---

17 May 2004 : Column 777W—continued

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent staff
 
17 May 2004 : Column 778W
 
were employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each year since 1997; and what the total payroll costs were. [170374]

Mr. Browne: The table shows the full-time equivalent of staff employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each year since 1997 and pay costs for the same period.

	Staffing numbers	Total pay costs
1997–98	5,372	136,784,988
1998–99	(28)4,705	134,391,253
1999–2000	(28)5,976	145,498,131
2000–01	7,523	193,600,000
2001–02	9,640	272,484,211
2002–03	11,186	337,121,813
2003–04	13,716	(29)—

⁽²⁸⁾ Year end figure.
⁽²⁹⁾ Pay costs for 2003–04 have not yet been finalised.

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons applications under the European Communities Association Agreements are now sent directly to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate rather than via local embassies. [166554]

Mr. Browne: This matter is covered by the investigation which Mr. Ken Sutton is undertaking of the operation of the European Communities Association Agreements (ECAA) scheme for Bulgaria and Romania. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by commenting on the issues before it is completed.

Immigration Appeals

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the legal costs, to date, of representing the Government (a) before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in connection with (i) proceedings under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 and (ii) in respect of removal of nationality under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and (b) in any subsequent appeals; and if he will make a statement. [168223]

Mr. Browne: A total of £1,287,414.42 has been spent on representing the Government in proceedings under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and £35,038.71 in proceedings relating to the deprivation of nationality under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. These costs include both Counsels' and the Treasury Solicitor's fees.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the right of appeal by the Home Secretary against decisions by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in cases involving national security. [169810]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 30 April 2004]: This is a matter which is kept under review. We introduced an amendment to the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Bill during Lords' Committee Stage, which creates a right of appeal on a point of law in respect of bail decisions by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in cases involving a person detained under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This mirrors the existing right of appeal in
 
17 May 2004 : Column 779W
 
respect of SIAC determinations where a person has appealed against the decision to certify them as a suspected international terrorist.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend his powers to remove nationality and indefinite leave to remain to ensure that action can be taken without undue delay caused by the appeal process. [169812]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 30 April 2004]: Experience so far does not suggest that it is the appeals process itself which causes delay. I am reviewing the situation to see what lessons we can learn and how we might speed up the holding of appeals. I have no current plans to amend the legislation.

Immigration Minister

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was first informed of the issues raised in the letter of 4 March 2003 from the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. [166560]

Mr. Browne: This matter is covered by the investigation which Mr. Ken Sutton is undertaking of the operation of the European Communities Association Agreements (ECAA) scheme for Bulgaria and Romania. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by commenting on the issues before it is completed.

Immigration Summit

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the persons and organisations invited to his Immigration Summit. [169889]

Mr. Browne: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 April 2004, Official Report, columns 1224–25W.

Iraqi Asylum Seekers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from (a) the United Nations and (b) other international organisations over the consequences of returning Iraqi asylum seekers in the UK to Iraq; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement. [169146]

Mr. Browne: We keep in close contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relevant organisations. We agree with UNHCR's view that voluntary return is preferable to enforced return, but believe that enforced return to stable areas of Iraq is justifiable.

We are currently facilitating the return of those who wish to go home through the International Organisation for Migration. We have also reached an agreement with the Coalition Provisional Authority to begin enforced returns to Iraq. We are working to finalise the practicalities of the enforced returns programme, which we will implement as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.

There is clearly a difficult position in those parts of Iraq most affected by insurgencies, but we do not accept
 
17 May 2004 : Column 780W
 
this is the case in all areas. Returns will be taken forward on a case by case basis and we will only return to particular areas assessed as sufficiently stable, where we are satisfied that the individual concerned will not be at risk. The situation is kept under constant review and we are still working with the coalition authorities, to return those who are not at risk of persecution and do not need humanitarian protection.

New Workers Registration Scheme

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who will operate the New Workers Registration Scheme; [161408]

(2) what (a) budgetary and (b) staffing resources are to be allocated to the New Workers Registration Scheme; [161409]

(3) when the New Workers Registration Scheme will commence operations; [161410]

(4) what target is to be set concerning the average time    for the processing of work registration applications; [161411]

(5) whether specific arrangements are to be made for   Scotland under the New Workers Registration Scheme. [161412]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 15 March 2004]: The Worker Registration Scheme, announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his statement to the   House on 23 February 2004, Official Report, columns 23–25, will be administered by the Home Office through its Work Permits (UK) operation in Sheffield. A dedicated team of 42 staff is being deployed initially to administer the scheme, the resources for which will form part of the WP (UK) budget for 2004–05.

The Worker Registration Scheme has been operational since 1 May and applications have been accepted from this date onwards. Further guidance for   applicants, including the application form and guidance, are available on the "Working in the UK" website (www.workingintheuk.gov.uk).

My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) indicated to the House on 2 March 2004, Official Report, columns 877–80, that the Worker Registration Team will aim to process 80 per cent. of applications within 24 hours of receipt, following payment clearance. Incomplete applications will take longer to process.

Citizens of the new member states (with the exception of Malta and Cyprus) who take up employment in Scotland will need to apply to register with the Home Office when they start a job, in the same way as those taking up employment in the rest of the UK. Employers in Scotland will be required to satisfy themselves that accession country nationals in their employment have received registration under the scheme.

---