§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the latest date for which figures are available, how many asylum seekers have been dispersed since the introduction of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and how many asylum seekers receiving support from the NASS under section 95 of the Act, and living in London and the south-east, have had dispersal directions cancelled on medical grounds. [24363]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 14 January 2002]: The information is not available in the form requested.
Information recorded by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) shows that as at the end of September 2001, the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation was 32,8901,2
1 Figure rounded to the nearest 10.2 Cases which have had their support terminated are excluded from this figure.Information is not available on the numbers of asylum seekers who have had dispersal directions cancelled on medical grounds.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2001, (15273), when he expects to conclude the final list of categories of data to be stored on the micro-chip on the asylum seeker identification card. [25278]
§ Angela EagleThe list of data initially contained within the micro-chip of the Application Registration Card will be finalised shortly before production 179W commences which is expected to be at the end of January 2002. However, it will remain subject to review and change.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 479W, if it is his intention that an asylum seeker who has been accommodated in a reception centre or accommodation centre immediately prior to being recognised as a refugee or being granted exceptional leave to remain, will have to establish a local connection when making an application for housing assistance from a local authority under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996. [26767]
§ Ms KeebleI have been asked to reply.
Housing applicants who have been accommodated in a reception centre or accommodation centre and who have been granted either refugee status or exceptional leave to remain would be treated on the same basis as all other applicants.
Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, local housing authorities must consider all applications for housing or housing assistance where they have reason to believe the applicant is, or may be, homeless or threatened with homelessness. They may also take account of whether or not applicants have a local connection with the district of another local housing authority, if they wish.
Where an applicant is eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, the authority dealing with the application must accept responsibility for any duty owed, if the applicant has a local connection with the authority's district or does not have any local connection with any district in England, Wales and Scotland. If such an applicant does not have a local connection with the authority's district but does have one with another district, the authority may seek to refer the applicant to the authority in the other district.