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1 Sept 2004 : Column 851W—continued
Electoral Fraud
Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for electoral fraud there have been in each of the last four years. [185272]
Paul Goggins: Arrest data are not collected centrally at the level of detail requested.
The information collected centrally by the Home Office is limited to various fraud related offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and is shown in the table. Similar offences, under other fraud and forgery provisions, cannot be separately identified.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 1 |
(60) These data are on the principal offence basis.
Highly Skilled Migrants Programme
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been (a) made and (b) accepted for the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme, broken down by (i) the top 20 nationalities and (ii) occupation, since the inception of the programme. [172596]
Mr. Browne: I regret that a full breakdown of the information requested is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
However, we are able to provide a breakdown of the number of applications received and approved by the top 10 nationalities up to the 23 June 2004. They are as follows:
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Fear of Crime
Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of fear of crime among the people of the Harwich constituency. [184994]
Ms Blears: Tendring's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Tendring district council (which includes the Harwich constituency) both conduct surveys, which include an assessment of fear of crime. The partnership and council are in the process of completing the next surveys and the results will be available in August/September this year.
Home Detention Curfew Scheme
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles have been released from prison under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme sinces its inception; and how many offences have been committed by juveniles released under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme since its inception. [184803]
Paul Goggins: One hundred and twenty one juveniles, aged under 18, have been released on Home Detention Curfew since eligibility for the scheme was extended to juveniles under the age of 18 on 14 July 2003. Of those released from custody, 12 have been reported as having been cautioned, convicted or awaiting prosecution for committing 19 offences during the period they were subject to the scheme.
Identity Cards
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on the introduction of identity cards; and if he will make a statement. [181699]
Mr. Browne
[holding answer 5 July 2004]: We are involved in a wide range of discussions across Government and with key stakeholders. In addition to the evidence, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary and I gave to the Home Affairs Select Committee on
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identity cards, he has discussed this matter at meetings he attended on smartcard technology at Sheffield Council and with representatives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact identity cards will have on the relationship between the citizen and the state. [182233]
Mr. Browne: The identity cards scheme will not change the relationship between the citizen and the state. The scheme is about helping people safeguard identity, protecting citizens from illegal migration and working, organised crime and terrorism, identity theft and unauthorised access to public services. The introduction of identity cards is one of a range of steps the Government are taking to meet these challenges.
Illegal Immigrants
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number of illegal immigrants who have entered the UK concealed in lorries. [182725]
Mr. Browne: There is no official estimate of the number of clandestine entrants to the UK.
Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected having entered or attempting to enter the country clandestinely or by means of deception, either verbal or documentary.
The available figures include those people who were identified as having entered the country clandestinely, they are not separately identifiable as such information would be available only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.
The Immigration Service has deployed a range of initiatives to deter and detect illegal entry to the UK including moving controls overseas, enhancing juxtaposed controls in Paris, Lille and Calais, deploying New Detection Technology in France and Belgium, the Airline Liaison Officer Network, visa regimes and close co-operation with carriers, port authorities and our ED colleagues. These measures successfully prevented over 9,000 people reaching the UK from France during 2003.
Immigration
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his officials at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will resolve the immigration status of constituents of the hon. Member for Vauxhall, reference numbers (a) O164833 and (b) O150701. [185696]
Mr. Browne: The information is as follows:
O164833 has raised human rights issues and these will be considered by an Immigration and Nationality Directorate caseworker as a matter of priority.
O150701 was forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority on 9 July. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August and a substantive appeal hearing will take place on 9 September.
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Immigration Detention (Electronic Monitoring)
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions individuals seeking asylum will be required to wear an electronic tagging device; and what sanctions will be imposed for failure to comply with such a condition. [183919]
Mr. Browne: Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 will allow for electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under immigration legislation and will be used as an alternative to detention.
Individuals who are liable to detention may be required to wear an electronic tagging device if a Chief Immigration Officer, adjudicator or judge of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission considers, following an individual risk assessment, that the risk of absconding can be managed through the additional safeguard of electronic monitoring by tagging.
Tagging involves wearing a bracelet similar to a wristwatch, which emits a signal to a receiver at the subject's home address to confirm that they are complying with a residence restriction.
The consent of the individual will be required in order for an electronic monitoring provision to be applied. This is intended to ensure that the subject complies with the necessary practical arrangements for monitoring specified by the person imposing the requirement.
Failure to comply with an electronic monitoring condition (for example through tampering with the equipment or failing to be at the specified address during the specified period) will be treated as a failure to comply with a residence or reporting requirement attached as a condition of immigration bail, temporary release or temporary admission. Sanctions available include detention and/or prosecution under immigration legislation with a penalty of up to £5,000 or six months imprisonment.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on trials for electronic tagging of asylum seekers in Scotland. [185732]
Mr. Browne: Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004 will allow for the electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under immigration legislation and will be used as an alternative to detention.
Electronic monitoring may be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard, and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case.
A pilot is planned for the autumn in England, Wales and Scotland. The pilot will encompass a total of 200 people for voice recognition and up to 50 people for tagging (including up to 10 on satellite tracking). Numbers will be divided between the three contractors operating under the existing Home Office contract for England and Wales, and an interim contractor in Scotland. Satellite tracking is currently only available in a limited number of locations in England and will therefore not be applied in Scotland or Wales at present.
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Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact on asylum detention centres of the electronic tagging of those seeking asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [186139]
Mr. Browne: Electronic monitoring will be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard. An individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case and I am not therefore able to estimate at this stage how many of the individuals held in immigration detention centres will apply to be released with such a condition, nor how many would be considered suitable. A pilot planned for the autumn should help inform the position.
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to pilot a programme of tagging by electronic means those seeking asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [186140]
Mr. Browne: Clause 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Bill will allow for the electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under Immigration legislation.
Electronic Monitoring may be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard, and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case. A pilot is planned for the autumn in England, Wales and Scotland. The pilot will encompass a total of 200 people for voice recognition and up to 50 people for tagging (including up to ten on satellite tracking). Numbers will be divided between the three contractors operating under the existing Home Office contract for England and Wales, and an interim contractor in Scotland. Satellite tracking is currently only available in a limited number of locations in England and will therefore not be applied in Scotland or Wales at present.
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his plans are in relation to the numbers of those being detained at the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre over the next (a) six, (b) 12 and (c) 18 months; what assessment he has made of the likely impact on these numbers of his proposals in relation to the electronic tagging of those seeking asylum in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [186148]
Mr. Browne: Our plans are to increase the number of detainee's at the Yarl's Wood Removal Centre from 60 at present to 120 in September 2004 and 407 in January 2005 when building work is completed.
Electronic monitoring will be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case. I am not therefore able to estimate how many of the individuals held at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre will apply to be released with such a condition, nor how many would be considered suitable.
Mr. Patrick Hall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people liable to detention under the Immigration Acts he is planning to include in the electronic monitoring pilot his Department is
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launching this autumn; how many he estimates will at the time be held at the Yarl's Wood Removal Centre; whether he plans to include (a) men, (b) women and (c) children among those he is planning to include in the pilot; how many he estimates will be subject to (i) tagging, (ii) satellite tracking and (iii) voice recognition; how he is planning to monitor the progress of the pilot; when he expects to evaluate the outcome; and if he will make a statement. [185978]
Mr. Browne [holding answer 22 July 2004]: Section 36 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 will allow for electronic monitoring of those aged 18 years and over who are liable to detention under immigration legislation and will be used as an alternative to detention.
The pilot to test the effectiveness of electronic monitoring in an immigration context will include 200 individuals for voice recognition and up to 50 people for tagging (10 of whom may be subject to satellite tracking).
Electronic monitoring will be applied where it is felt that the risk of absconding can be managed with this additional safeguard and an individual risk assessment will be conducted in each case. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate how many of the individuals held at Yarl's Wood detention centre will apply to be released with such a condition, nor how many would be considered suitable.
Electronic monitoring may be applied only to men and women of 18 years of age and over. Therefore no children will be included in the pilot.
Evaluation of the pilot will commence after a three-month period.
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