| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Criminal Record Checks
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the full cost to the Criminal Records Bureau of each criminal conviction certificate issued on an individual; what is the standard fee to be paid by individuals requesting a check; how many certificates he estimates will be requested per year (a) from people wishing to work in the voluntary sector, (b) from unemployed people, (c) from disabled people, (d) from all other individuals and (e) in total; and if he will make a statement. [68953]
Mr. Boateng: Once established, the Criminal Records Bureau will be self-financing through charging for each certificate to be issued as provided for under the Police Act 1997. The fee set for each certificate type will reflect the full cost to the Bureau of providing the service. We estimate that certificates will cost between five and around ten pounds depending on the level of certificate sought.
It is impossible to predict accurately likely demand for certificates once the Bureau is in full operation. We estimate however that there will be annual demand for around 5 to 6 million Criminal Conviction Certificates (CCCs), 2 to 3 million Criminal Record Certificates (CRCs) and 2 to 3 million Enhanced Criminal Record Certificates (ECRCs). Demand for certificates from any particular sector is ever more difficult to predict, but up to half the CRCs and ECRCs issued could go to those wishing to work, in a paid or unpaid capacity, in the voluntary sector. Based on figures prepared in 1996, we estimate there could be around 1 million applications a year for CCCs from the unemployed. No estimate has been made of the number of applications from disabled people.
Prisons (Charter Marks)
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales have been awarded a Charter Mark; if he will list them by date awarded; and if he will make a statement. [68954]
Mr. George Howarth: Ten Prison Service establishments in England and Wales currently hold the Charter Mark for part or all of the establishment. They are:
- 1996
- Morton Hall prison
- Holme House prison--Education Department
- Exeter prison--Physical Education (PE) Department
- 1997
- Erlestoke prison--Library
- Kirkham prison
- Wayland prison--PE Department
- 1998
- Holme House prison--PE Department
- Haverigg prison--PE Department and Library
- Northallerton Young Offender Institution--Education
- Department
- Doncaster prison--Premier Prison Services Ltd.
- Garth prison.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 756
Sergeant Gurpal Virdi
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the (a) cause and (b) length of suspension of Sergeant Gurpal Virdi. [68739]
Kate Hoey: This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He tells me that Police Sergeant Virdi was arrested on 15 April 1998 and has been suspended from duty. As the case remains under investigation, I cannot comment further.
Racist Attack (Hanwell)
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report about events following a racist attack in Hanwell in March 1998; and if he will make a statement. [68738]
Kate Hoey: The investigation of a particular crime is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He tells me that five racist incidents of which two were attacks were recorded in Hanwell in March 1998. If the hon. Member would like to let me have identifying details of the attack he has in mind, I will ask the Commissioner for the relevant information, and will write to the hon. Member accordingly.
Asylum Seekers
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has, under interim funding arrangements for asylum seekers, to assist local authorities in respect of families who declared their intention to seek asylum at the port of entry and are eligible for benefits. [68579]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: At present, asylum seekers with families who declare their intention to seek asylum at the port of entry may, if they qualify, be eligible for income support, housing benefit and assistance under the homelessness legislation. Local authority costs for such services are covered by the local government finance settlement in the normal way.
Sir Norman Fowler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers arrived in this country without any documentation during 1998; what countries they claimed to come from; and if he will make a statement. [69302]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I regret that information on the number of asylum seekers who arrived in this country without any documentation could only be obtained by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, only available at disproportionate cost.
Sir Norman Fowler:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants for political asylum arrived as passengers at each (a) port and (b) airport in England and Wales, during the last quarter of (i) 1997 and (ii) 1998; and if he will make a statement; [69305]
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 757
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The information requested is given in the table.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 758
There was a temporary drop in asylum claims after the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 but the figures have since increased. We inherited the current asylum legislation and will seek to amend it in a new Bill shortly.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 757
(2) how many applicants for political asylum arrived as passengers at each (a) port and (b) airport in England and Wales, during (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement. [69304]
| Port | 1997(16) | October to December 1997 | 1998 | October to December 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford | 25 | 5 | 35 | 10 |
| Birmingham | 50 | 15 | 50 | 10 |
| Bristol | 10 | 5 | 5 | * |
| Cardiff | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| Cheriton | 5 | -- | -- | -- |
| Dover | 1,355 | 565 | 4,205 | 1,510 |
| East Midlands | 5 | 5 | 10 | * |
| Felixstowe | 65 | 15 | 80 | 25 |
| Folkstone | 5 | 5 | 30 | * |
| Gatwick North | 1,935 | 385 | 1,930 | 630 |
| Gatwick South | 1,065 | 285 | 1,310 | 385 |
| Harwich | 100 | 55 | 600 | 170 |
| Heathrow Terminal 1 | 1,700 | 530 | 2,495 | 915 |
| Heathrow Terminal 2 | 2,435 | 655 | 3,300 | 920 |
| Heathrow Terminal 3 | 2,885 | 860 | 3,050 | 745 |
| Heathrow Terminal 4 | 1,605 | 315 | 1,775 | 520 |
| Hull | 10 | 5 | 40 | 15 |
| Humberside | 5 | -- | * | -- |
| Immigham | * | -- | -- | -- |
| Leeds Bradford | 20 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| Liverpool | 10 | 5 | 10 | * |
| London City | 215 | 135 | 395 | 130 |
| Luton | 30 | 15 | 60 | 10 |
| Manchester Terminal 1 | 10 | * | 25 | 10 |
| Manchester Terminal 2 | 200 | 50 | 375 | 110 |
| Newhaven | 5 | * | 50 | 15 |
| Norwich | * | -- | 10 | 10 |
| Plymouth | 10 | 5 | 5 | -- |
| Poole | * | * | -- | -- |
| Portsmouth | 15 | 5 | 70 | 30 |
| Preston | * | -- | -- | -- |
| Prestwick | * | -- | -- | -- |
| Ramsgate | 55 | 10 | 5 | -- |
| Sheffield City | 10 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| Southampton | 5 | * | * | * |
| Stanstead | 350 | 120 | 300 | 85 |
| Swansea | 5 | 5 | * | -- |
| Teesport | 20 | -- | 20 | -- |
| Tilbury | * | -- | * | -- |
| Tyne | 5 | * | 35 | 10 |
| Waterloo | 2,230 | 465 | 2,820 | 705 |
| Total England and Wales | 16,485 | 4,540 | 23,145 | 6,995 |
| Other ports | 100 | 35 | 200 | 30 |
| Total port applications | 16,590 | 4,575 | 23,345 | 7,020 |
(15) Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2
(16) Revised
Source:
Immigration Research and Statistics Service, RDS
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 757
Sir Norman Fowler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers made applications in the last quarter of (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement. [69303]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The number of asylum applications made in the last quarter of 1997 was 8,455. In the last quarter of 1998 the figure was 14,400. After the then record year for asylum claims in 1991, the previous Administration introduced legislation to control abuse of
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 758
the asylum system. It temporarily reduced the numbers applying after the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, but those figures started to rise to similar levels after a time.
After 1996, new legislation produced another temporary reduction in claims, but since then the figures have risen again. The asylum legislation currently in place is that of previous Administrations. The present Administration will introduce a Bill to amend it shortly.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 759
Sir Norman Fowler:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of dependants accompanying those who made applications for political asylum in each of the last two years. [69301]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
It is estimated that in 1997, 8,980 dependants accompanied applicants for asylum in the United Kingdom. The estimate for 1998 is 11,970. This information relates to dependants applying with the principal applicant or arriving subsequently, before the principal application was decided. It excludes dependants who arrive after the principal decision.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |