§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make changes to the use of asylum centres to process applications; how many asylum seekers are housed in accommodation centres; and where asylum seekers are placed when the centres are full. [88859]
255WS
§ Beverley HughesAccommodation centres will be introduced on a trial basis with a total capacity of around 3,000 in the trial period. We have made clear our intention that accommodation centres will contribute to faster processing of asylum claims with caseworking and appeal hearings taking place on-site at the centres unless there are sound pragmatic reasons for not doing so. Destitute asylum seekers who qualify for support but who are not placed in the accommodation centres will be supported under existing dispersal arrangements.
Region June 2000 September 2000 December 2000 March 2001 June 2001 East Midlands 140 300 760 1,140 1,485 East of England 0 0 0 140 205 Greater London 70 140 245 405 620 North East 600 1,120 2,420 3,210 4,055 North West 1,090 1,785 3,415 4,580 5,870 Northern Ireland 0 0 0 40 50 Scotland 605 915 1,200 2,395 3,530 South Central 140 175 195 220 365 South West 5 100 380 425 485 Wales 0 * 15 20 295 West Midlands 95 500 1,350 2,125 3,610 Yorkshire and Humberside 570 1,660 3,550 4,845 5,930 Overall total 3,315 6,700 13,535 19,540 26,505
Region September 2001 December 2001 March 2002 June 2002 September 2002 East Midlands 2,255 3,215 3,740 4,045 4,400 East of England 235 320 470 520 550 Greater London 870 1,470 1,870 2,230 2,365 North East 4,330 4,765 5,435 5,750 5,700 North West 6,885 8,155 8,870 9,500 10,250 Northern Ireland 65 75 85 90 125 Scotland 4,185 4,750 4,885 5,040 5,240 South Central 605 800 1,015 1,040 1,055 South West 595 665 765 815 830 Wales 455 705 1,015 1,150 1,405 West Midlands 5,295 6,930 8,035 9,340 9,975 Yorkshire and Humberside 7,115 8,470 9,455 9,560 9,690 Overall total 32,890 40,325 45,640 49,085 51,590 1All figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Figures between one and two are represented by a *. Figures for each quarter exclude cases where support has been ceased before the end of that quarter. Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are published quarterly on the Home Office's immigration statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html