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Immigration and Nationality Department
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the planned date for the introduction of the integrated caseworking system in the Immigration and Nationality Department; what problems have been encountered in relation to the supporting technology and software for the system; what was the original estimated cost of introducing the system; what is the revised estimated cost of introduction; and if he will make a statement. [51601]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 633, and to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 21 July 1998, Official Report, column 436. I have undertaken to write to both hon. Members when the timetable for the introduction of the system is known. The resolution of the technical difficulties which have caused the delay is a matter for the service provider, Siemens Business Services (SBS). Under the Private Finance Initiative contract, the costs of introducing the system fall to SBS. After the system is introduced, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will pay a scale of service charges calculated in relation to the level of improvement in efficiency actually achieved.
Criminal Attempts and Forgery and
Counterfeiting Acts
Mr. Allan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are currently held at HMP Wormwood Scrubs following their conviction for offences contrary to (a) Section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 and (b) Section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. [51604]
23 Jul 1998 : Column: 621
Ms Quin:
The information requested could be obtained only by examining individual prisoners records at the prison, which would involve disproportionate cost.
Mr. Allan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were arrested at (a) Heathrow airport and (b) other United Kingdom airports for offences contrary to (i) Section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 or (ii) Section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, in (1) 1995-96, (2) 1996-97 and (3) 1997-98. [51603]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
This information is not normally collected centrally. However the Metropolitan police have been able to provide information on persons accused--that is, a count of persons arrested and subsequently proceeded against. The information relates to persons accused in the Heathrow division of attempting to commit a notifiable offence and those accused under sections 3 and 4 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. The information is given in the table.
| Persons accused at Heathrow airport | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accused of attempting to commit a notifiable offence | 201 | 232 | 206 |
| Accused of offences under sections 3 and 4 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 | 50 | 43 | 66 |
Immigration and Asylum
Mr. Allan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections have been made of the number of asylum applications to be (a) determined and
23 Jul 1998 : Column: 622
(b) refused by his Department in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000, (iv) the financial year 1998-99 and (v) the financial year 1999-2000. [51606]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
I would ask the hon. Member to await the major announcement my right hon. Friend shall be making on immigration and asylum next week.
Mr. Allan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the immigration-related applications for leave to move for judicial review in 1996-97 were (a) asylum-related and (b) non-asylum related. [51611]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Of the 1,830 immigration related applications for leave to move for judicial review lodged in the financial year 1996-97, it is estimated that 70 per cent. related to applications for asylum and the remaining 30 per cent. to other non-asylum cases.
Mr. Allan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many non-asylum immigration appeals have been (a) received by his Department, (b) sent to the Immigration Appeals Authority and (c) determined by the Immigration Appeals Authority in each month of 1998; and how many such appeals are currently awaiting hearing by adjudicators of the Immigration Appeals Authority; [51613]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The information requested in points (a), (b) and (c), relating to asylum and non-asylum appeals is given in the table.
As regards appeals awaiting hearing, the Immigration Appellate Authority reports that, at the end of June 1998, there was a total of 26,670 adjudicator cases outstanding. Of these, 20,870 related to applications for asylum and 5,800 to other immigration matters.
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(2) how many appeals against a refusal of asylum have been (a) received by his Department, (b) sent to the Immigration Appeals Authority and (c) determined by the Immigration Appeals Authority in each month of 1998; and how many such appeals are currently awaiting hearing by special adjudicators of the Immigration Appeals Authority. [51612]
| January | February | March | April | May | June | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appeals received by the Home Office | 2,325 | 2,410 | 2,930 | 2,400 | 1,985 | 2,400 | 14,455 |
| of which: | |||||||
| Asylum(4) | 1,425 | 1,325 | 1,645 | 1,635 | 1,255 | 1,490 | 8,770 |
| Non-asylum(5), (6) | 905 | 1,085 | 1,285 | 765 | 730 | 910 | 5,680 |
| Appeals sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority | 2,425 | 2,215 | 2,680 | 2,410 | 1,765 | 2,650 | 14,145 |
| of which: | |||||||
| Asylum(4) | 1,565 | 1,485 | 1,530 | 1,390 | 1,190 | 1,655 | 8,815 |
| Non-asylum(5), (6) | 865 | 730 | 1,150 | 1,020 | 575 | 995 | 5,335 |
| Appeals determined by the Immigration Appellate Authority(7) | 2,700 | 2,795 | 2,745 | 2,880 | 2,800 | 3,165 | 17,080 |
| of which: | |||||||
| Asylum(4) | 1,745 | 1,615 | 1,995 | 1,605 | 1,600 | 2,075 | 10,640 |
| Non-asylum(5), (6) | 955 | 1,180 | 750 | 1,275 | 1,200 | 1,090 | 6,440 |
(3) All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5
(4) Information supplied by the Asylum Directorate (casework), IND
(5) Information supplied by the After Entry and Appeals Directorate and the Financial Services Directorate, IND
(6) These figures will include a small number of statements prepared for appeals to the Tribunal
(7) Information supplied by the Immigration Appellate Authority
23 Jul 1998 : Column: 623
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were determined by his Department in each month of 1998; and with what result. [51605]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested is given in the table.
| Month | Total decisions | Grants of asylum | Grants of exceptional leave | Refused asylum and exceptional leave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3,065 | 705 | 230 | 2,130 |
| February | 3,035 | 405 | 390 | 2,240 |
| March | 3,070 | 375 | 425 | 2,270 |
| April | 2,520 | 350 | 320 | 1,850 |
| May | 2,360 | 420 | 250 | 1,690 |
| June | 2,675 | 580 | 305 | 1,790 |
(8) Figures rounded to nearest 5
(9) Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications made in 1998
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the adjournment of asylum and immigration appeals. [51609]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: None. It is a matter for the Immigration Appellate Authority to decide whether an appeal should be adjourned. Adjournments may be requested by the appellant or the respondent, or initiated by the Authority itself.
Bargoed Fire Station
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what access the South Wales fire authority has had to the reports and assessments made available to his Department by Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services on the proposed closures of the Bargoed Fire Station; [52017]
- (2) if he will list those to whom his Department has sent Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services' report on the proposed closure of the Bargoed Fire Station. [52016]
Mr. George Howarth: Such reports have not been made available outside the Home Office.
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