HL Deb 11 November 2004 vol 666 cc92-4WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which asylum seeker dispersal centres or clusters have been suspended; for what period; for what reasons in each case; and which of them remain suspended. [HL4459]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Dispersal to individual cluster areas may be suspended for a variety of reasons but generally speaking dispersal will be resumed within a short period. As at 21 October 2004 dispersal was suspended in the following areas:

Cluster area All or part of area Reason
Doncaster Part Dispersal of single middle eastern males suspended at the request of the police
Nottingham Part (Two properties only) Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Derby All Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Burnley All Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Nelson All Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Bootle All Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Manchester Part Dispersal suspended at the request of the local authority/police

The National Asylum Support Service maintains close dialogue with the police and local authorities in suspended dispersal areas with a view to resuming dispersal as soon as practicable.

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many units of accommodation and places for asylum seekers are contracted out by the National Asylum Support Services (NASS) to (a) local private sector service providers, (b) local authorities; and (c) other accommodation providers, in England, Wales and Scotland respectively and how many of these units are now empty and unoccupied (i) in dispersal centres where dispersals have been suspended and (ii) in other dispersal centres. [HL4460]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The information is not available in the precise format requested. The latest management information available is as follows:

A B
Number of occupied bed spaces in all dispersal areas Number of unoccupied bed spaces in all dispersal areas
Private Sector 17,795 1,542
Public Sector 22,185 5,024
Other 3,058 1,003
Total 43,038 7,569

Precise information on the number of bed spaces which are unoccupied as a result of the suspension of dispersal is not readily available at present.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect construction of the Bicester accommodation centre for asylum seekers to begin; and what payments they will make to Global Solutions Ltd under the 10-year contract to design, build and operate the centre. [HL4653]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The construction programme for the accommodation centre near Bicester is dependent on the final resolution of the local authority's legal challenge of the planning process.

The terms of the contract with Global Solutions (GSL UK) Ltd are commercial in confidence.