House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Nov 2002 (pt 6)

20 Nov 2002 : Column 130W—continued

Human Trafficking

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to combat human trafficking and associated sex-slavery in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the size of this problem in (a) the UK and (b) London. [80535]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We have set out our strategy to tackle trafficking of human beings, in the White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven, published earlier this year. There are four main strands to the strategy:

strengthening the law;

tackling the criminals through intelligence and enforcement;

international co-operation and prevention in source and transit countries; and

dealing appropriately with the victims of trafficking.

Forming an accurate estimate of the levels of trafficking in people is problematic due to the hidden nature of the act. There is currently no accurate, reliable data in existence within the United Kingdom or the European Union. A Home Office research study 'Stopping Traffic' published in 2000, indicated that the number of women and children trafficked into the United Kingdom for the purposes of sexual exploitation, was likely to be in the range of 140 to 1,400 per year.

Illegal Immigration (East Sussex)

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve precautions against illegal immigration in East Sussex. [80679]

20 Nov 2002 : Column 131W

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service is committed to maintaining secure borders throughout the United Kingdom and countering evasion of the immigration control. A close watch is kept on the situation in East Sussex to assess regularly the risk of persons entering the United Kingdom illegally and to ensure that any necessary action is taken. Ports in East Sussex are not currently considered to be at high risk from illegal immigration. The Immigration Service deal with illegal entrants and, in consultation with the Police and other control Authorities, will assist in the identification and prosecution of those who facilitate illegal entrants.

20 Nov 2002 : Column 132W

Immigration Policy

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign spouses and fiance(e)s were admitted to live in the UK with their British spouses in each year from 1990. [80708]

Beverley Hughes: The available information on the number of spouses admitted to the United Kingdom in each year from 1990 is given in the table.

It is not possible to identify separately those people who were admitted to live in the United Kingdom with a spouse who was a British citizen from those admitted to join a spouse who had settled in the United Kingdom but was not a British citizen.

Admissions of spouses, fiance(e)s for a limited period prior to settlement⁽¹⁰⁾, excluding EEA nationals⁽¹¹⁾, 1990 to 2001—United KingdomNumber of persons

Category and nationality 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Husbands

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ — — 370 350 310 380

Americas — — 890 780 880 970

Africa — — 580 640 740 610

Indian sub-continent 1,680 2,160 3,720 3,530 3,070 3,020

Other Asia — — 330 270 300 330

Oceania — — 640 530 550 560

Other nationalities — — 130 110 40 30

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 4,860 5,040 6,660 6,200 5,890 5,900

Male fiancés

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ — — 110 80 80 90

Americas — — 190 140 150 150

Africa — — 80 80 100 90

Indian sub-continent 500 420 290 250 150 140

Other Asia — — 70 60 60 60

Oceania — — 100 70 70 70

Other nationalities — — 30 30 10 10

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 1,060 940 860 720 610 610

Wives

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ — — 930 940 740 900

Americas — — 1,600 1,520 1,570 1,640

Africa — — 820 830 980 940

Indian sub-continent 5,040 5,310 5,360 5,040 5,050 5,060

Other Asia — — 1,540 1,460 1,600 1,760

Oceania — — 880 740 800 760

Other nationalities — — 380 220 80 60

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 10,900 10,900 11,500 10,800 10,800 11,100

Female fiancées

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ — — 260 330 240 310

Americas — — 350 290 380 370

Africa — — 100 100 100 90

Indian sub-continent 490 410 380 300 260 250

Other Asia — — 440 340 380 390

Oceania — — 120 90 90 100

Other nationalities — — 60 40 10 10

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 1,830 1,790 1,720 1,500 1,460 1,500

Category and nationality 1996 1997⁽¹²⁾ 1998 1999 2000⁽¹³⁾ 2001⁽¹³⁾

Husbands

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ 420 605 620 645 660 495

Americas 880 975 1,090 1,145 1,000 610

Africa 710 1,085 1,490 1,610 1,515 1,310

Indian sub-continent 3,540 5,865 7,520 4,600 6,240 5,410

Other Asia 340 405 430 460 450 455

Oceania 530 630 730 835 725 560

Other nationalities 30 35 35 25 15 20

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 6,460 9,600 11,910 9,325 10,605 8,855

Male fiancés

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ 90 130 105 120 100 60

Americas 160 195 175 140 160 105

Africa 80 105 140 130 100 85

Indian sub-continent 100 185 215 220 240 235

Other Asia 70 70 90 75 55 65

Oceania 80 95 125 100 90 60

Other nationalities ⁽¹⁴⁾— 5 5 5 5 —

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 580 785 855 795 750 610

Wives

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ 1,040 1,165 1,410 1,990 1,745 1,345

Americas 1,670 1,740 1,950 2,520 1,955 1,255

Africa 1,070 1,370 1,895 2,300 2,235 2,165

Indian sub-continent 5,740 6,645 8,010 6,525 8,700 8,495

Other Asia 1,880 2,250 2,665 2,980 3,310 3,480

Oceania 790 900 1,100 1,305 1,145 1,060

Other nationalities 50 50 35 50 45 60

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 12,200 14,120 17,070 17,670 19,140 17,860

Female fiancées

Europe⁽¹¹⁾ 400 485 560 665 670 445

Americas 400 445 450 490 510 255

Africa 120 105 150 130 130 115

Indian sub-continent 250 200 305 285 310 295

Other Asia 430 520 710 740 725 595

Oceania 110 130 145 140 110 70

Other nationalities 10 5 10 10 10 5

All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾ 1,710 1,880 2,330 2,460 2,475 1,775

Category and nationality	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Husbands
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	—	—	370	350	310	380
Americas	—	—	890	780	880	970
Africa	—	—	580	640	740	610
Indian sub-continent	1,680	2,160	3,720	3,530	3,070	3,020
Other Asia	—	—	330	270	300	330
Oceania	—	—	640	530	550	560
Other nationalities	—	—	130	110	40	30
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	4,860	5,040	6,660	6,200	5,890	5,900

Male fiancés
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	—	—	110	80	80	90
Americas	—	—	190	140	150	150
Africa	—	—	80	80	100	90
Indian sub-continent	500	420	290	250	150	140
Other Asia	—	—	70	60	60	60
Oceania	—	—	100	70	70	70
Other nationalities	—	—	30	30	10	10
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	1,060	940	860	720	610	610

Wives
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	—	—	930	940	740	900
Americas	—	—	1,600	1,520	1,570	1,640
Africa	—	—	820	830	980	940
Indian sub-continent	5,040	5,310	5,360	5,040	5,050	5,060
Other Asia	—	—	1,540	1,460	1,600	1,760
Oceania	—	—	880	740	800	760
Other nationalities	—	—	380	220	80	60
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	10,900	10,900	11,500	10,800	10,800	11,100

Female fiancées
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	—	—	260	330	240	310
Americas	—	—	350	290	380	370
Africa	—	—	100	100	100	90
Indian sub-continent	490	410	380	300	260	250
Other Asia	—	—	440	340	380	390
Oceania	—	—	120	90	90	100
Other nationalities	—	—	60	40	10	10
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	1,830	1,790	1,720	1,500	1,460	1,500

Category and nationality	1996	1997⁽¹²⁾	1998	1999	2000⁽¹³⁾	2001⁽¹³⁾
Husbands
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	420	605	620	645	660	495
Americas	880	975	1,090	1,145	1,000	610
Africa	710	1,085	1,490	1,610	1,515	1,310
Indian sub-continent	3,540	5,865	7,520	4,600	6,240	5,410
Other Asia	340	405	430	460	450	455
Oceania	530	630	730	835	725	560
Other nationalities	30	35	35	25	15	20
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	6,460	9,600	11,910	9,325	10,605	8,855
Male fiancés
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	90	130	105	120	100	60
Americas	160	195	175	140	160	105
Africa	80	105	140	130	100	85
Indian sub-continent	100	185	215	220	240	235
Other Asia	70	70	90	75	55	65
Oceania	80	95	125	100	90	60
Other nationalities	⁽¹⁴⁾—	5	5	5	5	—
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	580	785	855	795	750	610

Wives
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	1,040	1,165	1,410	1,990	1,745	1,345
Americas	1,670	1,740	1,950	2,520	1,955	1,255
Africa	1,070	1,370	1,895	2,300	2,235	2,165
Indian sub-continent	5,740	6,645	8,010	6,525	8,700	8,495
Other Asia	1,880	2,250	2,665	2,980	3,310	3,480
Oceania	790	900	1,100	1,305	1,145	1,060
Other nationalities	50	50	35	50	45	60
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	12,200	14,120	17,070	17,670	19,140	17,860

Female fiancées
Europe⁽¹¹⁾	400	485	560	665	670	445
Americas	400	445	450	490	510	255
Africa	120	105	150	130	130	115
Indian sub-continent	250	200	305	285	310	295
Other Asia	430	520	710	740	725	595
Oceania	110	130	145	140	110	70
Other nationalities	10	5	10	10	10	5
All nationalities⁽¹¹⁾	1,710	1,880	2,330	2,460	2,475	1,775

⁽¹⁰⁾Husbands and wives seeking settlement, and fiancé(e)s, are given leave to enter for a limited period (apart from certain wives who are entitled to settlement on arrival). Settlement is granted after a year's probationary period; for those admitted as fiancé(e)s the probationary period starts after marriage.

⁽¹¹⁾Excludes EC nationals up to 1993 and EEA nationals since 1994.

⁽¹²⁾Figures prior to 1997 rounded to three significant figures, figures from 1997 rounded to five.

⁽¹³⁾A change in procedures may have resulted in some under-recording in the fourth quarter of 2000 and the first quarter of 2001.

⁽¹⁴⁾Negligible ie five or fewer.

'—' Not available

20 Nov 2002 : Column 133W

Refugee Accommodation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on progress on the Government's assessment of the Refugee Council 'core and cluster' model of accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement on the methods of evaluation of the different models of accommodation centre for people seeking asylum being planned by the Government; [81044]

(2) if he will define the different models of accommodation centre that the Government is planning for people seeking asylum; [81043]

(3) if he will make it his policy to adopt the Refugee Council care and cluster model of accommodating centres. [81042]

Beverley Hughes: As I announced in the House of Commons on 5 November 2002, Official Report, column 150W we remain committed to developing large, self-contained, out of town facilities in order to thoroughly test the on-site provision of services at accommodation centres. However, in order to test an alternative model, one of the trial centres will be smaller than 750 places and for single men only and may be located in or on the edge of an urban area. We have also made clear that our minds are not closed to other models and, in particular that we will continue to work with the Refugee Council on their Xcore and cluster" proposal. This would involve a series of hostels clustered around

20 Nov 2002 : Column 134W

a central services core. No decisions have yet been made on the Refugee Council proposals. We will undertake a thorough evaluation of the accommodation centre trial. It will include a combination of management information, consultation with relevant people and more formal research carried out by independent researchers under contract to the Home Office. The evaluation conclusions will be publicly available, and provided to Parliament.

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