House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Mar 2003 (pt 15)

5 Mar 2003 : Column 1065W—continued

Appeals

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations have been received in each year since 1988 regarding right to appeal cases to the Court of Appeal where the sentencing is seen to be unduly lenient; and if he will make a statement. [100208]

The Solicitor-General: I am answering this question on behalf of the Home Secretary and I will write to the hon. Member with my answer shortly.

Asylum Seekers

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) material assistance and (b) protection is given to asylum seekers returned to their home countries. [100012]

Beverley Hughes: For asylum seekers who choose to return on a voluntary basis we provide an independent counselling service and an in-kind grant of £500, which provides support to promote re-integration. For Afghans returning voluntarily, there is also a cash payment programme providing £600 for individuals and up to £2,500 for families, and access to a training and employment project in Afghanistan. Protection is not provided to asylum seekers returning voluntarily because they have withdrawn their claim.

Those subject to enforced removal do not receive the benefits of voluntary return. The exception is Afghans, subject to enforced removal, who may have access to a training and employment project in Afghanistan. Protection is not considered necessary as their claim has been found to be unsubstantiated.

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Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under 18 years of age have applied for asylum in each year since 1997. [100313]

Beverley Hughes: 13,025 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were lodged by asylum seekers under 18 in 2002. 8,705 applications were lodged in 2001. In addition, it is estimated that approximately 6,400 asylum seekers aged under 18 applied for asylum in 2000, 3,600 in 1999, 4,600 in 1998 and 1,600 in 1997. These figures exclude dependants, and may overstate since some applicants aged 18 or over may claim to be younger.

Information on asylum applications by age and gender 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. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are used to (a) identify child asylum seekers and (b) assist them in gaining contact with their parents. [100316]

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Rules (HC 395, as amended) define a child as a person who is under 18 years of age or who, in the absence of documentary evidence establishing age, appears to be under that age. In the absence of documentary evidence it falls to officers of the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate to make the judgment as to whether an applicant is under or over 18, based on the appearance of the applicant. Social Services Departments make use of services such as the Red Cross to trace family where this is feasible and in accordance with the child's needs and wishes.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children claimed asylum on arrival in the UK in each of the last five years. [100478]

Beverley Hughes: 2,290 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were lodged at ports by asylum seekers under 18 in 2002. 2,195 applications were lodged in 2001. These figures exclude dependants, and may overstate since some applicants aged 18 or over may claim to be younger. Information for years prior to 2001 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were placed in each local authority area in England under the dispersal policy in each year since 1998. [98680]

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested. Statistics are only available on the dispersal of asylum seekers who are supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) since it commenced operation in April 2000.

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Numbers of asylum seekers placed in NASS accommodation under the dispersal policy are available on a quarterly and annual basis. These statistics are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

5 Mar 2003 : Column 1068W

Figures for asylum seekers in receipt of NASS accommodation support in each Local Authority area as at the end of December 2002 are given in the table. Information in respect of the number of persons dispersed to an area during a given year is not available.

Region Local Authority Dispersed Disbenefited Total

England Darlington 35 — 35

North East Gateshead 565 — 580

— — — 15 —

— Hartlepool 50 — 50

— Middlesbrough 770 — 770

— Newcastle upon Tyne 1,775 — 1,775

— — — 5 —

— North Tyneside 500 — 500

— Redcar and Cleveland 355 — 355

— South Tyneside 170 — 170

— Stockton-on-Tees 740 — 740

— Sunderland 1,030 — 1,030

— Total 5,995 — 6,010

— — — 15 —

North West Burrow-in-Furness — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Blackburn with Darwen 670 — 670

— Bolton 1,160 — 1,160

— Burnley 55 — 55

— Bury 625 — 625

— Crewe and Nantwich 10 — 10

— Ellesmere Port and — — 5

— Neston — 5 —

— Hyndburn 15 — 15

— Liverpool 1,925 — 1,925

— Manchester 1,705 — 1,725

— — — 20 —

— Oldham 660 — 660

— — — 5 —

— Pendle 75 — 75

— Rochdale 440 — 440

— Salford 1,235 — 1,240

— — — 10 —

— Sefton 125 — 125

— St. Helens — — 5

— — 5 — —

— Stockport 265 — 270

— — — 5 —

— Tameside 315 — 315

— Trafford 130 — 135

— Wigan 860 — 860

— Total 10,275 — 10,325

— — — 45 —

Yorkshire and the Humber Barnsley 495 — 495

Bradford 1,640 — 1,650

— — — 10 —

— Calderdale 380 — 380

— Doncaster 995 — 1,015

— — — 20 —

— Kingston upon Hull, City of 1,010 — 1,010

— Kirklees 935 — 935

— Leeds 1,685 — 1,690

— — — 5 —

— North East Lincolnshire 170 — 170

— Rotherham 695 — 695

— Sheffield 1,645 — 1,645

— — — 5 —

— Wakefield 530 - 530

— York — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Total 10,185 — 10,225

— — — 40 —

East Midlands Charnwood 10 — 10

— Corby — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Derby 1,550 — 1,550

— Gedling 20 — 20

— Leicester 1,260 — 1,260

— Lincoln 115 — 115

— Northampton — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Nottingham 1,570 — 1,570

— Rushclife — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Total 4,525 — 4,540

— — — 10 —

West Midlands Birmingham 3,530 — 3,555

— — — 25 —

— Coventry 1,595 — 1,595

— Dudley 695 — 695

— Herefordshire, County of — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Newcastle-under-Lyme 70 — 70

— Sandwell 830 — 835

— — — 5 —

— Solihull 110 — 110

— Stoke-on-Trent 1,255 - 1,260

— — — 5 —

— Walsall 555 — 555

— Wolverhampton 1,625 — 1,625

— — — 5 —

— Wychavon — — 5

— — — 5 —

— Total 10,260 — 10,305

— — — 45 —

East of England Bedford — * *

— — — 15 —

— Cambridge — — —

— Epping Forest 10 — 10

— Ipswich 75 — 75

— Luton — — 5

— Peterborough 405 — 425

— — — 20 —

— Total 490 — 535

— — — 40 —

Greater London Barking and Dagenham 5 40 45

— Barnet 15 75 90

— Bexley — 10 10

— Brent — 50 50

— Bromley — 20 20

— Camden 10 20 35

— Croydon — 50 50

— Ealing — 90 90

— Enfield 165 200 365

— Greenwich — 45 45

— Hackney 50 90 135

— Hammersmith and Fulham — 95 95

— Haringey 260 260 520

— Harrow — 65 65

— Havering — * *

— Hillingdon — 20 20

— Hounslow — 35 35

— Islington 30 115 145

— Kensington and Chelsea — 15 15

— Kingston upon Thames 5 25 25

— Lambeth 50 50 100

— Lewisham — 80 80

— Merton — 20 20

— Newham 60 120 180

— Redbridge — 25 25

— Richmond upon Thames — 15 15

— Southwark — 55 55

— Tower Hamlets — 20 20

— Waltham Forest 55 120 175

— Wandsworth — 35 35

— Westminster — 40 40

— Total 710 1,900 2,605

South East Ashford — 10 10

— Brighton and Hove 60 15 75

— Hastings 225 — 225

— Medway — 10 10

— Oxford — 15 15

— Portsmouth 340 — 340

— Shepway — 5 5

— Slough — 15 15

— Southampton 455 5 460

— Thanet — 15 15

— Wycombe — 5 5

— Total 1,080 100 1,180

—

South West Bristol, City of 410 — 410

— Exeter 65 — 65

— Gloucester — 10 10

— Plymouth 375 — 375

— South Gloucestershire 55 — 55

— Swindon 5 5 10

— Total 915 10 925

(England) Total 44,440 2,210 46,650

Wales Cardiff 1,000 — 1,000

— Neath Port Talbot * — *

— Newport 110 5 115

— Swansea 410 — 410

— Wrexham 55 — 55

— Total 1,580 5 1,585

Scotland Glasgow City 5,665 — 5,665

— Total 5,665 — 5,665

Northern Ireland Belfast 135 — 135

— Newry and Mourne * — *

— Newtownabbey 30 — 30

— Carrickfergus 5 — 5

— Total 170 — 170

(United Kingdom) Total 51,850 2,220 54,070

Region	Local Authority	Dispersed	Disbenefited	Total
England	Darlington	35	—	35
North East	Gateshead	565	—	580
—	—	—	15	—
—	Hartlepool	50	—	50
—	Middlesbrough	770	—	770
—	Newcastle upon Tyne	1,775	—	1,775
—	—	—	5	—
—	North Tyneside	500	—	500
—	Redcar and Cleveland	355	—	355
—	South Tyneside	170	—	170
—	Stockton-on-Tees	740	—	740
—	Sunderland	1,030	—	1,030
—	Total	5,995	—	6,010
—	—	—	15	—
North West	Burrow-in-Furness	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Blackburn with Darwen	670	—	670
—	Bolton	1,160	—	1,160
—	Burnley	55	—	55
—	Bury	625	—	625
—	Crewe and Nantwich	10	—	10
—	Ellesmere Port and	—	—	5
—	Neston	—	5	—
—	Hyndburn	15	—	15
—	Liverpool	1,925	—	1,925
—	Manchester	1,705	—	1,725
—	—	—	20	—
—	Oldham	660	—	660
—	—	—	5	—
—	Pendle	75	—	75
—	Rochdale	440	—	440
—	Salford	1,235	—	1,240
—	—	—	10	—
—	Sefton	125	—	125
—	St. Helens	—	—	5
—	—	5	—	—
—	Stockport	265	—	270
—	—	—	5	—
—	Tameside	315	—	315
—	Trafford	130	—	135
—	Wigan	860	—	860
—	Total	10,275	—	10,325
—	—	—	45	—

Yorkshire and the Humber	Barnsley	495	—	495
	Bradford	1,640	—	1,650
—	—	—	10	—
—	Calderdale	380	—	380
—	Doncaster	995	—	1,015
—	—	—	20	—
—	Kingston upon Hull, City of	1,010	—	1,010
—	Kirklees	935	—	935
—	Leeds	1,685	—	1,690
—	—	—	5	—
—	North East Lincolnshire	170	—	170
—	Rotherham	695	—	695
—	Sheffield	1,645	—	1,645
—	—	—	5	—
—	Wakefield	530	-	530
—	York	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Total	10,185	—	10,225
—	—	—	40	—

East Midlands	Charnwood	10	—	10
—	Corby	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Derby	1,550	—	1,550
—	Gedling	20	—	20
—	Leicester	1,260	—	1,260
—	Lincoln	115	—	115
—	Northampton	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Nottingham	1,570	—	1,570
—	Rushclife	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Total	4,525	—	4,540
—	—	—	10	—

West Midlands	Birmingham	3,530	—	3,555
—	—	—	25	—
—	Coventry	1,595	—	1,595
—	Dudley	695	—	695
—	Herefordshire, County of	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Newcastle-under-Lyme	70	—	70
—	Sandwell	830	—	835
—	—	—	5	—
—	Solihull	110	—	110
—	Stoke-on-Trent	1,255	-	1,260
—	—	—	5	—
—	Walsall	555	—	555
—	Wolverhampton	1,625	—	1,625
—	—	—	5	—
—	Wychavon	—	—	5
—	—	—	5	—
—	Total	10,260	—	10,305
—	—	—	45	—

East of England	Bedford	—	*	*
—	—	—	15	—
—	Cambridge	—	—	—
—	Epping Forest	10	—	10
—	Ipswich	75	—	75
—	Luton	—	—	5
—	Peterborough	405	—	425
—	—	—	20	—
—	Total	490	—	535
—	—	—	40	—

Greater London	Barking and Dagenham	5	40	45
—	Barnet	15	75	90
—	Bexley	—	10	10
—	Brent	—	50	50
—	Bromley	—	20	20
—	Camden	10	20	35
—	Croydon	—	50	50
—	Ealing	—	90	90
—	Enfield	165	200	365
—	Greenwich	—	45	45
—	Hackney	50	90	135
—	Hammersmith and Fulham	—	95	95
—	Haringey	260	260	520
—	Harrow	—	65	65
—	Havering	—	*	*
—	Hillingdon	—	20	20
—	Hounslow	—	35	35
—	Islington	30	115	145
—	Kensington and Chelsea	—	15	15
—	Kingston upon Thames	5	25	25
—	Lambeth	50	50	100
—	Lewisham	—	80	80
—	Merton	—	20	20
—	Newham	60	120	180
—	Redbridge	—	25	25
—	Richmond upon Thames	—	15	15
—	Southwark	—	55	55
—	Tower Hamlets	—	20	20
—	Waltham Forest	55	120	175
—	Wandsworth	—	35	35
—	Westminster	—	40	40
—	Total	710	1,900	2,605

South East	Ashford	—	10	10
—	Brighton and Hove	60	15	75
—	Hastings	225	—	225
—	Medway	—	10	10
—	Oxford	—	15	15
—	Portsmouth	340	—	340
—	Shepway	—	5	5
—	Slough	—	15	15
—	Southampton	455	5	460
—	Thanet	—	15	15
—	Wycombe	—	5	5
—	Total	1,080	100	1,180
—
South West	Bristol, City of	410	—	410
—	Exeter	65	—	65
—	Gloucester	—	10	10
—	Plymouth	375	—	375
—	South Gloucestershire	55	—	55
—	Swindon	5	5	10
—	Total	915	10	925
(England)	Total	44,440	2,210	46,650

Wales	Cardiff	1,000	—	1,000
—	Neath Port Talbot	*	—	*
—	Newport	110	5	115
—	Swansea	410	—	410
—	Wrexham	55	—	55
—	Total	1,580	5	1,585

Scotland	Glasgow City	5,665	—	5,665
—	Total	5,665	—	5,665

Northern Ireland	Belfast	135	—	135
—	Newry and Mourne	*	—	*
—	Newtownabbey	30	—	30
—	Carrickfergus	5	—	5
—	Total	170	—	170
(United Kingdom)	Total	51,850	2,220	54,070

⁽¹⁸⁾ Disbenefited cases are cases which were previously supported under the main UK benefits system and have been moved onto NASS support. Some of these cases have remained in the original social services accommodation.

Note:

All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5, figures between 1 and 2 are represented by a *. Only those Local Authorities where NASS dispersed or disbenefitted cases are resident are shown.

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Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time is between the arrival in the UK and the date of asylum application of those asylum seekers who have been refused support by NASS under sections 55 or 57 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and for whom figures are available; how many applied for asylum within (a) 24 hours, (b) one week and (c) one month of their arrival in the UK; and what his estimate is of the number of asylum seekers who have been refused support by NASS under sections 55 or 57 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (i) in total and (ii) on each day since 8 January. [99528]

Beverley Hughes: Information on the date of arrival of applicants who apply in-country is not available because, for example, some may have entered clandestinely. Nor is information collated centrally on the time between the claimed date of arrival in the UK and the date on which an asylum claim was made. Information on the operation of sections 55 and 57 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 will be published in due course.

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