HC Deb 09 July 2001 vol 371 cc423-4W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what updates to Immigration and Nationality Directorate country assessments have been made in the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [1507]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 5 July 2001]Updates to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) country assessments were made by IND's Country Information and Policy Unit in April 2001. These have been placed on the Home Office website. Country assessments are revised every six months. An assessment on Zimbabwe has been included on the website for the first time, as asylum applications from Zimbabwe have increased significantly during the Fast year.

Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has published a country assessment of Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [1506]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 5 July 2001]A country assessment for Zimbabwe was issued in April 2001 and has been published with other country assessments for the top 35 asylum producing countries issued in April 2001. The country assessments may be accessed on the Home Office website.