HC Deb 17 November 2003 vol 413 c697W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the report of the independent review of the National Asylum Support Service was submitted to ministers. [133964]

Beverley Hughes

The independent team established to review the operation of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) submitted its report on 30 May 2003.

Mr. Digby Griffith was appointed as Secretary to the independent NASS Review Team during the first week in March 2003 and took up post on 10 March. Following a national open competition he was offered the post of Head of Accommodation in NASS on 24 April. He took up post on 30 June.

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Regina versus National Asylum Support Service. [136706]

Beverley Hughes

We welcome the findings of the Court in this case. The judgment provides valuable clarification of the extent of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)'s responsibilities for accommodating asylum seekers who have children who are sick or have disabilities. As the judgment made clear IND has always accepted that it had a duty to provide adequate accommodation for the applicant and her family, taking account of the situation of the children. Work is on-going to obtain more suitable accommodation in the area for the family.