HC Deb 18 December 2001 vol 377 cc254-5W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 November 2001,Official Report, column 84W, on asylum seekers, what categories of data to be stored on the microchip on the asylum seeker's identification card were added after 5 November. [15273]

Angela Eagle

The list we provided earlier has been subjected to change. Discussions are still continuing in order to conclude a final list. Once this has been agreed, I will place a copy in the Library.

Mrs. Ellman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bed spaces the Landmark company is contracted to provide for asylum seekers. [18346]

Angela Eagle

I regret that I am unable to supply this information on the grounds that details of individual contracts between National Asylum Support Service and its suppliers are commercial in confidence.

Mrs. Ellman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department concluded the last contract with the Landmark company in respect of asylum seekers; and which properties this was in respect of. [18347]

Angela Eagle

The National Asylum Support Service has a single contract with the Landmark company for five years effective from 3 April 2000. I am unable to disclose precise details of the properties involved as there is a need to protect and preserve rights to privacy and security of the individuals living in accommodation provided by Landmark.

Mr. George Osborne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the administrative costs of the policy of dispersing asylum seekers were. [12872]

Angela Eagle

In the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 the administrative costs of National Asylum Support Service (NASS) were £15.6 million1. In addition, grants totalling £14 million1 were paid to voluntary sector organisations by NASS to recognise their role in the dispersal scheme. These figures include start-up costs for NASS.

1 Figures rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.