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9 Jun 2004 : Column 420W—continued
HOME DEPARTMENT
All Saints Churchyard, Brightlingsea
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the application to close All Saints Churchyard, Brightlingsea, in Essex. [174272]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 18 May 2004]: The hon. Member will be aware that the initial application was made on the basis that the churchyard was full. However the results of the recent technical survey have indicated that a limited amount of space is still available for further burials. In line with agreed practice, the application to close All Saints Churchyard does not fall to be considered until this space has been filled.
Asylum and Immigration Applications (Sudan)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) asylum and (b) immigration applications he has received from residents of Sudan in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [174832]
Mr. Browne: The available information relating to the number of asylum applications, excluding dependants, that have been received and decisions on applications for an extension of leave to remain or settlement from nationals of Sudan are given in the tables.
Detailed statistics on immigration control are published in the Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2002" (cm 6053), obtained from the Library, the Stationery Office and via the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/commandpubs1.html.
Information on asylum applications 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 and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
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| Number of principal applicants | |
|---|---|
| 1999(12) | 280 |
| 2000(12) | 415 |
| 2001(13) | 390 |
| 2002(14) | 655 |
| 2003(14) | 930 |
(11) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(12) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000.
(13) Provisional figures.
(14) Revised figures.
| Number of decisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants of extension | Grants of settlement(16) | Total refusals of extension or settlement | |
| 1998 | 560 | 220 | 50 |
| 1999 | 530 | 270 | 20 |
| 2000 | 590 | 810 | 30 |
| 2001 | 510 | 280 | 35 |
| 2002 | 545 | 210 | 50 |
(15) Excludes dependants of principal applicants, asylum related decisions, the outcome of appeals and withdrawn applications.
(16) Excludes "in line" dependants and the outcome of appeals.
Asylum Intake Reduction Sub-committee
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who the members of the Asylum Intake Reduction sub-committee are; and if he will make a statement; [174386]
(2) if he will publish the minutes of the Asylum Intake Reduction sub-committee; and if he will make a statement; [174387]
(3) on what dates the Asylum Intake Reduction sub-committee has met; and if he will make a statement. [174389]
Mr. Browne [holding answer 20 May 2004]: The Asylum Intake Reduction/Secure Borders sub-programme board is one of several sub-programme boards designed to assist and oversee delivery of the Public Service Agreement on Asylum and Immigration which is jointly owned by the Home Office and the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The sub-programme boards report to a Joint Programme Board. The Asylum Intake Reduction/Secure Borders sub-programme board is chaired by the Senior Director, Operations of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The members are relevant senior officials from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and UKvisas.
The sub-programme board meets monthly. Its minutes contain strategic information in relation to border security and the deployment of resources which is internal to the Government and is not appropriate for wider circulation. Publication of the minutes could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion and essential policy analysis as detailed in part 2, section 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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Asylum Seekers
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on returning failed asylum seekers to Iraq. [174079]
Mr. Browne: We seek to remove all failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants wherever possible. All asylum and human rights claims are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Should a claim be refused and any appeal before the independent Immigration Appellant Authority be unsuccessful, it means for that individual it is safe to return.
We have reached agreement with the Coalition Provisional Authority to begin enforced returns to Iraq. We are working to finalise the practicalities of the enforced return programme, which we will implement as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.
In addition since July last year the Home Office has been facilitating, without incident, the return of small numbers of Iraqi citizens who want to return home through the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme operated on our behalf by the International Organisation for Migration.
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the number of asylum seekers who have failed the appeal process (a) in the UK and (b) in Leeds. [174247]
Mr. Browne: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on asylum appeals are published quarterly, copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the UK are available from the Library and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Bichard Inquiry
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Bichard Inquiry is expected to report. [172956]
Paul Goggins: Sir Michael Bichard has indicated that he intends to deliver his final report to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in June. It will be published as soon as possible.
Bribery/Corruption
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mutual legal assistance requests have been made to other jurisdictions with respect to allegations of overseas bribery; to which jurisdictions; and on what dates. [174029]
Caroline Flint:
The United Kingdom is committed to assist its international partners in the fight against bribery and corruption and has signed the UN Convention Against Corruption. The UK Central Authority (UKCA) in the Home Office has processed a number of cases related to this area of criminality.
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However, the more detailed statistics sought by the hon member are not available as UKCA does not currently collate them in a manner that can produce data according to offence type.
Cannabis Seeds
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the purposes for which cultivation of cannabis seeds is licensed by his Department; [174242]
(2) if he will make it his policy to require purchasers of cannabis seeds only to cultivate such seeds for lawful, licensable purposes; and if he will make a statement; [174243]
(3) if he will describe the licensing regime for the cultivation of cannabis seeds. [174244]
Caroline Flint: The seeds of the cannabis plant are not subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The possession, sale and the use of the seeds for culinary and similar purposes are therefore not subject to restriction. This follows the provisions of international law—UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961—on which our law is based. The Convention specifically exempts cultivation of cannabis seed production which is classed as an industrial purpose.
It is not considered practicable or desirable to bring the seeds or their users under control. The protection afforded by Section 6 of the Act which prohibits cannabis cultivation without a licence is deemed sufficient. Such unlawful production would be a criminal offence the maximum penalty for which is fourteen years imprisonment.
In common with certain other substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, cannabis is subject to designation under Section 7. The effect of this in relation to cultivation is to restrict licensing to activities connected with research or other special purposes. Such research can be either medical or scientific. Cultivation is subject to security conditions assessed on the basis of the individual circumstances and to record keeping requirements. The research has to be recognised as serious by the medical or scientific communities.
The only other special purpose of any significance where licensing has been permitted is the cultivation of cannabis for the production of industrial hemp (used in animal bedding, specialised building products and other materials). In this case only cannabis seeds of a very low psycho-active content are used (as prescribed under EU regulation). Otherwise the only other activities which have been acknowledged as special are cultivation for
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seed production and education where cultivation has been used in illustrating the long history of the use of hemp products.
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