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Asylum Seekers
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been detained at Oakington since its opening; and of these how many have (a) left Oakington for accommodation provided by NASS, (b) left Oakington for other accommodation and (c) been detained in other establishments immediately after leaving Oakington. [42948]
Angela Eagle: 11,895 principal asylum applicants were accepted at Oakington between 20 March 2000 and 31 December 2001. Provisional data, which is subject to revision, show that approximately 20 per cent. of these were detained in other establishments immediately after leaving Oakington. Corresponding information about the destination of those released on temporary admission on leaving Oakington is not presently available.
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are awaiting decisions as to whether their application for asylum has been accepted. [43017]
Angela Eagle: There were 39,400 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision on 31 December 2001, less than half the 87,800 on 31 December 2000. This figure relates to the number of cases ie the number of principal applicants.
Information on the number of cases awaiting an initial decision (including work in progress) is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.htm.
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial support in vouchers and cash is provided by NASS to support asylum seekers. [43239]
Angela Eagle: Column A of the table sets out current levels of financial support. This is provided in vouchers and includes one for £10 which can be exchanged for cash. Column B of the table sets out the level of support which will be provided with effect from 8 April 2002. This support will be provided wholly in cash.
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| Column A | Column B | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying couple Lone parent aged 18 or over Single person aged 25 or over Single person aged at least 18 but under 25 Person aged at least 16 but under 18(15) Person aged under 16 | 57.37 36.54 36.54 28.95 31.75 30.95 | 59.26 37.77 37.77 29.89 32.50 33.50 |
(15) Except a member of a qualifying couple.
Asylum seekers in receipt of the full support package (accommodation and subsistence) receive fully furnished accommodation including cooking utensils. Council tax and utilities are paid for centrally.
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are resident in (a) the Gainsborough constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. [44643]
Angela Eagle: The information is not available in the form requested. We currently only have statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported directly by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
The only cluster area to which NASS disperses asylum seekers in Lincolnshire is Lincoln. As at the end of December 2001, 70 asylum seekers (including dependants) were being supported in NASS accommodation in Lincoln. Some asylum seekers supported by NASS find their own accommodation and receive subsistence only support (vouchers) from NASS. From available information, as at the end of December 2001, there were 500 asylum seekers (including dependants) in receipt of subsistence only support (vouchers) in the East Midlands Region (which includes Lincolnshire). Figures are not currently available by constituency for those asylum seekers supported by the NASS.
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose applications have been refused have been removed from the United Kingdom during the last year for which figures are available. [44642]
Angela Eagle: Provisionally, there were 9,285 principal asylum applicants (to the nearest five) removed from the United Kingdom in 2001. Further information is given in the table.
| Principal applicants removed | Dependants removed(18) | Total asylum seekers removed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 2,070 | n/a | n/a |
| Q2 | 2,375 | 215 | 2,590 |
| Q3 | 2,385 | 355 | 2,745 |
| Q4 | 2,450 | 485 | 2,935 |
(16) Provisional figures, rounded to the nearest five. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
(17) Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
(18) Data on dependants of asylum seekers removed have only been collected since April 2001.
Information on the number of asylum removals is published on a quarterly basis. Information for the first quarter (January to March) of 2002 will be published
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on 31 May 2002 on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last received a letter from the chief constable of Merseyside concerning the future housing of asylum seekers in Landmark and Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [44105]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 18 March 2002]: A letter from the chief constable of Merseyside police concerning the future housing of asylum seekers in Landmark and Inn on the Park in Everton, Liverpool was received on 12 March 2002. We are reviewing the situation in the light of his comments.
Metropolitan Police (Racism)
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of allegations of racism have been made against officers serving in the Metropolitan police in the last 12 months. [43015]
Mr. Denham: Data are collected centrally on a financial year basis for racial discrimination. In the 12 months from April 2000 to March 2001, the Metropolitan police recorded 352 complaints of racial discrimination.
Wheel Clamping
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce legislation on wheel clamping. [43012]
Mr. Denham: Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 anyone engaged in wheel clamping by way of business or employment or for monetary gain (as well as other designated groups) will need to obtain a licence from the Security Industry Authority. The authority will begin operations in 2003 and will have wheel clamping as one of its priority areas.
Charity Commission
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Charity Commission investigation into organisations that operate within charitable rules promoting Islamic fundamentalism and raising funds for proscribed organisations. [43480]
Angela Eagle: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department responsible for charities in England and Wales. The Director of Operations at the Charity Commission wrote to my hon. Friend on 11 March 2002.
Correspondence
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walthamstow will receive a reply to his letters regarding Mr. M. Amin (A466239), sent on 12 October 2000 and 14 November 2001. [43774]
Angela Eagle: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 22 March 2002. I am sorry I did not send an earlier reply.
25 Mar 2002 : Column 597W
Animal Experiments
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set up a royal commission inquiry into animal experiments. [43969]
Angela Eagle: The Government have not ruled out a Royal Commission but strongly believe that resources can best be used to make immediate improvements to the operation of the 1986 Act and to promote the fullest application of the 3Rs—replacing the use of animals with alternative methods; reducing the number of animals needed for a particular purpose and refining the procedures to minimise suffering.
In this context, the Animal Procedures Committee is currently considering the responses to a public consultation paper as part of its review of the cost/benefit assessment of applications for authority to use animals in scientific procedures. As part of this work, the committee plans to produce a statement on the validity of animal experiments. I expect to receive its report in the next few months.
The House of Lords has also established a Select Committee on the use of animals in scientific procedures and is currently gathering evidence.
Foster Carers
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to allow non-working foster carers the opportunity to earn credits for national insurance purposes. [34630]
Mr. McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
Foster carers whose allowance contains a reward element are liable to pay national insurance contributions. Those who have no liability may choose to pay voluntary contributions. We will keep these arrangements under review as we do with all rules relating to benefits.
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