HC Deb 05 December 2002 vol 395 cc969-71W
Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights district councils have to stop asylum seekers coming into an area. [84651]

Beverley Hughes

It is Government policy that asylum seekers who request that accommodation be provided as part of an application for support are dispersed away from London and the south-east. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS), with the approval of Ministers of the day, designated certain areas (referred to by NASS as "cluster areas") as suitable for the dispersal of asylum seekers. Prior to designation NASS consulted each regional consortium (made up of all local authorities and county councils within that region) to seek their views on areas proposed for designation. District councils have no right to either stop NASS procuring accommodation for asylum seekers or to prevent asylum seekers being moved into NASS accommodation in their area.

Asylum seekers not requiring accommodation from NASS can live wherever they choose. Local councils have no duty to provide housing to asylum seekers if their need for this arises solely as a result of destitution.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to compel a county council to accept asylum seekers. [85063]

Beverley Hughes

Under section 101 of the Immigration and asylum Act 1999 we can, by order designate an area as a reception zone. No such orders have been made. We have established dispersal areas for asylum seekers requiring accommodation. A county council has no power to prevent asylum seekers being housed in accommodation provided to the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) for that purpose by an accommodation provider in an area designated by NASS as suitable for the housing of asylum seekers supported by NASS.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Folkestone is a high-dispersal area so far as asylum seekers are concerned. [85561]

Beverley Hughes

Folkestone is not used by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) as a dispersal area for asylum seekers requiring accommodation.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he proposes to locate a 24-hour reporting centre for asylum seekers in Folkestone. [85563]

Beverley Hughes

The setting up of regional asylum reporting centres is part of the Government's strategy to introduce a more rigorous control into the asylum process and bring about improved contact with asylum seekers while their claims are under consideration. The aim is to achieve stronger management of the asylum process, while affording asylum seekers opportunities to monitor the progress of their cases.

Maintaining contact with asylum seekers while their claims are considered is essential. It is in the interests of all parties—the applicant, the local community and central and local Government—that asylum applications are managed quickly and efficiently as part of a well managed asylum system.

Reporting centres will form an important part of this process, providing a well managed approach to the handling of asylum seeker's applications; from arrival to the removal of failed applicants, or the integration into the community of those recognised as refugees.

The Government are planning to set up a number of reporting centres throughout the UK as part of an overall contact management strategy to support the processing of asylum applications and is keen to utilise such centres for this reporting process, rather than have asylum seekers reporting to their local police station with significant implications on police resources.