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Asylum Cases
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was from initial application to the granting of an initial decision in asylum cases for (a) all cases, (b) single adults and (c) families in the last 12 months. [29819]
Angela Eagle: The table provides the information requested for the period of October 2000 to September 2001, inclusive. The average decision times have been calculated using all decisions made for which data are
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available, including a minimal number of cases decided under the backlog criteria, as well as new cases. These data are subject to revision following quality checking.
| Average time taken(48) | |
|---|---|
| All initial decisions(49),(50) | 14 |
| Of which: | |
| Family | 8 |
| Individual | 14 |
(46) The average length of time (in months) is calculated from date application is lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the month in which the decisions were made.
(47) Figures are estimates based on cases for which information is recorded.
(48) Provisional figures.
(49) Based on data from A-CID (Asylum Cases Information Database).
(50) Excluding dependants.
Asylum Induction Centres
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the trial of asylum induction centres to begin; and if he will make a statement. [29815]
Angela Eagle: The first induction centre opened in Dover on 21 January. This introduced a number of the initiatives outlined by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in October which are intended to deliver a more efficient and streamlined system for asylum seekers. Over the forthcoming weeks we will be developing the induction processes with a view to opening two further induction centres near London at the end of March.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded asylum seekers entered the United Kingdom in 2001 who were (a) under and (b) over 18 years. [29686]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 28 January 2002]: I regret that reliable information on the entry routes of asylum seekers, including when asylum seekers first enter the United Kingdom (UK), is not available. In 2000 more than two thirds of applications (68 per cent.) were made in-country (that is by people who had already entered the UK). Annual figures for 2001 are not yet available.
Between January and August 2001, inclusive, 1,334 applications for asylum were lodged at UK ports by unaccompanied children under the age of 18. During the same period, it is estimated that over 16,000 applications were lodged at ports by principal applicants aged 18 or more.
Information on unaccompanied minors is published annually in the statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom", a copy of which is available in the Library, and from the RDS website: http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the countries of origin were of asylum seekers who entered the UK in 2001. [29687]
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Angela Eagle [holding answer 28 January 2002]: I regret that reliable information on the entry routes of asylum seekers, including when asylum seekers first enter the United Kingdom, is not available. However, information on the nationality of asylum seekers who applied at port and in-country between January and September 2001, inclusive, is given in the table. Annual figures for 2001 are not yet available.
Information on asylum applications and initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will present data for the final quarter of 2001, and will be available from 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
(51) Figures rounded to nearest five, and are provisional
(52) Includes applications from other Yugo.
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Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent advice he has received from Merseyside police concerning the future housing of asylum seekers at Landmark and Inn on the Park in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [30732]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 28 January 2002]: Ministers have received two recent letters from Merseyside police about the use of the Landmark and Inn on the Park buildings to house asylum seekers.
Officials are looking into the matters raised in these letters, and in the meantime dispersal of asylum seekers to these buildings remains suspended.
Asylum White Paper
Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with children's organisations on how the proposals in the forthcoming Asylum White Paper will impact on asylum seeking children and young people. [30360]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 January 2002]: Proposals relating to asylum seeking children were discussed at the last meeting of the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Stakeholders' Group on 10 January 2002. The Group comprises representatives from the Home Office, the Department of Health, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations including the Refugee Council and Save the Children.
Police Morale (Havering)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police morale in the London borough of Havering. [21014]
Mr. Denham: Morale within the Metropolitan Police Service is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I am assured by the Commissioner that he takes action as a matter of routine to ensure that morale remains good.
Regulatory Impact Assessments
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulatory impact assessments have been produced by his Department since August 2001; and if he will list those produced (a) following initial consultation with affected parties about the most appropriate methodology for assessing costs and other impacts and (b) which set out full commercial impacts,
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including profitability, employment, consumer prices and competitiveness, as recommended in Good Policy Making. [28404]
Angela Eagle: Since August 2001 the Home Office has produced two regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) on the Proceeds of Crime Bill; and the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill. These RIAs are in the Library. One consultation paper has been issued since August 2001, the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002, this contained a partial RIA. The consultation paper can be accessed via the Home Office website or www.ukonline.gov.uk/ citizenspace/consultations/.
On the Proceeds of Crime, consultation took place after the publication of the draft Bill. This consultation helped us review the draft Bill and some of our proposals and costings were modified. No assessment of commercial impacts was made.
No consultation with business was carried out before the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Bill was published. The RIA made it clear that many of the powers, with significant cost implications, would only be used should the need arise and a number of other measures would depend on the proposals to be covered in secondary legislation. Such secondary legislation will be developed in close consultation with the industry to ensure that there will be effective compliance with the measures proposed and that the costs of such compliance will be minimised.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to him on 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 483W.
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