§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the consequences are for an asylum seeker in the pilot induction centre in Dover of a failure to comply with the requirement to sign, before leaving the induction centre, a declaration confirming that he or she understands the processes that accompany a claim for asylum and support and his or her obligations within those processes. [44753]
§ Angela EagleAs the White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Havens", published on 7 February 2002, made clear asylum-seekers, before they leave the induction centre, will be asked to sign a document confirming that they understand
the processes that accompany their claim for asylum and support;their obligations to comply with temporary admission and reporting arrangements;the requirement to leave the United Kingdom should their asylum claim fail;how they can obtain assistance to return.This will enable proper monitoring and ensure that all asylum-seekers are receiving accurate information and advice and so are aware of what is likely to happen during the consideration of their claim and the likely time-scales involved.
At present there are no consequences for asylum seekers who refuse to sign the declaration.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in relation to land vacated by Ministry of Defence Logistics at Bicester, what consultations have taken place with the providers of local services as to the extra demands that will be placed upon them by using this site as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers; if he will specify the organisations consulted; and if he will place copies of correspondence with the bodies concerned in the Library; [48944]
(2) in relation to land vacated by the Ministry of Defence logistics at Bicester, what consultations have taken place in the provision of local services as to the suitability of such a site for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers; if he will specify the organisations consulted; and if he will place copies of correspondence with the bodies concerned in the Library. [48945]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 15 April 2002]: We have not yet consulted with providers of local services. However, we will consult local service providers as part of the planning process. We envisage that accommodation centres will be essentially self-contained communities with the majority of necessary services provided on site.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002 to the hon. Member for mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff),Official Report, column 1134W, on asylum 1168W accommodation centres, (1) for what reasons his Department is looking for sites for accommodation centres for asylum seekers beyond the South East of England; [48953]
(2) what his definition is of the South East of England. [48954]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 15 April 2002]: In accordance with existing policy on the dispersal of asylum seekers, the Government are looking to take the pressure off the south eastern areas of the country supporting the highest number of asylum seekers. These areas are those where the highest number of asylum seekers declare their applications, namely London and Kent.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what his policy is on the housing of asylum seekers on the Centrex site at High Ercall, Shropshire; and if he will make a statement on the suitability of the site for that purpose; [45161]
(2) if he plans to carry out a feasibility study into the suitability of the Centrex site at High Ercall, Shropshire, as a place for housing asylum seekers. [45162]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 25 March 2002]: The Centrex site at High Ercall has not been offered to us for use during the trial of accommodation centres. It was put forward by the Angel Group as part of its contract with the National Asylum Support Service as possible dispersal accommodation for asylum seekers. I am unable to give details of any discussions which took place as part of that contract.
Unless or until the site is offered I will not make any feasibility study about its possible use.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements there are for asylum seekers to produce a valid passport; and if he will make a statement. [48892]
§ Angela EagleThere are no requirements for asylum seekers to produce a valid passport when making an application for asylum in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he or his Department has had discussions with the Angel Group Plc or any of its subsidiaries about housing asylum seekers at Otterburn Hall, Northumberland. [48300]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The National Asylum Support Service has not held any discussions with the Angel Group or its subsidiaries regarding the use of Otterburn Hall, Northumberland as accommodation for asylum seekers dispersed under the current arrangements.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were received at the Eurostar terminal at Waterloo; and how many asylum applicants were refused permission to board Eurostar trains at the Gare du Nord by British officials in each of the past 12 months. [48533]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Local management information obtained from Waterloo International, indicates that 3,874 asylum applications were made at Waterloo International between January——31 December 2001.
1169WNo asylum applications have been made to United Kingdom officials at Paris Gare du Nord, since the implementation of juxtaposed controls on 8 June 2001. Asylum applications made in France are the responsibility of the French Government.
§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will halt the deportation to Russia of further asylum seekers and refugees from Chechnya; and if he will make a statement; [48565]
(2) what measures he takes to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees from Chechnya who are deported from the UK to Russia safely return to Chechnya; [48568]
(3) how many people from Chechnya have been deported to Russia in each of the last two years for which figures are available; how many were males in the age group 18 to 35; and how many he has estimated have safely returned to Chechnya; [48569]
(4) what account is taken of military involvement by Russian troops in Chechnya when considering the deportation to Russia of asylum seekers and refugees from Chechnya. [48570]
§ Angela EagleApplications for asylum from people from Chechnya are considered on their individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention.
A decision on whether or not an unsuccessful asylum applicant from Chechnya is returned to the Russian Federation will depend on the facts of the particular case. Full account is taken of objective country information about the situation for Chechens including the ability of the individual concerned to reside in other parts of the Russian Federation.
The Home Office closely monitors the situation and a country assessment on the Russian Federation is published on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's internet site. The assessment was revised in October 2001. It is currently being revised and will be published shortly.
The policy is to remove unsuccessful Chechen asylum seekers to the Russian Federation if they have no other basis of stay in the United Kingdom, and if there is the possibility of internal relocation in the Russian Federation. This is in accordance with guidance issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). There are no plans to review this policy.
Statistical information on asylum seekers from Chechnya is not separately recorded from that on asylum seekers from other parts of the Russian Federation. The statistics requested are not therefore available.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will send immigration officials to the Sangatte refugee camp in France to take asylum applications there. [46984]
§ Angela EagleWe have no plans to send United Kingdom immigration officials to Sangatte to process asylum applications. The United Kingdom's obligations under the 1951 United Nation convention on the status of refugees are engaged only after applicants have arrived in this country. We are working closely with the French authorities to address the problems of cross-Channel1170W illegal immigration. Our shared aim is to achieve a situation in which the Red Cross Centre at Sangatte would be unnecessary.
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of access to the Channel Tunnel by asylum seekers on the French side on British exports and imports using this route as a form of transportation; what the implications are of this situation on the future of British businesses using the Channel link; and what measures are being taken in liaison with the French authorities and British businesses in order to identify a physical deterrent to the problem of refugees who are preventing the safe and effective passage of transportation through the Channel Tunnel link. [48861]
§ Mr. SpellarI have been asked to reply.
The Government recognise that the disruption caused by would-be illegal immigrants is causing severe hardship to many businesses in this country who depend on reliable freight services through the Channel Tunnel.
The removal of the restrictions is dependent on the implementation of additional security measures at the Calais Fréthun yard so that SNCF can deal effectively with potential illegal immigrants. The Government continue to press the French Government at the highest levels to provide adequate policing resources at Fréthun to support the anti-intrusion measures already being installed by SNCF in order to address the disruption to Channel Tunnel services caused by would-be illegal immigrants. We welcome the additional resources that have already been deployed. The Government also welcome the recent announcement by the French Government of proposals to further strengthen the anti-intrusion measures at Fréthun.