HC Deb 20 May 2002 vol 386 cc74-5W
Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have committed offences and received custodial sentences of more than two years in each of the last five years. [53739]

Angela Eagle

In 2000 there were 677 court recommendations for deportation. Of these 514 (76 per cent.) related to sentences of two years or more. The records do not show whether convicted foreign nationals who were also immigration offenders were asylum seekers or not. This information will be available in the future.

Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers being supported by NASS live within a 20 mile radius of each of the sites under consideration for the proposed asylum accommodation centres; and what proportion of the total of asylum seekers so supported this represents. [56574]

Angela Eagle

Information is not available in the form requested.

The table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) who were living in the same region as the proposed locations for the accommodation centres as at the end of December 2001.

inquiries that his Department will arrange to examine the proposed asylum accommodation centres; and who will conduct those inquiries. [54034]

Angela Eagle

If a local authority were to object to a notification, the procedure for considering that objection would be a matter for My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Byers).

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has decided which sites should be taken forward to public inquiry as possible sites for asylum accommodation centres. [57114]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 16 May 2002]: I announced on 14 May 2002 the sites at which we will be submitting planning notifications, including one in the hon. Member's constituency. Once such a notification is submitted, it is a matter for the local planning authority. If a local authority were to object to such a notification, the procedure for considering that objection would be a matter for My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Byers).

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sites that were considered as possible locations for asylum accommodation centres in preparing the short-list of sites, along with the reasons for the rejection of each site. [57333]

Angela Eagle

[holding answer 13 May 2002]: As yet there has been no formal evaluation of the education provision for children at Harmondsworth. The provision has only needed to be in operation since towards the end of last year. The performance of the centre's operator, UKDS, is monitored closely by on-site Home Office officials. I am confident that the dedicated team of UKDS education staff at Harmondsworth provides an excellent and very professional service, which takes account of the academic and emotional needs of the children who stay at the centre.