§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in each unitary or borough in Essex broken down by(a) country of origin and (b) gender. [38428]
§ Angela EagleThe information is not available in the form requested.
The availability of information on the location of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom (UK) is currently linked to the support the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers in the UK are receiving support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), local authorities and the Department for Work and Pension (DWP), or are supporting themselves.
Currently asylum seekers supported by NASS are not dispersed to Essex because NASS has no dispersal accommodation there. Some asylum seekers supported by NASS find their own accommodation and receive 158W vouchers from NASS. From available information, as at the end of December 2001, there were 1,690 asylum seekers (including dependants) in receipt of voucher only support in the east of England (which includes Essex).
For asylum seekers supported by local authorities, DWP or who support themselves, no information is held centrally on the numbers living in Essex.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to revise his target of 30,000 removals per year of failed asylum seekers. [38662]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 28 February 2002]: The 30,000 target (2,500 per month) for the removal of failed asylum seekers has always been ambitious and high risk, but our continued expectation is to achieve that removal rate in the next financial year.
The full impact of the incident at Yarl's Wood has yet to be assessed. However, any measures taken are expected to be short term. At this current point in time it is not our intention to revise our removals target.