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18 Mar 2004 : Column 480W—continued
Student Finance
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 209W, on student finance, what estimate he has made of how many of those dependent students eligible for the full combined grant in 2006–07 will be from (a) single parent households, (b) two-parent households where both parents are working and (c) two-parent households where one parents is working (i) in absolute terms and as (ii) a proportion of all students. [162367]
Alan Johnson: The requested data are not available at this stage.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 481W
Teacher Vacancies
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Buckingham on the latest date for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to reduce them. [161317]
Mr. Miliband: The information is not available in the form requested. In January 2003, there were 47 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained schools in the Buckinghamshire Local Education Authority (LEA) area, which includes Buckingham.
Like other areas, since 1997 Buckingham has benefited from the initiatives that the Government have put in place to recruit and retain teachers and to increase the number of staff supporting them in schools. Since 1997, the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained schools in the former Buckinghamshire LEA area has risen by 770, from 5,370 to 6,140 in 2003. Over the same period, the number of full-time equivalent school support staff in the area has grown by 1,270, from 1,880 to 3,150.
Teaching Assistants
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in Buckingham (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [161316]
Mr. Miliband: In Buckingham constituency there were 99 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in service in maintained schools in 2003, the latest information available. The table gives the corresponding numbers since 1997.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 54 |
| 1998 | 61 |
| 1999 | 68 |
| 2000 | 69 |
| 2001 | 64 |
| 2002 | 119 |
Source:
Annual Schools' Census.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Chorley (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [161452]
Mr. Miliband: In Chorley constituency there were 257 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in service in maintained schools in 2003, the latest information available. The table gives the corresponding numbers since 1997.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 97 |
| 1998 | 114 |
| 1999 | 121 |
| 2000 | 143 |
| 2001 | 177 |
| 2002 | 157 |
Source:
Annual Schools' Census.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 482W
Teenage Pregnancy
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the NHS's progress towards meeting the target of a 15 per cent. reduction in teenage pregnancy by 2004. [160916]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 16 March 2004]: Provisional data for 2002 published on 26 February by the Office for National Statistics shows that conceptions among under 18 year olds in England have fallen by 9.4 per cent. since 1998. Data for 2004 will be available in February 2006 on the 2004 NHS interim target of a 15 per cent. reduction in teenage pregnancy.
Temporary Classrooms
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools use temporary mobile classroom accommodation, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [161907]
Mr. Miliband [holding answer 17 March 2004]: The attached table shows the number of schools with temporary classrooms in each Local Education Authority. It is based on data provided to the Department by Authorities as part of the asset management planning process. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to Authorities and schools so that they can address their local priorities, including the replacement of decayed temporary accommodation. Prioritisation of need through asset management planning should be an open, rigorous and consultative process, based on surveys of the needs of all schools. The Department does not collect detailed information on investment plans or timetables of Authorities. The Department does not encourage the replacement of defective permanent accommodation with temporary mobile classroom accommodation but accepts the necessity in some cases to respond to short term need or emergencies.
Where no figures are shown, either no data have been supplied by LEAs, or there are clearly significant data anomalies.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 484W
Youth Services
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on youth services by each local authority in each year since 1997. [161077]
Margaret Hodge: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 485W
HOME DEPARTMENT
Asylum/Immigration
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department has received on the possible scale of inward migration to the UK from EU accession states; and if he will make a statement. [161351]
Beverley Hughes: A number of studies have been published which offer estimates of total net flows to the United Kingdom from the accession countries, but these do not of course take account of the measures we announced on 23 February 2004 and the steps we are taking to publicise them in the countries most concerned.
The registration scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is designed to monitor the number of A-8 nationals registering as workers and collate information about the nature and location of the jobs they are doing.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which authority a person can report an individual whose visa conditions to remain in the United Kingdom have expired. [159816]
Beverley Hughes: Information of this nature can be passed to the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon or direct to the nearest Immigration Service office.
Alternatively, a person may pass information on immigration offences anonymously to Crimestoppers, who will forward it to the appropriate Immigration Service office.
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration judicial review applications there have been in the last two years for which figures are available; and of those, how many took (a) more than six months and (b) more than one year from first application to final conclusion. [160463]
Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
The number of immigration judicial review applications for the last two years are as follows:
| Immigration (asylum) | 3,076 |
| Immigration (non-asylum) | 164 |
| Total: | 3,240 |
| Immigration (asylum) | 2,171 |
| Immigration (non-asylum) | 144 |
| Total: | 2,315 |
The Administrative Court is unable to provide information on how many of these cases took (a) more than six months and (b) more than one year without incurring disproportionate costs. However I can give the average waiting times for the judicial review process for 2002 and 2003.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 486W
The average waiting time for processing paper applications for permission to apply for judicial review, including the time that cases were stood out pending decisions and subsequent appeals in lead/test cases, was for:
| Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Immigration asylum cases: | 9.9 |
| Immigration non asylum cases: | 9.6 |
| Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Immigration asylum cases: | 8.5 |
| Immigration non asylum cases: | 8.5 |
Of those that renewed to an oral hearing, the average waiting time from the date of receipt of the application to renew to the renewal decision, including the time that cases were stood out pending decisions and subsequent appeals in lead/test cases, was for:
| Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Immigration asylum cases: | 6.5 |
| Immigration non asylum cases: | 6.2 |
| Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Immigration asylum cases | 6.1 |
| Immigration non asylum cases | 6.5 |
Of the 130 cases in 2002 and the 115 cases in 2003 which proceeded to a substantive hearing, the waiting time from date of issue of proceedings to the date of final determination, including the time that cases were stood out pending decisions and subsequent appeals in lead/test cases, was for:
| Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Immigration asylum cases (117 cases): | 33.9 |
| Immigration Non asylum cases (13 cases): | 54 |
| Weeks | |
|---|---|
| Immigration asylum cases (103 cases) | 36.6 |
| Immigration non-asylum cases (12 cases) | 49.6 |
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose applications or appeals are pending are (a) single men under 25, (b) single women under 25 and (c) families with children under 16. [158701]
18 Mar 2004 : Column 487W
Beverley Hughes: Data on asylum applicants awaiting an initial decision or the outcome of an appeal hearing, by age or sex are unavailable and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
At the 31 December 2003 there were 24,500l 1 r asylum cases awaiting an initial decision, 40 per cent. lower than 41,300 at the end of December 2002. As at 31 December 2003, there were an estimated 12,000 appeals lodged with the Home Office, which had not been sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority, 60 per cent. lower than at the end of December 2002. A proportion of appeals lodged with the Home Office do not result in appeal bundles being sent to the IAA. The total asylum work in progress in the IAA as at 31 December 2003, was 27,200 (15,500l 1 r at the Adjudicator Tier, 7,100l 1 r applications for permission to appeal to the tribunal, and 4,600l 1 r tribunal appeals), a slight increase from 27,100 at the end of December 2002.
Information on the age and sex of principal applicants and their dependants relating to asylum applications made in 2002 is published in the Home Office annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2002, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and on the Research Development and Statistics web site http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1. html
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were received in 2003 from citizens of the Maldives; and how many were approved. [160669]
Beverley Hughes: In 2003, from nationals of the Maldives there were less than three applications for asylum in the UK, less than three initial decisions (all of which were refusals on non-compliance grounds) and less than three appeal determinations by IAA (all of which were dismissed). Initial decisions may relate to applications received in previous years and appeal determinations may relate to initial decisions in previous years. All data are provisional and exclude dependants.
Information on asylum applications, initial decisions and appeal outcomes is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom, available from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have (a) entered Wales and (b) applied to live in Wales in each year since 1997. [160921]
Beverley Hughes: I regret that the requested information on how many asylum seekers have entered Wales is not available. Asylum applications relate to the UK as a whole. The table gives the available data, on the numbers of those asylum seekers living in Wales who are supported by National Asylum Support Service. (NASS) as at the end of each quarter since December 2001.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 488W
| As at end: | In receipt of subsistence only support | Supported in NASS accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| December 2001 | 140 | 700 |
| March 2002 | 160 | 1,020 |
| June 2002 | 175 | 1,150 |
| September 2002 | 180 | 1,405 |
| December 2002 | 180 | 1,585 |
| March 2003 | 185 | 1,870 |
| June 2003 | 175 | 2,130 |
| September 2003 | 160 | 2,350 |
| December 2003 | 145 | 2,490 |
Notes:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by MASS is published in the regular quarterly asylum statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 will be available at the end of May.
Information on how many of those supported in MASS accommodation in Wales who had applied to live there is not available.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who were located in Wales had their (a) application to remain and (b) appeal rejected in each year since 1997. [161195]
Beverley Hughes: Asylum seekers make applications for refugee status rather than for leave to remain. Applications may result in grants of refugee status, in refusals of refugee status but grants of humanitarian protection, discretionary leave to remain, or in outright refusals. In April 2003 humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave to remain (DL) replaced exceptional leave to remain (ELR). Applications for further leave following Grants of HP and DL are subject to active review.
Information on initial decisions and appeal outcomes relating to asylum applicants located in Wales is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The available Information on asylum application, decisions and appeal outcomes is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 will be available at the end of May on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the (a) accommodation, (b) subsistence and (c) other costs in respect of asylum seekers resident in Wales in each of the last five years. [161204]
Beverley Hughes: Information relating to accommodation costs is regarded as commercially sensitive and it would not be appropriate to disclose it.
Information relating to subsistence and other costs for asylum seekers resident in Wales is not available on a geographic basis and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 489W
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have claimed asylum upon arrival at Northern Ireland (a) ports and (b) airports in each of the past five years; and from what countries they originated. [161797]
Beverley Hughes: Information on asylum applications lodged in individual regions of the UK is not available and could be obtained at only disproportionate cost.
Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication covering the second quarter of 2004 will be available at the end of May on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost to public funds of an appeal to an Asylum Support Adjudicator was in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time for the determination of an appeal brought before an Asylum Support Adjudicator was in each of the last three years. [156807]
Beverley Hughes: The average cost for Asylum Support Adjudicator (ASA) appeals for each of the last three years were as follows:
| Expenditure(£) | Number of appeals | Unit cost (£) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 492,000 | 257 | 1,914 |
| 2001–02 | 1 million | 2,141 | 467 |
| 2002–03 | 1.2 million | 3,813 | 317 |
The information for the second part of this question is not available.
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what mechanism his Department is monitoring the impact of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 on (a) rough sleeping and (b) overcrowding in London. [156808]
Beverley Hughes: The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been monitoring the effect of section 55 through regular contact with local authorities, in particular those who have significant rough sleeping problems. Local authorities obtain this information through regular feedback from their outreach teams and other services in their areas. They have been asked to report immediately if anyone is found sleeping rough who has been refused support under Section 55. No evidence has been received that there has been any significant increase in rough sleeping levels due to Section 55.
In London the Refugee Council, Refugee Arrivals Project and Migrant Helpline are grant funded to provide emergency accommodation to asylum seekers awaiting dispersal, including those awaiting decisions under section 55. Such accommodation must comply with all relevant statutory housing regulations.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many abscondees from the Oakington Immigration Reception Centre there were in each of the last 12 months. [145367]
18 Mar 2004 : Column 490W
Beverley Hughes: The number of escapes from Oakington Immigration Reception Centre in each month from January to December 2003 (the latest month for which data are available) is shown in the table.
| Number of Persons | |
|---|---|
| January | — |
| February | — |
| March | 2 |
| April | 4 |
| May | 10 |
| June | 5 |
| July | 9 |
| August | 17 |
| September | 19 |
| October | 7 |
| November | 10 |
| December | 1 |
| Total | 84 |
(32) Figures obtained from local management information
(33) Provisional data
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is taken to remove an asylum seeker once their application has been rejected. [159532]
Beverley Hughes: All asylum applicants have a statutory right of appeal in the event of an adverse decision on their asylum application. If all appeal rights have been exhausted the Immigration Service assess whether that person is removable and, if so, set removal directions. The Immigration Service then makes the necessary arrangements to remove the failed asylum seeker from the United Kingdom.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are used to monitor the impact of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 on levels of destitution among people seeking asylum. [162014]
Beverley Hughes: The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been monitoring the effect of section 55 through regular contact with local authorities, in particular those who have significant rough sleeping problems. Local authorities obtain this information through regular feedback from their outreach teams and other services in their areas. They have been asked to report immediately if anyone is found sleeping rough who has been refused support under section 55. No evidence has been received that there has been any significant increase in rough sleeping levels due to Section 55.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each (a) London borough and (b) local authority for each of the last three years the number of properties provided by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) the private sector to the National Asylum Support Service. [160705]
Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
18 Mar 2004 : Column 491W
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases the detention of children under immigration law for more than 28 days has been subject to ministerial authorisation since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [160205]
Beverley Hughes: Management information indicates that on the 26 January 2004 35 children were in detention who were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Three quarters of those had been in detention for 14 days or less and the remainder had been detained for less than four months. These individuals were all detained as part of families whose detention as a group was considered necessary.
Records show that all children held in detention under immigration law for a period greater than 28 days since 1 January have been subject to ministerial authorisation.
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