§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual cost of escorting an asylum applicant in secure conditions to and from hearings in connection with his application and any subsequent appeal was in each of the last three years. [153830]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and, as it would have to be based on a range of variables, it would be prone to significant inaccuracy.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on talks with the Chinese Government on the difficulties of returning failed asylum seekers. [153833]
§ Mrs. RocheHome Office officials have regular contact with the Chinese Government in order to obtain travel documents so that those Chinese nationals who have no lawful basis for remaining here and who are without valid national passports can be documented for return to China.
As part of this contact, officials meet the Chinese authorities to explore ways of securing improvements to the travel document issuing process and to co-operate more generally in combating illegal immigration.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were resident in Wales and were waiting for their applications to be processed in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [153216]
§ Mrs. RocheInformation on the location of asylum seekers was not available centrally before 2000.
On 3 April 2000, the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) began supporting destitute asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom on or after that date. Information recorded by NASS shows that as at the end of February 2001, 301 asylum seekers, including dependants, had been allocated NASS accommodation in Wales and 701 asylum seekers, including dependants, had been allocated voucher only support and were located in Wales.
694WThese figures may include some asylum seeker families who have received a final negative decision because families of asylum seekers are eligible to remain supported by NASS until removal.
Information is not currently available centrally on the location of asylum seekers who either do not apply for NASS support or who were receiving Department of Social Security or local authority support before NASS began.
1Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are awaiting deportation; and how many were deported in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [153215]
§ Mrs. RocheThe requested information on deported asylum seekers is shown in the table. It is not possible to say how many asylum seekers voluntarily left the United Kingdom without the knowledge of the Home Office. Therefore, it is not possible to say how many are awaiting deportation.
Asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom following refusal of leave to enter or enforcement action 1997 to 2001 1997 1998 19991 20001 Total asylum removals and voluntary departures2 7,185 6,985 7,660 8,980 Of whom: removed or left as a result of deportation action under Section 3(5) or 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971 455 350 140 170 1 Data are provisional 2 Includes action against passengers applying at ports Note:
All figures are roundel to the nearest 5