§ Shona McIsaacTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Immigration Service staff are employed in(a) north Lincolnshire and (b) north-east Lincolnshire; and what proportion of those employees speak (i) Arabic, (ii) Hindi, (iii) Urdu, (iv) Farsi/Dari and (v) Pashtu. [34585]
§ Angela EagleAs at 1 February 2002 there were 12 Immigration Service staff based in north and north-east Lincolnshire.
The details of the languages spoken by immigration staff of all grades is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. We recognise this shortfall and are in the process of addressing it by creating a database of training received and qualifications held by Immigration Service staff. However, interpreting and 903W translation services for those in the care of the Immigration Service are largely provided by external translators, who are called upon to travel if required.
As my hon. Friend is aware, we have identified a potential site for an asylum seeker accommodation centre in her constituency. We intend that staff for accommodation centres will be provided by the contractor running the site.