HC Deb 15 January 2001 vol 361 cc84-5W
Ms Buck

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of applicants entering the National Asylum Seekers Support Scheme have requested voucher-only support in each month since April. [141643]

Mrs. Roche

Of those applicants assessed each month by the National Asylum Support Service the number and proportion for voucher-only support are shown in the table.

Month Number of voucher only applications1 Proportion of total NASS applications(Percentage)
April 220 24
May 590 33
June 1,000 42
July 570 28
August 860 28
September 790 25
October 1,440 32
November 1,210 25
1 Figures rounded to the nearest ten

Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how the National Asylum Support Service ensures that other agencies who provide accommodation under the dispersal scheme have suitable expertise to obtain suitable accommodation for disabled asylum seekers; [144420]

(2) what training has been given to workers at the National Asylum Support Service in order to help them deal with disability and accommodation issues; [144419]

(3) what expertise in disability issues the National Asylum Support Service has to enable it to assess and provide for the housing needs of asylum seekers. [144417]

Mrs. Roche

Staff within the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) have not received formal training in disability issues. They rely on social services departments who have the relevant expertise in this area to provide an assessment of any special needs. Where such needs are identified caseworkers within the NASS will work with the accommodation provided to ensure that they are met.

Name of establishment Location Type Secure Places Male Secure Places Female Total Secure Places
Stamford House Hammersmith, London Mixed 16 10 26
Orchard Lodge Anerley, London Male only 24 0 24
Leverton Brentwood, Essex Mixed 12 4 16
Total 52 14 66

In addition, the Medway Secure Training Centre provides 44 beds for juveniles serving Detention and Training Orders in the Greater London area (33 male and 11 female places). Increasing places in the London area is a priority for the Youth Justice Board.

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