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31 Jan 2005 : Column 672W—continued
Students
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students admitted to English universities were (a) overseas non-EU, (b) EU and (c) UK students in each year between 1997 and 2004. [212024]
Dr. Howells: The available information is given in the table.
(30)Excludes the Open University.
(31)Based upon a snapshot as at 1 December.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
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Sure Start
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the effects of the Sure Start programme in Eltham. [207216]
Margaret Hodge: The South Greenwich Sure Start local programme was approved in 2000 and supports around 900 young local children and their families living in Eltham and Kidbrooke. The programme delivers a wide range of services to support local families including: a resourceful friends" scheme in partnership with Home Start Greenwich that provides one-to-one support to families in crisis; a support group for single parents; provision of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Therapy and Portage services for families and children with special needs; provision of safety equipment which is loaned to families at a subsidised rate; a toy library; a creche; additional home visits by qualified midwife and health visitors; and early assessment and referral for children with development delay.
Since opening, Sure Start South Greenwich has helped improve the quality of life for local families. For example: the percentage of women smoking during pregnancy has fallen from 45 per cent. to 39 per cent.; the percentage of children identified with speech and language development delay has fallen from 33 per cent. to 9.73 per cent. Local health visitors report back to the local programme on all women identified with post natal depression including specific referral to the Sure Start programme to provide support. Recent Sure Start Unit monitoring reports show that the programme is seeing 858 of their 909 children (a 94 per cent. increase since the programme opened).
The programme has strong parental participation both in the management board which has 10 parent representatives (up from three since 2000)—and in activities where parents act as volunteers.
Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated to the Harwich constituency under the Sure Start Scheme. [210684]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 24 January 2005]: Harwich constituency has one Mini Sure Start local programme (SSLP) and one Neighbourhood Nursery project. A total of £1,040,138 has been allocated to the constituency. This is made up of £415,000 capital and £625,138 revenue, representing £550,000 for the Mini SSLP, £420,000 for the Neighbourhood Nursery. Essex county council plan to use Harwich's Children's Centre funding allocation to further develop the SSLP and the neighbourhood nursery as one of the council's Children's Centres and £55,138 revenue and £15,000 capital have been set aside for this purpose.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total expenditure on the Sure Start scheme has been in Coventry, South in each year since the scheme has been in operation. [211204]
Margaret Hodge:
There are two Sure Start local programmes operating within the constituency of Coventry South, these are Sure Start Coventry South East and Sure Start Coventry West. To date each programme has had access to the following funding.
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| Revenue | Capital | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000/01 | 377,458 | (32)— |
| 2001/02 | 753,354 | (32)— |
| 2002/03 | 751,076 | (32)— |
| 2003/04 | 751,076 | (32)— |
| 2004/05 | 769,853 | (32)— |
(32)Capital allocation for the programme is £1 million
| Revenue | Capital | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001/02 | 152,745 | (33)— |
| 2002/03 | 465,324 | (33)— |
| 2003/04 | 660,000 | (33)— |
| 2004/05 | 676,500 | (33)— |
(33)Capital allocation for the programme is £1 million
Veterinary Students
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on plans to provide assistance with variable fees for veterinary students. [211641]
Dr. Howells: The Secretary of State has not had any direct discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. However, as announced in the House on 12 February 2004, Sir Alan Langlands has been commissioned to produce a report on the gateways to the professions, which will examine how the public sector and the professions can sustain and improve recruitment opportunities for graduates, especially those who do not qualify for the full £3,000 support. One of the areas which he has been looking at is veterinary science. In addition my officials are in touch with officials in Defra. We expect that Sir Alan will make recommendations on entry to the professions, which will include veterinary science, when he reports in the summer.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Immigration and Asylum
16. Mr. Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has further to amend the immigration and asylum system. [211508]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Government reviews the immigration and asylum systems continually and makes changes where considered appropriate and effective. We will shortly be publishing our plans to make significant changes to the way we manage immigration and asylum.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for indefinite leave to remain were received from April 2003 to April 2004 in (a) the Greater London Area and (b) the United Kingdom. [202846]
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Mr. Charles Clarke: There were 114,305 applications made for indefinite leave to remain between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004. All applications in the UK come through a central point so it is not possible to break down applications received in Greater London or elsewhere in the UK.
These figures are based on unvalidated information drawn from internal management systems, and there may be data quality variations.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for indefinite leave to remain were granted within 19 days during the period April 2003 to April 2004. [202881]
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Mr. Charles Clarke: There were 36,185 indefinite leave to remain applications granted in 19 days or less between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004.
These figures are based on invalidated information drawn from internal management systems, and there may be some data quality variations.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain were processed within 20 days, and what percentage of the total number of applications this represented, in each year since 1997, broken down by the type of application. [203222]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is set out in the following table.
| Other | Self employed business | Specialised employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| 2002 | 1,160 | 25 | 205 | 3 | 2,475 | 43 |
| 2003 | 1,530 | 30 | 275 | 3 | 3,555 | 51 |
| 2004 | 3,270 | 52 | 920 | 19 | 4,305 | 65 |
| Students | Visitors | Work permit/ED | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| 2002 | 61,685 | 41 | 5,795 | 33 | 31,060 | 49 |
| 2003 | 123,440 | 56 | 8,390 | 50 | 54,535 | 66 |
| 2004 | 98,680 | 61 | 7,775 | 66 | 23,150 | 40 |
Figures are rounded to nearest 5.
Comparable data is not available prior to 2002 due to changes in data recording between old and existing databases. The information for 2004 is for the period between 1 January 2004 and 6 December 2004.
The processing time is taken as the date that the application was received until the dispatch date.
These figures are based on unvalidated information drawn from internal management systems, and there may be data quality variations.
Mr. Page: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to enable Mr.Patrick Duncan Erasmus (Home Office Reference No. E1008322) to have his passport returned to him for the period 5 to 21 February, and then be allowed back into the UK to continue his appeal against refusal to allow him the right to remain in this country on the basis of his marriage. [209007]
Mr. Browne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to Mr. Erasmus on 25 January, informing him of the outcome of his marriage application and Mr. Erasmus's passport was returned to him on the same date.
If Mr. Erasmus leaves the United Kingdom before his appeal is determined, it will be taken that he has withdrawn his appeal. If he then wished to return to the United Kingdom he would have to apply for entry clearance in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the numbers of migrants to the UK in each of the last three years by (a) those seeking asylum, (b) those applying for a work permit and (c) EU citizens. [211258]
Mr. Browne: The latest published statistics on the numbers of people granted settlement in the UK, in the categories requested, are given in the tables.
EEA nationals are not obliged to seek settlement; the figures given relate to those who chose to do so and do not represent the total number of EEA nationals remaining indefinitely in the UK.
Detailed immigration statistics are published annually in the Command Paper Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom" available from the Library of the House or via the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
(34)Provisional
Data rounded to the nearest 5
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(35)Excludes reconsideration cases.
(36)Provisional
(37)Revised
(38)Spouses and dependants joining British citizens or persons previously granted settlement.
(39)Includes unmarried partners
Data rounded to the nearest 5
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision will be made for children aged under five years at asylum accommodation centres. [211207]
Mr. Browne: The education provider is required to provide nursery education which delivers the Foundation Stage curriculum and covers early learning goals. This provision must be delivered to the same quality as mainstream provision and must be registered with Ofsted, in accordance with The Children Act 1989.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what formal links with schools and education facilities asylum accommodation centres will have. [211208]
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Mr. Browne: The education provider is required, through the contract, to establish links with the local community, including local schools. There are a number of ways in which links could be made, for example, through reciprocal visits by pupils or sporting links.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of providing education facilities at asylum accommodation centres; and who will be responsible for the costs. [211209]
Mr. Browne: We have made no discrete estimate of education facility costs as these will be procured and paid for by the prime contractor as part of their overall response to the Home Department's output specification for accommodation centres. The costs will be incorporated in the contractual capital expense and monthly operating fees that the contractor will receive from the Department as reimbursement for its services.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities will be provided for children with special educational needs at asylum accommodation centres. [211210]
Mr. Browne: Education provided within accommodation centres will have the same broad range and be of equivalent quality to that provided in mainstream schools. Most children with special educational needs (SEN) will have their needs met at the accommodation centre in the same way as the majority of SEN pupils are educated in mainstream schools. We will ensure that provision in the centres reflects that usually provided in schools through School Action and School Action Plus under the SEN Code of Practice.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps the Government will take to ensure that contractors provide effective education at asylum accommodation centres; [211212]
(2) whether education facilities at asylum accommodation centres will be inspected. [211213]
Mr. Browne: Ofsted will have a power to inspect and, if requested by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, a duty to do so. The centres will be inspected within their first year of operation. Timing and frequency of subsequent visits will be dependent on the findings of the initial inspection. A copy of the inspection report will be sent to the education provider. If the findings are that special measures need to be taken to raise standards, the provider will be required to prepare an action plan in the same way as schools are required to do at present.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from where teachers at asylum accommodation centres will be recruited; and what qualifications they will be required to have. [211214]
Mr. Browne:
Teacher recruitment is a matter for the contractors. Only those who are qualified to teach children in schools will be able to teach children in accommodation centres. The staffing mix in accommodation centres will mirror, as closely as possible, that of a typical maintained school. So, the majority of teachers will be required to have Qualified
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Teacher Status (QTS), and for teaching secondary school aged children, an appropriate qualification in the subject area taught.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment will be made of children's educational needs when they arrive at asylum accommodation centres. [211216]
Mr. Browne: On arrival at the accommodation centre, every child will receive an initial assessment by the education provider. This will cover previous educational experience and attainment, knowledge of English and any Special Educational Needs (SEN) requirements. Progress will be monitored by teacher assessment during the stay and, on leaving the centre, a final assessment will be made and information recorded in a Progress File which will be available to the receiving school if the child is to remain in the UK.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role will be played by local education authorities in relation to asylum accommodation centres. [211217]
Mr. Browne: The education of children in accommodation centres will be provided on site. However, the LEA will have a duty to carry out a statutory assessment to determine the Special Educational Needs of a child for whom the education provider feels unable to make appropriate Special Education provision.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what subjects will be taught within education provision in asylum accommodation centres. [211218]
Mr. Browne: All the National Curriculum subjects will be taught in accommodation centres. The Curriculum will be tailored to meet the children's needs. For example, references to the children's particular cultures and background can be included and there will be intensive support to help them learn English. All of the subject areas will be taught in English as they would be in schools.
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refused asylum seekers were removed from the UK in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; what the statistical basis was for the prediction by the Home Office that 30,000 refused asylum seekers would be removed in 2001–02; and how many refused asylum seekers were removed in 2002. [206166]
Mr. Browne:
Information on the number of asylum applicants removed from the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2002, inclusive, is shown in the table. The 30,000 removals target was set to drive up performance and to achieve a real step change in the number of failed asylum seekers being removed. We have since accepted that it was not achievable.
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(40)Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
(41)Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.
(42)Data on dependants removed have only been collected since April 2001.
n/a—not available.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pre-2000 asylum cases applied for special consideration by 31 December 2004. [210703]
Mr. Browne: An announcement detailing the results of the exercise including the available statistical information will be made when the exercise is completed.
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of initial asylum applications received from 1 August 2003 were dealt with in the target time of 13 weeks from receipt of application. [211241]
Mr. Browne: 88 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases 1 ) received in August 2003 to June 2004 had initial decisions reached and served within 13 weeks.
The latest published information on the Home Office Public Service Agreement for 2003–04, ensuring that 75 per cent. of substantive asylum applications are decided within two months show that: 82 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases 1 ) received in 2003–04 (April 2003 to March 2004) had initial decisions reached and served within two months, 90 per cent. within four months and 94 per cent. within six months (compared with 75 per cent., 85 per cent. and 88 per cent. respectively for 2002–03).
84 per cent. of applications received in Q2 (April to June) 2004 had initial decisions reached and served within two months, compared with 83 per cent. for Q1 (January to March) 2004.
Information on the timeliness of initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current time taken for a decision on an asylum application that was made before 1 August 2003 is, where the initial application was considered to be valid. [211242]
Mr. Browne:
The latest information on the average time between application and initial decisions made in 2003 is shown in the table.
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(43)Excluding dependants.
(44)The average length of time (in months) is calculated from date application lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the year in which the applications were made.
(45)Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 100.
The latest published statistics show that the speed of processing asylum applications continues to improve. 82 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases 1 ) received in the period April 2003 to March 2004 had initial decisions reached and served within two months, compared with 75 per cent. of applications in 2002–03. This exceeded the Government's targets of 75 per cent. for 2003–04 and 65 per cent. for 2002–03.
Information on the timeliness of initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the criteria for assessing and substantiating accounts of torture and political persecution given by Zimbabwean asylum seekers differentiate between claims from genuine and non-genuine Zimbabwean refugees. [211393]
Mr. Browne: Asylum caseworkers consider the applicant's written and oral evidence in the light of the available sources of information about the country situation and particular incidents, taking account also of any medical evidence of torture, before deciding whether the individual has a well-founded fear of persecution and should be recognised as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 Convention.
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