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13 May 2003 : Column 216W—continued
Gun Crime
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many weapons, and of what type, have been handed in (a) in total and (b) to each UK police force as part of the national gun amnesty. [112720]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Police forces will be providing final gun amnesty figures at the end of May. This will include a detailed breakdown of the items handed in. However, latest police estimates indicate that over 40,000 guns will have been handed in during the amnesty, along with nearly a million rounds of ammunition and 5,896 other weapons.
Immigration and Asylum
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Iraqi prisoners of war being treated in hospitals in the UK will be eligible to claim asylum. [108032]
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Beverley Hughes [holding answer 8 April 2003]: There is currently a hold on deciding all asylum claims from Iraqis. However, there is currently no question of Iraqi prisoners of war in the UK being granted asylum or Humanitarian Protection. Despite the hold, all Iraqi asylum applicants are fingerprinted and checked against the Immigration Service Warnings Index computer system. As part of the initial screening process, all claimants are interviewed comprehensively about the routes and methods employed to reach the UK.
Any cases giving rise to security concerns are immediately referred to the appropriate agencies. When decision-making is resumed, all claims will be considered on their individual merits against the circumstances which then apply in Iraq. But anyone who commits a war crime or is guilty of terrorist acts will be denied asylum, as the Refugee Convention requires. So, too, will anyone committing a serious non-political crime before arrival in the UK.
In addition, any other person whether asylum seeker or refugee who poses a threat to national security will be denied the protection of the Refugee Convention.
It will not be possible to establish a claim for asylum simply on the basis of having been a Ba'ath Party official, of having supported Saddam Hussein or having been forced to join the party or fight against UK/US troops.
We do not expect Iraqis to face persecution following its liberation. We therefore envisage the progressive return ofIraqis to their country now that large scale combat operations are over. They will have an important role to play in rebuilding Iraq's economy and civic society.
Arrangements will be made for senior officers to consider any claims raising security concerns, including any evidence of having fought against UK/US troops, or where anything other than outright refusal is anticipated.
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether senior Iraqi republican guard commanders have applied for asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [112643]
Beverley Hughes: The Home Office has no record of an asylum application from anyone with a credible claim to have been a senior republican guard commander. Any evidence to the contrary will be thoroughly investigated.
All applicants for asylum are screened in order to establish their identity. Anyone who might be of security interest will be detained and referred to the appropriate agencies.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to repatriate (a) Iraqi asylum seekers and (b) Iraqis granted exceptional leave to remain; and if he will make a statement. [112150]
Beverley Hughes: We are working actively to ensure that Iraqis can be assisted to return voluntarily to their homeland as soon as practicable. Many Iraqis in the UK have skills, which will be of value to the reconstruction of Iraq. The Government are committed to helping clear
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the way for them to do so. We will work closely with the Iraqi communities in the UK and sector experts on voluntary return.
We will be looking to commence enforced returns of those who do not qualify for leave as soon as conditions allow.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures have been put in place in the NASS Restricting Access to NASS Support team to comply with the Court of Appeal judgment on section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and whether his Department will be issuing a new policy bulletin in relation to changes to procedure. [112162]
Beverley Hughes: Following the judgment of Mr. Justice Collins of 19 February on the application of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, we anticipated all of the main points of the Court of Appeal judgment of 18 March. Changes to the procedure have been made. For example:
- The interviewer and decision-maker are now one and the same person;
The purpose of the interview is clearly spelled out to the applicant at the outset;
The account given by the applicant about the circumstances in which entry to the UK was achieved is thoroughly probed and warnings are given when the story is not believed; and
Article 3 European Convention on Human rights (ECHR) issues are considered in all cases to ensure that a negative section 55 decision would not result in a breach of Convention rights.
Market Testing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated level of saving to the Department is from the use of market testing in 2002–03. [107775]
Mr. Blunkett: My department has not used market testing in 2002–03.
National Minimum Wage
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to his Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour. [110448]
Mr. Blunkett: There will be no cost as minimum rates in the Department, agencies and the relevant non- departmental public bodies already exceed the new national minimum wage.
Police
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers occupy (a) posts
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that have previously been occupied by civilian staff and (b) posts that could be performed by civilian staff in each police service in England and Wales; and what percentage these figures represent of the total officer strength of each police service in England and Wales. [111854]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not collected. Decisions about the deployment of staff, including decisions about whether particular posts should be filled by police officers or civilians rest with chief officers.
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take measures to discourage officers from forces where special priority payments are limited to 30 per cent. of the force from transferring to neighbouring forces with special priority payments for up to 40 per cent. of the force. [112436]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Secretary of State is not aware of evidence that officers have transferred for this reason. He has however asked the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) to review the Special Priority Payment (SPP) Scheme, to ensure that it is operating smoothly. PNB will wish to ensure that the Scheme is not having undesirable unintended effects. The Secretary of State wants PNB to ensure that the Scheme is delivering the outcomes for which it was agreed by all parties in PNB—principally to give extra rewards to officers in the most difficult and demanding frontline posts.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents involving North Wales police vehicles responding to emergency calls took place in each year from 1998 to 2003. [112513]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The number of collisions involving police vehicles engaged in immediate/emergency response and pursuits in the North Wales Police force area is as follows:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 9 |
| 1998–99 | 10 |
| 1999–2000 | 7 |
| 2000–01 | 12 |
| 2001–02 | 23 |
Notes:
The information is provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.
All figures are for financial years.
Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what central funding his Department makes available to police forces to cover the cost of policing football matches. [111164]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Police Grant Funding Formula allocates grant in line with general policing needs. It does not include a component specifically for the cost of policing football matches. However, in the last two years special grant support of £300,000 a year has been provided to South Wales Police Authority toward the cost of hosting the Cup Finals at the Millennium Stadium.
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