§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if asylum seekers arriving at Heathrow are informed of their entitlement to receive legal advice before being interviewed substantively; and if he will make a statement. [5204]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 19 July 2001]: Asylum seekers arriving at ports of entry are informed of the availability of legal advice by way of a form (IS97E), which also explains asylum procedures. Shortly after being identified as a person applying for asylum this form is served upon the applicant by an immigration officer.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers awaiting adjudication there are in prisons in Wales [7744]
§ Angela EagleThe latest published information on the number of asylum seekers detained under Immigration Act 1988 powers relates to 30 June 2001. As at that date, 40 persons (to the nearest five) who were detained under Immigration Act powers in prisons in Wales are recorded as having claimed asylum at some point, all of which were being held at Her Majesty's prison Cardiff. My right hon. Friend Lord Rooker visited Her Majesty's prison Cardiff on 17 September 2001 when there were 21 detainees in the prison. Information on how many of these persons were awaiting adjudication on 30 June 2001 is not available and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.
The temporary use of Her Majesty's prison Cardiff to hold immigration detainees will end by Christmas, with the other local prisons providing temporary places following suit by the end of January.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for asylum, broken down by country of origin, have had their applications refused in the last four years; and how many are known(a) to have left the United Kingdom and (b) to have remained within the United Kingdom. [7118]
§ Angela Eagle[pursuant to the reply, 16 October 2001, c.1192W]: The total numbers of known removals in each of the last four years, excluding dependants, are given in the table: 77W
Year Removed1,2 asylum seekers3 1997 7,165 1998 6,990 1999 7,660 2000 8,980 1 Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action was initiated against them. 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Figure for 2000 is provisional. 3 Persons who had sought asylum at some point, excluding dependants. Includes persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme.