§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated for(a) housing improvements and (b) urban renewal areas in each Belfast constituency in each year since 1999.[103244]
§ Mr. BrowneThe information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table gives the information by Northern Ireland Housing Executive district.
parliamentary constituency and (d) the number of places from each provider in each parliamentary constituency. [102907]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 18 March 2003]: The information is not available in the precise format requested. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has entered into contracts with the private and public sector to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who are being dispersed. The private sector companies with whom NASS has entered into such 817W contracts are as follows: Ade1phi Hotels; Angel Group; Accommodata Ltd; Capital Accommodation Ltd; Clearsprings; Landmark; Leena Homes and Roselodge.
Details of individual contracts between NASS and its accommodation providers are confidential and I am unable to provide information on the number of bedspaces provided by each provider. NASS records of dispersal accommodation do not show the parliamentary constituency in which they are located.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 1076W, on asylum seekers, how many child asylum seekers were refused asylum in each year from 1997; what the most common reasons were for refusal; and how many were deported. [103401]
§ Beverley HughesThe table shows initial decisions, made between 1997 and 2002, excluding appeals and other subsequent outcomes, made on asylum applications from applicants claiming to be aged under 18. These figures exclude dependants, and may overstate
Applicants and decisions: Initial Decisions, excluding dependants, made on asylum applications in the United Kingdom, on applicants aged under 18 at the time of initial decision by year 1997 to 2002 Refusals Total decisions Recognised as a as a refugee granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exception leave Total refused Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration Refused on safe third country grounds Refused on non-compliance grounds 19971,2 600 150 250 200 150 50 50 19981,2 1,000 400 250 350 100 50 150 19991,2 1,350 1,000 200 200 100 50 50 20001,2 5,350 500 800 4,000 2,500 50 1,450 20013,4 8,895 1,145 4,815 2,935 1,550 45 1,340 20023,4 11,290 970 6,585 3,735 2,215 90 1,430 1 Figures are an estimation. Estimated using pro-rata to publication from Raw Refugee index data. 2 2 Estimated figures rounded to the nearest 50. These data are not compatible with data for 2001 and 2002. 3 Figures rounded to the nearest five. 4 Provisional figures. Notes:
1. Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the given year.
2. Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
3. Data may overstate as some applicants over the age of 18 may claim to be younger
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were waiting for an initial decision for(a) less than two months, (b) two to six months, (c) six months to a year and (d) over a year at December (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002. [103421]
§ Beverley HughesThe available information is shown in the table. This information includes cases that are currently under consideration.
818W
Asylum cases awaiting an initial decision Number of months awaiting initial decision1 As at end Less than 2 2–6 6–12 More than 12 Total cases outstanding1 2000 9,300 12,000 2— 2— 88,600 20013 5,400 4,600 2,600 26,200 38,800 20023 8,000 4,300 3,700 24,800 40,800 1 Data have been estimated and are rounded to the nearest 100. 2 Data are not available 3 Data are provisional. since some applicants aged 18 or over may claim to be younger. The table contains estimates based on cases where information is available.
The available data showing for the main categories for refusal are also given in the table. These data may overstate the number of children who were refused asylum and exceptional leave to remain. This is due to the inclusion of cases whereby the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) believe the applicant is aged over 18, therefore these applicants are treated as an age dispute case.
Data on the age of those asylum seekers who were removed from the United Kingdom are not available except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
Information on asylum decisions is published annually in the statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom", a copy of which is available in the Library and from the RDS web site: http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.
Provisional data show that 60 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in 2001–02 had initial decisions reached and served within two months, 78 per cent. within four months and 84 per cent. within six months. 76 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in the period April to September 2002 had initial decisions reached and served within two months.