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Mrs. G. A. Officer
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will complete consideration of the case relating to the wife of Mr. G. A. Officer, a constituent. [160733]
Mrs. Roche: Mrs. Officer was granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom on 28 April.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of (a) the number of asylum seekers dispersed throughout the UK, (b) the number who are locating in London and (c) the number being offered accommodation by the Refugee Council on behalf of the National Asylum Support Service. [160793]
Mrs. Roche: As at the end of March 2001, 23,530 1 asylum seekers (including dependants) were allocated accommodation by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and 13,470 1 (including dependants) were allocated voucher-only support by NASS.
Of the above, 520 1 were allocated accommodation in London and 9,420 1 of those allocated voucher-only support were staying in London.
It is NASS policy to offer asylum seekers accommodation outside London and the south-east. However, in special circumstances, such as medical problems, some asylum seekers are allocated accommodation in London.
As at 27 April 2001, the Refugee Council was accommodating 5,230 1 asylum seekers (including dependants) in emergency accommodation on behalf of NASS. Of these, 4,410 1 were in London.
- 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
Mr. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seeker applicants opted for vouchers only, including dependants; and how many have accepted dispersal. [160790]
Mrs. Roche: As at the end of March 2001, 13,470 1 asylum seekers (including dependants) were allocated voucher-only support by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and 23,530 1 (including dependants) were allocated accommodation by NASS.
- 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
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Mr. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to take full financial responsibility for asylum seekers and their dependants in place of local authority responsibility. [160792]
Mrs. Roche: The Home Office assumed responsibility on 1 April 1999 for reimbursing local authorities for direct costs incurred, within unit cost limits for supporting asylum seekers. Payment is by way of grant.
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated total value is of the benefits available in vouchers, in cash and in kind, including accommodation, to an asylum-seeking family with two adults and two children which is being supported by NASS, broken down by type of benefit, in the financial year 2001-02. [160634]
Mrs. Roche: Asylum seekers in need can be supported with accommodation, subsistence or both. The current weekly value of voucher support for a family consisting of a couple and two children, aged 16 or younger, is £119.27, of which £40.00 is paid in cash vouchers. Accommodation is provided directly by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
An asylum-seeking family in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation has their utility bills paid by NASS. This in-kind support is estimated to be worth around £18 per week. In addition, NASS accommodation includes items not generally included in furnished accommodation, such as towels, bedding, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery, at an estimated value of around £5 per week. After six months, NASS-supported asylum seekers are also eligible for a one-off payment of £50 per person.
If the children are new-born the family may be eligible for a maternity payment of £300 per child.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of asylum appeals determined were (a) allowed, (b) dismissed and (c) withdrawn for nationals of (i) Iraq, (ii) Somalia, (iii) Sri Lanka, (iv) Sudan, (v) Turkey, (vi) Zimbabwe and (vii) each other nationality for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [160802]
Mrs. Roche: Asylum appeal figures by nationality for 1999 and 2000 are not available as the Immigration Appellate Authority ceased to produce them. We hope to
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be able to publish this information for the 2001 asylum statistics and beyond. The most recent figures refer to 1998 and are published in the Home Office Statistical
10 May 2001 : Column: 328W
Bulletin "Asylum Statistics 1998", a copy of which is available in the Library. The information is given in the table.
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| Number of principal appellants | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appeals determined by adjudicators(22) | ||||||||
| Appeals sent to | Allowed | Dismissed | Withdrawn | |||||
| Nationality | the IAA | Total | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
| Europe | ||||||||
| Albania | 80 | 75 | 10 | 10 | 65 | 86 | 5 | 4 |
| Czech Republic | 105 | 130 | 5 | 2 | 100 | 78 | 25 | 20 |
| Poland | 450 | 665 | 10 | 1 | 595 | 89 | 60 | 9 |
| Romania | 470 | 665 | 5 | 0 | 620 | 93 | 45 | 7 |
| Slovak Republic | 90 | 125 | 5 | 2 | 80 | 64 | 40 | 34 |
| Turkey | 545 | 1,405 | 530 | 38 | 805 | 57 | 70 | 5 |
| Former USSR | 925 | 635 | 30 | 5 | 540 | 85 | 65 | 10 |
| Former Yugoslavia | 165 | 335 | 50 | 15 | 140 | 41 | 145 | 43 |
| Other | 590 | 1,000 | 20 | 2 | 905 | 90 | 75 | 8 |
| Total | 3,415 | 5,035 | 655 | 13 | 3,845 | 76 | 535 | 11 |
| Americas | ||||||||
| Colombia | 560 | 400 | 40 | 10 | 315 | 80 | 40 | 10 |
| Ecuador | 1,240 | 600 | 5 | 1 | 525 | 87 | 70 | 12 |
| Other | 130 | 235 | 15 | 7 | 205 | 87 | 15 | 6 |
| Total | 1,930 | 1,230 | 60 | 5 | 1,045 | 85 | 125 | 10 |
| Africa | ||||||||
| Algeria | 95 | 235 | 40 | 17 | 135 | 58 | 60 | 25 |
| Angola | 110 | 500 | 90 | 18 | 385 | 78 | 20 | 4 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 20 | 195 | 30 | 15 | 120 | 62 | 40 | 21 |
| Ethiopia | 65 | 250 | 55 | 22 | 175 | 69 | 25 | 10 |
| Gambia | 210 | 380 | 25 | 6 | 330 | 87 | 25 | 7 |
| Ghana | 430 | 1,700 | 35 | 2 | 1,585 | 93 | 85 | 5 |
| Ivory Coast | 165 | 365 | 95 | 26 | 250 | 68 | 20 | 5 |
| Kenya | 360 | 860 | 85 | 10 | 730 | 85 | 50 | 6 |
| Liberia | 45 | 105 | 5 | 3 | 95 | 91 | 5 | 7 |
| Nigeria | 1,775 | 4,085 | 140 | 3 | 3,675 | 90 | 265 | 7 |
| Sierra Leone | 60 | 175 | 20 | 12 | 110 | 63 | 45 | 25 |
| Somalia | 15 | 25 | 5 | 19 | 20 | 67 | 5 | 15 |
| Sudan | 70 | 190 | 85 | 45 | 80 | 43 | 20 | 12 |
| Tanzania | 150 | 920 | 25 | 3 | 860 | 93 | 35 | 4 |
| Uganda | 215 | 495 | 50 | 10 | 420 | 85 | 25 | 5 |
| Other | 430 | 605 | 90 | 15 | 460 | 76 | 55 | 9 |
| Total | 4,225 | 11,085 | 875 | 8 | 9,425 | 85 | 785 | 7 |
| Middle East | ||||||||
| Iran | 35 | 150 | 60 | 40 | 75 | 51 | 15 | 9 |
| Iraq | 25 | 45 | 15 | 29 | 25 | 51 | 10 | 20 |
| Lebanon | 15 | 65 | 15 | 20 | 50 | 74 | 5 | 6 |
| Other | 40 | 100 | 15 | 13 | 75 | 72 | 15 | 15 |
| Total | 115 | 360 | 100 | 27 | 220 | 61 | 40 | 11 |
| Asia | ||||||||
| Afghanistan | 15 | 15 | 5 | 36 | 10 | 64 | -- | 0 |
| China | 975 | 1,230 | 20 | 2 | 1,200 | 97 | 10 | 1 |
| India | 1,040 | 2,445 | 25 | 1 | 2,355 | 96 | 65 | 3 |
| Pakistan | 1,590 | 2,570 | 85 | 3 | 2,330 | 91 | 155 | 6 |
| Sri Lanka | 745 | 1,040 | 495 | 48 | 510 | 49 | 30 | 3 |
| Other | 320 | 210 | 10 | 4 | 185 | 87 | 20 | 9 |
| Total | 4,680 | 7,515 | 640 | 9 | 6,590 | 88 | 280 | 4 |
| Other and nationality not known | 30 | 95 | 20 | 22 | 75 | 75 | 5 | 3 |
| Grant total | 14,385 | 25,320 | 2,355 | 9 | 21,195 | 84 | 1,770 | 7 |
(21) Provisional estimated figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2. Figures might not add up to total due to rounding. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
(22) Figures are based on the cases for which information is recorded on the Refugee Index.
10 May 2001 : Column: 329W
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the places designated as clusters for the dispersal of asylum seekers, indicating the (a) population and (b) ethnic minority population of each. [160847]
Mrs. Roche: The areas designated as clusters are listed together with population figures. Research to identify the presence of ethnic minorities included advice received from consultation with regional consortium, voluntary groups and other interested parties plus evidence from the 1991 census. Actual statistics detailing the present ethnic minority population for each cluster area are not available.
(23) Shown as Taunton Deane
10 May 2001 : Column: 330W
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the places on which he plans to confer cluster status for the dispersal of asylum seekers, indicating the (a) population and (b) ethnic minority population of each. [160848]
Mrs. Roche: There are already 71 cluster areas in existence, and research and consultation through the regional consortium continue in order to identify other suitable areas.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will define the boundaries of the Grimsby cluster for the dispersal of asylum seekers; and what proportion of the population the ethnic minority population represents. [160849]
Mrs. Roche: The boundary of the cluster area for Grimsby is centred on the town itself. Statistics showing what proportion of the population are from ethnic minorities are not available.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers he intends to disperse to the Grimsby cluster; and what proportion of these will be accommodated by (a) the local council and (b) private accommodation providers. [160850]
Mrs. Roche: At present the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has procured 57 bedspaces through the private sector in Grimsby, and, while further accommodation is being explored, we are not seeking to disperse large numbers there. The intention is to achieve a fair and equitable dispersal.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposals for widening the Grimsby cluster for asylum seekers to include Cleethorpes; and what effect they will have on the size of the ethnic minority population of the cluster. [160852]
10 May 2001 : Column: 331W
Mrs. Roche: The National Asylum Support Service continuously researches and seeks advice on possible new cluster areas. There has been no proposal to include Cleethorpes as part of the Grimsby cluster area.
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