House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 Feb 2004 (pt 6)

26 Feb 2004 : Column 518W—continued

Strategy Unit Fisheries Report

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1135–36W, on the Strategy Unit Fisheries report, what the reasons are for the delay in the publication of this report. [156579]

Mr. Alexander: We aim to publish the Strategy Unit report on 25 March 2004, a year from its announcement. Copies will be placed in the House Libraries.

The report has been the subject of a detailed consultation with the key stakeholders in the fishing industry.

DEFENCE

Iraq

Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the report he has commissioned on the availability of body armour during the conflict in Iraq. [154983]

Mr. Hoon: The Department has carried out a comprehensive analysis of Operation TELIC and presented its findings in reports published in June and December last year. The availability of Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) was discussed in these reports. However, in the light of lessons identified during Operation TELIC, policy on the issuing of ECBA to troops on operations is now under review.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice is given to troops in Iraq about the dangers of depleted uranium. [156560]

Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 26W.

Nuclear Weapons (Decommissioning)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to achieve multilateral decommissioning of nuclear weapons. [156076]

Mr. Hoon: As a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) the United Kingdom is committed to Article VI in which each State Party to the treaty

"undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament . . ."

The UK anticipates that multilateral nuclear weapons decommissioning would take place within that context. Negotiations to implement Article VI have not yet commenced and are not scheduled. The way forward agreed by NPT States Parties at the 2000 NPT review conference is set out in the final document produced by that conference. The UK has made considerable progress on measures contained in the final document and will play a full role in the third session of the NPT Preparatory Committee in April this year.

26 Feb 2004 : Column 519W

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seekers have been detained pending removal at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre during 2003. [145365]

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of people detained pending removal from the United Kingdom and on the total number of detainees held under the Immigration Act during 2003 is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

26 Feb 2004 : Column 520W

The latest available information on people held in the Immigration Removal Estate show that at 27 September 2003 260 people were housed at the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre.

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications the UK has received for each of the last five years; and what the comparable figures are for each country in the European Union. [155508]

Beverley Hughes: The table shows the number of asylum applications received in each European Union country in each of the last five years.

Applications⁽²⁾ received for asylum in Europe, including dependants, by year of application, 1998 to 2003

1998 1999 2000 2001⁽³⁾ 2002⁽⁴⁾ 2003⁽⁴⁾

Austria 13,800 20,100 18,300 30,100 39,400 32,400

Belgium⁽⁵⁾ 25,000 40,800 48,700 28,000 21,400 19,300

France⁽⁵⁾ 25,500 35,100 44,200 53,900 58,100 69,300

Germany 98,600 95,100 78,600 88,300 71,100 50,400

Greece⁽⁶⁾ 3,000 1,500 3,000 5,500 5,700 8,200

Italy⁽⁷⁾ 9,500 33,400 18,000 9,600 7,300 n/a

Luxembourg⁽⁶⁾ 1,700 2,900 600 700 1,000 1,600

Netherlands 45,200 39,300 43,900 32,600 18,700 13,400

Portugal⁽⁶⁾ 400 300 200 200 200 100

Spain 6,600 8,400 7,200 9,200 6,200 5,700

Denmark⁽⁸⁾ 5,700 6,500 10,100 12,500 5,900 4,600

Finland⁽⁸⁾ 1,300 3,100 3,200 1,700 3,400 3,100

Ireland 4,600 7,700. 10,900 10,300 11,600 7,900

Sweden⁽⁸⁾ 12,800 11,200 16,300 23,500 33,000 31,400

United Kingdom⁽⁹⁾ 58,500 91,200 98,900 91,600 103,100 61,100

Total EU 312,300 396,700 401,900 397,600 386,100 308,400

	1998	1999	2000	2001⁽³⁾	2002⁽⁴⁾	2003⁽⁴⁾
Austria	13,800	20,100	18,300	30,100	39,400	32,400
Belgium⁽⁵⁾	25,000	40,800	48,700	28,000	21,400	19,300
France⁽⁵⁾	25,500	35,100	44,200	53,900	58,100	69,300
Germany	98,600	95,100	78,600	88,300	71,100	50,400
Greece⁽⁶⁾	3,000	1,500	3,000	5,500	5,700	8,200
Italy⁽⁷⁾	9,500	33,400	18,000	9,600	7,300	n/a
Luxembourg⁽⁶⁾	1,700	2,900	600	700	1,000	1,600
Netherlands	45,200	39,300	43,900	32,600	18,700	13,400
Portugal⁽⁶⁾	400	300	200	200	200	100
Spain	6,600	8,400	7,200	9,200	6,200	5,700
Denmark⁽⁸⁾	5,700	6,500	10,100	12,500	5,900	4,600
Finland⁽⁸⁾	1,300	3,100	3,200	1,700	3,400	3,100
Ireland	4,600	7,700.	10,900	10,300	11,600	7,900
Sweden⁽⁸⁾	12,800	11,200	16,300	23,500	33,000	31,400
United Kingdom⁽⁹⁾	58,500	91,200	98,900	91,600	103,100	61,100
Total EU	312,300	396,700	401,900	397,600	386,100	308,400

⁽²⁾ Figures rounded to the nearest 100.

⁽³⁾ Provisional figures.

⁽⁴⁾ Revised figures.

⁽⁵⁾ Figures based on IGC data but adjusted to include an estimated number of dependants.

⁽⁶⁾ Figures based on UNHCR data, including dependants.

⁽⁷⁾ UNHCR data.

⁽⁸⁾ Signed up to the Schengen agreement but not operating its provisions.

⁽⁹⁾ Figures have been adjusted to include an estimated number of dependants

between 1998 and 2001. 2002 and 2003 figures based on actual data.

Annual data on asylum applications to EU member states are published in quarterly web pages and in the Home Office annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, copies of which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his forecasts are for asylum applications for each of the next five years; and what the comparable figures are for each EU member state. [155509]

Beverley Hughes: We have already reduced the monthly intake of asylum applications by half since October 2002. Current policy initiatives, such as juxtaposed controls in France and the deployment of detection technology at continental ports, are designed to prevent those who seek to circumvent our controls at specific ports of entry from doing so. The Government are confident that this and further measures will continue to reduce misuse of the asylum system and the numbers of unfounded asylum claims. The measures we introduced in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and the subsequent robust measures to ensure the integrity of our borders are testament to that.

Population and migration projections are published by the Government Actuary's Department, available from the Library of the House.

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) financial and (b) other support services are available to an asylum seeker aged between 16 and 18-years-old who is in the UK without family. [155641]

Beverley Hughes: Services for unaccompanied asylum seeking children aged between 16 and 18-years-old are the responsibility of local authority social services departments. Their needs are assessed and support services provided accordingly in ways that are the equivalent of any other child in need. In all but a very few cases the local authority will make all necessary financial provision for them. In the few cases, for example, where leave to remain has been granted and their individual social services pathway plan permits, they may access benefits as part of an overall range of provision.

26 Feb 2004 : Column 521W

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied children he estimates arrived in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years from outside the EU. [155797]

Beverley Hughes: I regret that reliable information on the entry routes of unaccompanied children to the UK is not available. The available information which relates to the number of asylum applications made by unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the last five years is given in the table.

Asylum applications from unaccompanied children aged 17 or under⁽¹⁰⁾

Number of principal applicants

Year Total Port In country

1998⁽¹¹⁾ 3,035 1,085 1,955

1999⁽¹¹⁾ 3,350 1,500 1,850

2000⁽¹¹⁾ 2,735 1,395 1,340

2001⁽¹¹⁾ 3,470 1,645 1,820

2002⁽¹²⁾ 6,200 1,240 4,955

2003⁽¹²⁾ ^, ⁽¹³⁾ 2,800 555 2,245

	Number of principal applicants
Year	Total	Port	In country
1998⁽¹¹⁾	3,035	1,085	1,955
1999⁽¹¹⁾	3,350	1,500	1,850
2000⁽¹¹⁾	2,735	1,395	1,340
2001⁽¹¹⁾	3,470	1,645	1,820
2002⁽¹²⁾	6,200	1,240	4,955
2003⁽¹²⁾ ^, ⁽¹³⁾	2,800	555	2,245

⁽¹⁰⁾ Figures rounded to nearest five. Unaccompanied at point of arrival, aged (or if no proof) determined to be 17 or under and not known to be joining a relative or guardian in the UK. Figures exclude disputed age cases.

⁽¹¹⁾ May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices.

⁽¹²⁾ Not comparable with manual counts data prior to 2002.

⁽¹³⁾ Provisional figures.

Information on the number of asylum applications from unaccompanied children is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the UK are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

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