £702 million for 2000–01 was made up of an original sum of £604 million for asylum support costs together with transfers of £60 million from the Department of Health for the costs of unaccompanied asylum seeking children and £38 million from DSS for Housing Benefit costs. The additional £49 million expenditure was as a result of additional funds being provided to asylum support because of savings elsewhere in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate budget.
Provisional estimates for asylum support costs for 2001–02 and 2002–03 were given in my reply of 24 July 2000, Official Report, column 450W, to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington). This funding will be reviewed if needed.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are(a) supported by NASS under the new support arrangements, (b) supported by local authorities under the previous support arrangements and (c) unaccompanied minors; and if he will make a statement. [157523]
557W
§ Mrs. Roche[holding answer 9 April 2001]: As at the end of February 2001, 11,630 asylum1 seekers (including dependants) were allocated subsistence only support by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and 21,4001.2 asylum seekers (including dependants) were allocated accommodation and subsistence support by NASS.
Information on the number of asylum seekers being supported by local authorities under the previous support arrangements is not held centrally.
As at the 26 January 2001 there were 5,5401 unaccompanied minors being supported in England by local authorities. The figures for unaccompanied minors being supported in Scotland and Wales are not held centrally.
1 All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2 A very small proportion of these cases may be allocated accommodation support only.