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Asylum Seekers (Liverpool)
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications were received from Liverpool City Council concerning the suitability of the Landmark and the Inn on the Park in Liverpool for asylum seekers prior to his Department signing a contract with the management of these premises. [138750]
Mrs. Roche: I understand that Liverpool City Council wrote to my officials in the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) on 29 February. Unfortunately this correspondence was not taken into account before the contract with Landmark was signed because it was not seen by the team handling the negotiation of the contract. It is not clear whether the letter went astray before arrival or within the NASS. The communication from Liverpool City Council will be taken into account in ongoing contractual negotiations.
Prisons
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of days spent in hospital post-birth was by prisoners before return to prison in the last 12 months; and what special arrangements exist for granting additional time in hospital if mother and baby are to be separated. [137807]
Mr. Boateng: The average number of days spent in hospital post-birth by prisoners before return to prison in the last 12 months was three days. In cases of separation, each case is assessed on individual circumstances; there are no set time scales for remaining in hospital.
Special Constables
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to pay special constables for their work; and if he will make a statement about their role. [140457]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Special Constabulary is a voluntary body designed to assist the regular police. Its members are drawn mainly from the communities served by each local force. Special Constables perform constabulary duties and exercise constabulary powers under the supervision of, and supported by, regular officers. They play an invaluable role by assisting regular police officers to tackle crime and the fear of crime.
We have no current plans to pay special constables for the work they do. But we are looking at a range of ideas for improving recruitment and retention within the Special Constabulary.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will include reference to the massacre of Armenians in 1915-16 in the commemoration of the Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2001. [140369]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 27 November 2000]: Holocaust Memorial Day is focused on learning the lessons of the Holocaust and other more recent atrocities that raise similar issues. We took a conscious decision to focus on events around the Holocaust and thereafter, although we did examine requests to consider
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the atrocities and other events that preceded the Holocaust. (Examples include the Crusades, slavery, colonialism, the victims of Stalin and the Boer War.) It is always difficult to draw a line and wherever it is drawn it runs the risk of being misinterpreted.
A particular focus on events around the period 1939-45 and thereafter should not be seen as failing to acknowledge, sympathise and respect the concerns about prior events.
The massacres of Armenians in 1915-16 were an appalling tragedy condemned by the Government of the day and now. We understand the strength of feeling about this terrible period and extend our sympathies to the descendants of the victims.
The Government's decision to give a particular focus to Holocaust Memorial Day does not prevent recollection by the Armenian community of these appalling events. Others may also seek to highlight other atrocities.
Horse Racing
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce legislation to (a) change the status of the Tote, and (b) abolish the horse racing levy system; and if he will make a statement. [R] [140345]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 27 November, 2000]: We will bring forward legislation when the necessary parliamentary time can be found. I hope to make a statement shortly explaining in more detail our thinking on how the Horserace Betting Levy Board's current responsibilities would be dealt with after its abolition.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have (a) lost their appeals, (b) been removed from the UK after losing an appeal and (c) left the UK voluntarily after losing an appeal in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [140709]
Mrs. Roche: The available information is given in the table.
| Year | Number(47) |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1,935 |
| 1995 | 5,565 |
| 1996 | 10,785 |
| 1997 | 18,145 |
| 1998 | 21,195 |
| 1999 | 11,135 |
| 2000, January to October | 11,450 |
(46) Excludes the outcome of subsequent appeals
(47) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5
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| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 2,108 |
| 1995 | 3,171 |
| 1996 | 4,845 |
| 1997 | 7,160 |
| 1998 | 6,910 |
| 1999(49) | 7,645 |
| 2000, Jan to Oct(49) | 7,605 |
(48) Including applicants who had not appealed against an initial refusal
(49) Includes persons returned under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been processed in each of the (a) last six months and (b) last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [140902]
Mrs. Roche: The information requested is given in the tables.
| Applications(51) | Decisions(51),(52),(53) | |
|---|---|---|
| May | 6,185 | 10,765 |
| June | 5,900 | 10,470 |
| July | 6,255 | 8,855 |
| August | 6,430 | 9,770 |
| September | 6,435 | 8,145 |
| October | 6,970 | 8,180 |
(50) Provisional figures
(51) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(52) Decisions include cases decided under the backlog criteria.
(53) Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
| Applications(54) | Decisions(54),(55) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26,205 | 4,025 |
| 1991 | 44,840 | 6,075 |
| 1992 | 24,605 | 34,900 |
| 1993 | 22,370 | 23,405 |
| 1994 | 32,830 | 20,990 |
| 1995 | 43,965 | 27,005 |
| 1996 | 29,640 | 38,960 |
| 1997 | 32,500 | 36,045 |
| 1998 | 46,015 | 31,570 |
| 1999(56),(57) | 71,160 | 33,720 |
(54) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(55) Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
(56) Decisions include cases decided under the backlog criteria.
(57) Provisional figures.
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of individuals believed still to be in the UK but whose whereabouts are unknown, (a) who have applied for asylum but whose applications have not yet been finally determined and (b) whose applications for asylum have been refused. [140765]
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Mrs. Roche: I regret that we are not able to provide a reliable estimate because the information required to make an estimate is not available.
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose claims were made (a) prior to 1 July 1993 and (b) between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995 have been granted leave to remain, and for what periods, under the backlog clearance exercise; how many granted leave to remain had their asylum applications considered under normal procedures and refused; how many did not receive an initial determination of their asylum application; and if he will make a statement. [134877]
Mrs. Roche [pursuant to her reply, 10 November 2000, c. 425W]: The figure 6,135 is the number of applications lodged prior to July 1993 and the figure 15,400 is the number of asylum applications lodged between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995. The number of applications still not determined under the backlog clearance exercise is now negligible.
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