§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the first accommodation centre for asylum seekers to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [115214]
§ Beverley HughesFirm opening dates have yet to be finalised, and will depend upon such issues as planning consent, the nature of each site, and the design proposals.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the return of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [112213]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 20 May 2003]On 15 January 2002, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary announced a temporary suspension on136W removals of unsuccessful asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, pending the outcome of the presidential elections in March 2002. The Government have been keeping under review whether this suspension should remain and have concluded that it should be kept in place.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that asylum seekers from minority groups, with particular reference to(a) the Roma, (b) people from Serbia and Montenegro and (c) people from Kosovo will not be placed in Oakington Immigration Reception Centre pending the outcome of a case filed by the European Roma Rights Centre on 9 May concerning the expulsion of a Kosovo Romani family from Denmark. [114972]
§ Beverley HughesThe case filed by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) with the European Court of Human Rights concerns the removal of a Kosovo Roma family to Kosovo. The UK does not currently enforce the removal of Roma or people from any other Kosovan ethnic minority groups to Kosovo or to other parts of Serbia and Montenegro.
The ERRC case therefore has no bearing on our policy in relation to asylum seekers from Kosovo or other parts of Serbia and Montenegro and there are no plans to alter our arrangements for dealing with these cases.
§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to review contracts with private landlords providing accommodation and services for asylum seekers following the report on the Landmark company in Liverpool. [115572]
§ Beverley HughesCurrent contracts with accommodation providers are subject to contract compliance monitoring. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) also regularly reviews its contractors" performance against key performance indicators. Officials hold regular meetings with all contracted accommodation providers.
In addition senior officials within NASS meet the senior management of contracting companies at least once a year although steps are in hand to hold these bi-annually. As it develops its strategy for procuring accommodation when current contracts expire, NASS will take account of its experience with the present contracts.