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Metropolitan Police (Racism)
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite the Commission for Racial Equality to examine whether the Metropolitan police is free of racism. [4357]
Mr. Denham: There are no plans to invite the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) to undertake a formal investigation of the Metropolitan police at this time.
The CRE already works jointly in a number of areas with the police service both at a national level and with individual forces, including the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), to pursue the ministerial aim of
- "increasing trust and confidence in policing among minority ethnic communities".
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to improve the way in which it treats its own officers from minority ethnic backgrounds. Although there is some way still to go, the signs are that the position is improving.
The MPS, in common with other police forces, will be covered by the provisions of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
Operation Antler
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Operation Antler inquiry by Wiltshire police into experiments on service volunteers at Porton Down. [4588]
Mr. Denham: The Operation Antler inquiry is a continuing criminal investigation. Wiltshire police are in the process of interviewing a number of former Porton Down scientists and medical staff who were involved in conducting trials and experiments upon service personnel who attended Porton Down as part of the Service Volunteer Programme between 1939 and 1989. Wiltshire police will send comprehensive reports to the Crown Prosecution Service when these are completed.
As part of the inquiry, Wiltshire police have forwarded a report on the death of the serviceman Ronald Maddison to Her Majesty's Coroner for Wiltshire. The Coroner is in the process of seeking authority from the Attorney- General under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 to make an application to the High Court of Justice for an Order to have the original verdict of misadventure quashed and for a fresh inquest to be held.
Belgravia Police Station
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers, of sergeant rank and below were stationed at Belgravia police station, London in each year from 1996 to 2000; and what the numbers will be over the next three years. [4589]
Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided the information which is set out in the table. Belgravia is part of the City of Westminster Division. It is not possible to indicate what these will be for the next three years.
| 1996(39) | 1997(39) | 1998(39) | 1999(39) | 2000(39) | 2001(40) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sergeants | 43 | 43 | 45.5 | 43.5 | 41 | 42 |
| Constables | 248.6 | 247.7 | 244.8 | 228.3 | 208.8 | 194 |
| Total | 291.6 | 290.7 | 290.3 | 271.8 | 249.8 | 236 |
(39) At the end of December
(40) June
Leave to Remain
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people (a) with exceptional leave to remain status and (b) whose exceptional leave to remain status has expired are awaiting a decision on an indefinite leave to remain application; [4744]
- (2) what the average time is between applying for indefinite leave to remain following an earlier ELR decision and receiving a decision. [4745]
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Angela Eagle: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Generally, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has set targets in its Business Plan for 2001–02 of deciding 70 per cent. of non-asylum applications within three weeks. These targets are currently being met.
Asylum Seekers (Heathrow)
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the estimated cost is of the construction of the proposed second detention centre for asylum seekers at Heathrow Airport; [4741]
- (2) when he took the decision to construct a further detention centre for asylum seekers at Heathrow Airport; [4743]
(3) how many places for asylum seekers the planned detention centre at Heathrow Airport will contain; [4740]
(4) if he will make a statement on the plans for the construction of a further detention centre for asylum seekers at Heathrow Airport. [4742]
Angela Eagle: In addition to the new 550 bed immigration detention centre at Harmondsworth due to open next month the opportunities to provide up to a further 300 detention places on the remainder of the site is one of the options which we are currently considering as part of our plans to expand the detention estate.
The total cost of construction and the management and operation of the 550 bed centre under an eight year contract is about £180 million. The estimated costs for the option to provide up to a further 300 places will not be available until the completion of a feasibility study and appraisal is complete in the Autumn.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are being held in each prison in England and Wales. [4751]
Angela Eagle: The most recent information, relating to the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers for each prison in England and Wales is given in the table. It is only possible to say how many of these had claimed asylum by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost. We have made it clear that the use of local prisons providing temporary spaces will end as soon as practicable.
(41) The figures for prison establishments may include some persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.
Source:
England and Wales data from the Offenders and Corrections Unit (RDS)
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Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform the asylum dispersal system. [5785]
Angela Eagle: The dispersal arrangements are kept under review.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he will have established a full timetable for ending the use of prisons for detaining asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [5121]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 19 July 2001]: The Government remain committed to its long-term strategy of reducing the use of prison accommodation to hold immigration detainees. However, even in the long-term, for reasons of geography, security and control, there may continue to be a need to hold small numbers of detainees in exceptional circumstances in prisons.
The temporary use of 500 additional places made available by the Prison Service in a number of local prisons will be reviewed during the next few months. The timing of the withdrawal of immigration detainees from these prison places will be the subject of discussions with the Prison Service. We have made it clear that Her Majesty's Prison Cardiff will cease to be used to hold immigration detainees by Christmas and that the use of the other local prisons providing temporary spaces will end as soon as practicable.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons hold asylum seekers; and in each case, how many and since which month. [5191]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 19 July 2001]: The most recent information, relating to the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers in each prison, is
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given in the table. Further information on what proportion of these persons have claimed asylum and how long they have been detained is not held centrally, and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost. We have made clear that the use of local prisons providing temporary spaces will end as soon as practicable.
| Location | Total detainees |
|---|---|
| Bedford | 5 |
| Belmarsh | 48 |
| Birmingham | 4 |
| Blakenhurst | 6 |
| Bristol | 3 |
| Brixton | 20 |
| Bullingdon | 6 |
| Canterbury | 3 |
| Cardiff | 52 |
| Chelmsford | 7 |
| Cornton Vale | 3 |
| Craiginches | 4 |
| Doncaster | 13 |
| Dorchester | 2 |
| Durham | 2 |
| Elmley | 6 |
| Feltham | 10 |
| Forest Bank | 7 |
| Gateside | 40 |
| Glen Parva | 3 |
| Haslar | 151 |
| High Down | 66 |
| Holloway | 35 |
| Holme House | 49 |
| Leeds | 10 |
| Lewes | 3 |
| Lindholme | 94 |
| Liverpool | 104 |
| Maghabberry | 4 |
| Magilligan | 12 |
| Manchester | 6 |
| Norwich | 5 |
| Pentonville | 7 |
| Rochester | 183 |
| Styal | 3 |
| Wandsworth | 50 |
| Winchester | 39 |
| Woodhill | 2 |
| Wormwood Scrubs | 70 |
| Other prison establishments | 7 |
| Total | 1,144 |
(42) The figures for prison establishments may include some persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.
Source:
England and Wales data from the Offenders and Corrections Unit (RDS), and Scotland and NI data from IS Glasgow.
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average weekly accommodation cost is being paid through NASS and other agencies, to accommodate (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers who have settled in Peterborough in the past 12 months. [5933]
Angela Eagle: The information is:
(a) Those granted refugee status become eligible for mainstream benefits, including Housing Benefit, and separate records of the accommodation costs and addresses of former asylum seekers are not held.
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(b) The accommodation costs of destitute asylum seekers may be met in one of three ways:
- (i) Directly by the National Asylum Support Service.
- (ii) By local authorities under the interim arrangements.
- (iii) By Housing Benefit for those entitled to mainstream benefits.
In the financial year ended 31 March 2001 the National Asylum Support Service provided support to single adults at an average cost of £134 per week and to families at an average cost of £294 per week. These figures include the cost of accommodation, vouchers and travel.
For the 2000–2001 financial year Peterborough was able to claim grant from the Home Office of up to £240 per week for each family supported under the interim arrangements and £140 for each single adult. These figures include accommodation costs.
The Home Office reimburses the Department for Social Security for Housing Benefit payments made to asylum seekers and in 2000–2001 the amount paid by the Home Office was £20 million.
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers have settled in Peterborough in the last 12 months; and at what cost to public funds. [5934]
Angela Eagle: The information is:
(a) Individuals granted refugee status are free to choose where they settle and the Home Office does not keep details of the addresses of refugees.
(b) Numbers of asylum seekers allocated support by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are only available at the regional level.
NASS commenced operations on 3 April 2000 and as at the end of May 2001, 220 1 asylum seekers (including dependants) were allocated accommodation by NASS in the East of England region (of which Peterborough is a part). A further 1,060 1 asylum seekers (including dependants) allocated voucher only support were staying in this region.
The average weekly cost of NASS support in 2000–2001 was £134 per single adult and £294 per family.
Peterborough city council are responsible for the support of asylum seekers who claimed asylum prior to 14 August 2000 and for asylum seekers who lost their entitlement to social security benefits as a result of a first negative decision before 25 September 2000. During 2000–2001 Peterborough city council provided 3,436 weeks of support to single adults and 1,458 weeks of support to families. It is not known how many of these support weeks were provided to asylum seekers who arrived during the last 12 months. The grant claimed by Peterborough city council for providing this support was £789,740.
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much central Government grant has been given to (i) the Peterborough city council and (ii) other public bodies, indicating the bodies concerned, to cover the cost of (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers who have settled in Peterborough in the past 12 months. [5932]
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Angela Eagle: Peterborough city council has claimed grant of £789,740 from the Home Office to cover the costs of supporting asylum-seeking adults and families under the interim arrangements in 2000–2001. Of this, £579,224 has been paid and a balance of £210, 516 is due to be paid shortly.
In addition the East of England Consortium, a consortium of local authorities in the region including Peterborough city council, was paid a grant of £100,000 in 2000–2001. The purpose of the grant is to aid the regional consortia to carry out their enabling role. This role involves the development of structures and mechanisms to ensure robust partnership through effective joint working across the public, statutory, independent, voluntary and private sectors.
The Home Office also provides funding to the Refugee Council Regional Development Team, including a grant of around £40,000 to establish a specific post of regional development adviser for the East of England region, which includes Peterborough.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost of the asylum voucher system; and if he will make a statement. [5906]
Angela Eagle: Vouchers were introduced on 3 April 2000 when the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) became responsible for providing support to destitute asylum seekers.
The total face value of vouchers issued in the financial year ending 31 March 2001 was £26.1 million.
Total staffing and related administrative costs of the NASS for the same period, including the costs of processing application forms, allocating accommodation and administering the voucher scheme, were £15.6 million. Vouchers are printed and distributed by third party providers under contract to the Home Office and payments made under the voucher contract are included in the administrative costs of the NASS. Details of payments made under the voucher contract are commercially confidential.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete the review of the voucher system for asylum seekers. [5911]
Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 339W.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to introduce a quota for the number of asylum seekers accepted into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [5673]
Angela Eagle: There are no plans to introduce a quota for the number of asylum seekers accepted into the United Kingdom.
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