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13 Jun 2003 : Column 1100W—continued
Deportations
Mr. Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were deported from the UK following failed asylum claims (a) in each year from 1980 to 2002 and (b) in each calendar month in 2003. [118074]
Beverley Hughes: Data on the number of principal asylum applicants removed from the United Kingdom in each year from 1992 to 2002, and for the first three months of 2003 are given in the table. Data are not available for earlier periods.
| Principal applicants | |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 1,350 |
| 1993 | 1,820 |
| 1994 | 2,220 |
| 1995 | 3,170 |
| 1996 | 4,820 |
| 1997 | 7,165 |
| 1998 | 6,990 |
| 1999 | 7,665 |
| 2000(4) | 8,980 |
| 2001(4) | 9,285 |
| 2002(4) | 10,410 |
| 2003 | |
| January(4) | 770 |
| February(4) | 890 |
| March(4) | 955 |
(1) Data have been rounded to the nearest five.
(2) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, excluding dependants. Removal figures exclude dependants of asylum seekers removed; data on dependants removed have only been collected since April 2001.
(3) Including persons known to have departed 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them.
(4) Provisional.
The data provided in the table exclude dependants of asylum seekers, since data on dependants have only been available since April 2001. 1,495 dependants of asylum seekers were removed in the period April to December 2001, 2,925 in 2002, 390 in January 2003, 455 in February 2003 and 525 in March 2003. All data are provisional.
Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed.
Information on the removal of asylum applicants is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to June 2003, and will be available from the end of August 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
13 Jun 2003 : Column 1101W
Drug-related Assets
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value is of drug-related assets that have been recovered each year since May 2000. [117919]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The receipts remitted to the Secretary of State from confiscation orders made under the Drug Trafficking Acts 1986 and 1994 and from drug cash seizures under the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 for each year from 2000 were:
£14,827,000 for 2000–01 and £16,503,000 for 2001–02. The figure for the year 2002–03 is not yet available.
Sex Industry
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to provide counselling and protection for women and young girls found after being brought into the UK illegally to work in the sex industry; and if he will make a statement. [118151]
Beverley Hughes: The White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven"—published in February 2002—sets out our general proposals for assisting the victims of trafficking.
On 10 March, we launched a pilot scheme under which adult female victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation who are willing to come forward to the authorities and help law enforcement against organised criminals are offered protection and a range of support services such as counselling and health checks in safe accommodation managed by a voluntary sector organisation.
We will also consider, in the light of individual circumstances, whether it would be appropriate to allow such victims who have co-operated to remain here. Where they are to return home, we will assist them to do so, providing them with initial counselling, ensuring that they have suitable accommodation to return to, and providing help to enable them to re-integrate into their own community and find employment.
Under the provisions of the Children Act 1989 minors are the responsibility of local authority social services departments. It is not possible for minors to be admitted to the pilot scheme.
Sickness Absence
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in the Department have been on long-term sick leave in each of the last two years. [115868]
Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 219W.
Unauthorised Campers
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he plans to take to reduce the financial burden to local authorities of evicting unauthorised campers. [117741]
Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
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The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister already provides grants to local authorities for environmental, protective and cultural services. It is for local authorities to set out their own priorities for use of their resources, such as for evicting unauthorised campers from land.
Grants for the provision of transit sites, and refurbishment of existing sites are specifically targeted for Gypsies and Travellers.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Access for Disabled People
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what actions she has taken or is taking to ensure that the websites of her Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are accessible to partially sighted and blind people; and if she will make a statement. [117355]
Ms Hewitt: My Department adheres to the Guidelines for UK Government Websites, which aim to make websites accessible to the largest possible number of users, regardless of disability or the level of technology they are using. We also carry out user testing to ensure the sites are easily accessible and usable by all.
Accident Group
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will launch an investigation under the Companies Acts into the Accident Group. [117104]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The administrators of the company have a duty under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 to report to the Department of Trade and Industry on the conduct of the company's directors. If the hon. Member has information which indicates the need for an additional Companies Act investigation he should send it to the Department for consideration.
Arms Exports (Indonesia)
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list outstanding arms related export licence applications from companies wishing to export to Indonesia; and if she will make a statement. [118141]
Nigel Griffiths: As of the 6 June 2003, 30 Standard Individual Export Licence applications and 15 Open Individual Export Licence applications were awaiting a decision, where the end users were in Indonesia, with the following ratings:
13 Jun 2003 : Column 1103W
S1P1
1A001
3A233
5A001
5A002
5D002
5E002
6A001
6A002
6A006
6A203
7A102
7A103
Asbestos
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; whether she has made an estimate of the cost of compliance; and if she will make a statement. [117702]
Ms Hewitt: The DTI has for the London Estate an Asbestos Register of known asbestos materials. We inspect the known asbestos on a regular basis to ensure that it is still safe. If not we would recommend the necessary action such as removal or encapsulation. We are contacting landlords or Managing Agents to prepare the necessary documentation of known asbestos for all buildings that the DTI or agencies occupy.
We are proposing to be ahead of the requirement to comply with the Regulations by the end of the year.
Procedures are in place to advise contractors of any known or suspect material when they are working within a specific vicinity.
A procedure is in place for the identification of known locations.
Costs can not be identified at present until such time as the whole has been surveyed.
Credit Agencies
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) licensed credit agencies and (b) home credit agencies. [114382]
Miss Melanie Johnson: A list of credit agencies and home credit agencies licensed by the Office of Fair Trading is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Outdoor Activities
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional guidance she has given to management units organising outdoor activities for her Department since her Department's recently published accident record. [117712]
Ms Hewitt: Following this incident the department is reviewing its procedures for assessing such events. The Departments Health and Safety team are in the process
13 Jun 2003 : Column 1104W
of devising a checklist for employees carrying out outdoor activities (such as away days). The checklist will ensure that the employees are:
- (a) Trained, the method of training, ensure they keep a record of the training session;
- (b) Whether all employees are able to take part—i.e. details of fitness, disability etc;
- (c) Is there any basic knowledge employees should have prior to the activity?
- (d) Are the employees taking part aware of the potential dangers when carrying out the activity?
- (e) Have risk assessments been carried out for all activities, these will highlight hazards and risks, and the control methods;
- (f) Will the employees be provided with relevant PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)?
- (g) Have the employees been made aware of the Emergency Procedures on site i.e. Fire Exits, First Aiders, Assembly Points etc;
- (h) The procurement of such activities will also require that the providing company has adequate and suitable insurance and that there is evidence that any equipment used in the course of the activity is fit for purpose.
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