HC Deb 28 October 2002 vol 391 cc617-9W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were arrested in 2002. [75649]

Beverley Hughes

Information is not collected centrally on the nationality of the immigration status of persons arrested.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been directed to(a) Hampshire, (b) Portsmouth and (c) Southampton; and if he will make a statement. [76507]

Beverley Hughes

As at the end of June 2002, 6901 asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation in Hampshire, of which 2501 were being supported in Portsmouth and 4401 in Southampton.

Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1. html.

1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Note Figures exclude cases where the asylum seeker support has been ceased.

Ian Lucas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those who sought asylum in the United Kingdom in 2001(a) entered the country on valid travel documents and claimed asylum immediately, (b) entered the country on valid travel documents and claimed asylum after any permission to stay expired and (c) entered the country illegally. [76626]

Beverley Hughes

I regret that the information requested is not available. In 2001, 65 per cent. of applications for asylum were made in-country and 35 per cent. were made at port.

The 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees recognised that people trying to escape persecution often relied upon the use of false documents and unusual means of travel. Article 31 of the Convention provides that refugees should not have any penalties imposed upon them as a consequence of entering the country of refuge illegally in order to seek sanctuary, provided that they travel to that country directly from their own country, present themselves to the domestic authorities without delay and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.

Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will be available from 29 November 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are being supported by the national asylum support service; and of these how many have dependent children [76916]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 24 October 2002]As at the end of June 2002, the national asylum support service (NASS) was supporting 59,6601 asylum seekers (excluding dependants) of which 10,6501 had at least one dependant.

The number of asylum seekers supported by NASS who have children among their dependants is not available.

Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. 1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Figures exclude cases where the asylum seeker's support has been ceased.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the asylum seekers who are supported by the national asylum support service made in-country applications for asylum [76917]

Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 24 October 2002]The information requested is not available.

The only available statistics are on the percentage of asylum applications which were made in-country. In 2001, 65 per cent of asylum applications were made in-country.