House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 2 Feb 2005 (pt 19)

2 Feb 2005 : Column 957W—continued

Fireworks

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firework-related prosecutions occurred in (a) England and Wales,

2 Feb 2005 : Column 958W

(b) Wales and (c) the South Wales Police Force area in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004. [203892]

Ms Blears: The available information from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on prosecutions for firework offences are shown in the table.
Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for offences relating to fireworks, England and Wales, 2002–03⁽¹²⁾

South Wales
PFA
Wales
England
and Wales

Offence description Principal statute 2002 2003 2002 2003 2002 2003

Throwing, casting or firing any fireworks in or into any highway, street, etc. public place Explosives Act 1875 S.80 Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol, etc.) Act 1985, S2A(1) 1 1 5 2 63 48

Being in possession of fireworks etc. in or when entering a designated sports ground — — — — 5 3

Contravention of regulations —offences under S.12 Consumer Protection Act 1987 Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 18 3 20 6 272 170

⁽¹²⁾These data are on the principal offence basis

2 Feb 2005 : Column 959W

		South Wales PFA	Wales	England and Wales
Offence description	Principal statute	2002	2003	2002	2003	2002	2003
Throwing, casting or firing any fireworks in or into any highway, street, etc. public place	Explosives Act 1875 S.80 Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol, etc.) Act 1985, S2A(1)	1	1	5	2	63	48
Being in possession of fireworks etc. in or when entering a designated sports ground		—	—	—	—	5	3
Contravention of regulations —offences under S.12 Consumer Protection Act 1987	Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997	18	3	20	6	272	170

Statistics for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.

Firework offences can also attract penalty notices. When penalty notices for disorder were introduced in 2003–04, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, they included the offence of throwing fireworks under section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875. Three further firework offences were added to the scheme from 11 October 2004. These were made under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 (under section 11 of the Fireworks Act 2003) and cover breach of the national fireworks curfew, the illegal possession of category 4 fireworks and possession of an adult firework by a person aged under 18.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices for littering have been issued by Coventry community support officers in the last year. [210123]

Ms Blears [holding answer 25 January 2005]: The information requested is not available. Community support officers in West Midlands police have been designated with the power to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) but no central record is kept of the number of FPNs issued.

Identity Cards/Passports

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the assessment of the UK Passport Service biometric trial has been completed. [210007]

Mr. Browne: The United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) Biometrics Enrolment Trial concluded on 24 December 2004 and the findings are currently being evaluated with the final report due for delivery to UKPS in February 2005. This will be followed by a Quality Assurance process prior to release during March 2005.

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where each of the focus groups convened for the consultation on the legislation on identity cards met. [213290]

Mr. Browne: Qualitative research was commissioned during the consultation period on the draft legislation to examine current public perceptions of ID cards. 18 group discussions were conducted with members of the public at 11 locations. Two group discussions took place at each of the following locations: London W1; Erdington, Birmingham; Wimborne, Dorset; Bridgend; East Cramlington, Northumberland; Edinburgh; Belfast and Greenford, Middlesex. One group discussion took place at each of the following locations: Randlay, Telford and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of adults in Scotland who for physical reasons are unable to provide (a) fingerprints and (b) iris scans for the purposes of the national identity cards scheme. [213291]

Mr. Browne: There is evidence from evaluations of equipment and research studies that for iris and fingerprints, between one per cent. and two per cent. of applicants will be unable to provide a usable fingerprint

2 Feb 2005 : Column 960W

or iris biometric. The results from the United Kingdom Passport Service biometric pilot, in particular the results from the disabled quota, will provide more detail. For some within this group their biometrics may be readable with special equipment or with the help of manual assistance.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rate of (a) false positive matches and (b) false negative matches in the UK Passport Service biometrics trial has been; and what estimates have been made of these rates in a database of all UK adults. [210155]

Mr. Browne: The analysis of false matches/negatives was outside the scope of the United Kingdom Passport Service Biometrics Enrolment Trial which concluded on 24 December 2004.

The rates of false negatives and false positives in the enrolment have not been estimated with any degree of certainty because no final decision on the technology to be used in the scheme has been taken and work on this subject will be undertaken in the future.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of UK adults who for physical reasons are unable to provide (a) fingerprints and (b) iris scans for the purposes of the national identity cards scheme. [210162]

Mr. Browne: There is evidence from evaluations of equipment and research studies that for iris and fingerprints, between one per cent and two per cent of applicants will be unable to provide a usable fingerprint or iris biometric. For some within this group their biometrics may be readable with special equipment or with the help of manual assistance. The results from the UKPS biometric pilot, in particular the results from the disabled quota, will provide more detail.

Immigration/Asylum

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) scale and (b) nature of working by illegal immigrants in the UK. [208887]

Mr. Browne: By definition, the scale of illegal migrant working is difficult to measure because illegal immigrants fall outside of the United Kingdom official statistics. Consequently, there is no official estimate for the number of illegal immigrants working in the United Kingdom. The experience of workplace enforcement officials indicates that illegal migrant working tends to feature in commercial sectors characterised by low skilled, temporary employment in which labour is often supplied via sub-contractual arrangements. The Immigration Service has detected illegal migrant workers employed in various sectors, including hospitality (including hotels and restaurants), car washes and repair garages, the sex trade, horticulture and agriculture, food production, contract cleaning, manufacturing and the care home sector. The Government take seriously the harm caused by illegal working, including the risk to our immigration control and the exploitative treatment often experienced by workers. We have strengthened the law preventing illegal working and are examining how best to improve compliance and enforcement.

2 Feb 2005 : Column 961W

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants for asylum who have been granted temporary leave to remain in the UK who have served, or are serving, custodial sentences for crimes committed in the UK in each of the last five years for which there are records, have been (a) returned to their country of origin and (b) had their status revoked; and if he will make a statement; [208945]

(2) how many applicants for asylum who have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK who have served, or are serving, custodial sentences for crimes committed in the UK in each of the last five years for which there are records, have been (a) returned to their country of origin and (b) had their status revoked; and if he will make a statement. [208946]

Mr. Browne: The Prison Service does not record information on deportation orders on the Inmate Information System. Information on the number of persons held in prison who are the subject of a deportation order is not therefore available except by examination of individual case files, at disproportionate cost.

The number of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action is given in the following table. There is no information on whether these cases would have been deported immediately after completing a prison sentence, without examining individual files at disproportionate cost.
Persons removed from the United Kingdom as a result of deportation action, 1999 to 2003

1999⁽¹³⁾ 2000⁽¹³⁾ 2001⁽¹⁴⁾ 2002⁽¹⁴⁾ 2003⁽¹⁵⁾

Persons removed⁽¹⁶⁾ 1,210 1,280 450 415 —

Of whom:
Principal asylum applicants⁽¹⁷⁾140 145 85 100 —

Non-asylum cases 1,075 1,140 365 315 —

⁽¹³⁾Deportation figures may be under-recorded in 1999 and 2000.
⁽¹⁴⁾Figures for 2001 and 2002 have been estimated.
⁽¹⁵⁾Data were not of sufficient quality for publication in 2003, however it is estimated that 480 persons were removed as a result of deportation action in this year. Due to poor data quality this is not an official statistic.
⁽¹⁶⁾Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
⁽¹⁷⁾Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. Excludes dependents of asylum seekers.

2 Feb 2005 : Column 962W

	1999⁽¹³⁾	2000⁽¹³⁾	2001⁽¹⁴⁾	2002⁽¹⁴⁾	2003⁽¹⁵⁾
Persons removed⁽¹⁶⁾	1,210	1,280	450	415	—
Of whom:
Principal asylum applicants⁽¹⁷⁾140	145	85	100	—
Non-asylum cases	1,075	1,140	365	315	—

Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed. Information on the number of asylum seekers who have been deported in 2004 is not currently available. This is due to be published this summer in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2004".

Information on the number of asylum applicants who had been granted leave to remain in the UK and then had their status revoked is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the numbers of people who migrated to the UK in each of the last three years by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) ethnicity. [211257]

Mr. Browne: The latest published statistics on the number of people granted indefinite leave to remain (settlement) in the UK by age and gender are given in the table.

This information is 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

Data on the ethnic origin of persons granted settlement are not collated and are therefore not available.
Table 5.2: Grants of settlement on removal of time limit, by broad nationality, gender and age⁽¹⁸⁾,excluding EEA nationals, 2003⁽¹⁹⁾: United Kingdom Number of persons

Geographical region Children (under 16) 16–24 25–34 35–44 45–59 60+ Adults (16 and over)

All nationalities

Male 13,270 8,000 20,915 12,245 5,240 1,790 48,195

Female 12,630 14,760 26,550 12,695 5,620 3,105 62,730

Total 25,900 22,765 47,470 24,940 10,860 4,895 110,925

Europe (excluding EEA)

Male 1,230 925 2,195 1,070 410 75 4,680

Female 1,165 1,835 4,075 1,370 595 180 8,055

Total 2,395 2,765 6,265 2,440 1,010 260 12,735

Americas

Male 1,630 680 2,150 1,645 805 215 5,490

Female 1,655 1,080 3,260 2,085 1,005 295 7,725

Total 3,280 1,760 5,410 3,730 1,810 510 13,215

Africa

Male 5,635 2,475 5,825 4,800 2,050 540 15,690

Female 5,330 3,140 6,570 4,350 1,990 915 16,965

Total 10,965 5,615 12,400 9,150 4,040 1,455 32,655

Asia

Indian sub-continent

Male 2,035 2,670 5,510 2,050 860 565 11,660

Female 1,885 6,515 4,205 1,290 695 1,035 13,740

Total 3,920 9,185 9,710 3,340 1,560 1,600 25,400

Middle East

Male 525 320 665 510 235 115 1,845

Female 480 445 660 420 190 215 1,930

Total 1,005 765 1,325 930 425 330 3,775

Remainder of Asia

Male 1,795 735 2,295 1,510 605 220 5,370

Female 1,750 1,430 5,190 2,585 870 390 10,470

Total 3,550 2,165 7,485 4,095 1,475 610 15,840

Asia

Male 4,355 3,725 8,470 4,070 1,705 905 18,875

Female 4,110 8,395 10,055 4,295 1,755 1,640 26,135

Total 8,470 12,120 18,520 8,365 3,460 2,545 45,010

Oceania

Male 305 90 2,135 600 240 35 3,100

Female 285 200 2,430 505 215 35 3,380

Total 590 290 4,560 1,105 455 70 6,480

British Overseas citizens and other countries

Male 115 105 145 55 30 20 360

Female 85 110 165 95 55 40 470

Total 200 220 310 150 90 60 830

⁽¹⁸⁾Excludes 2,865 persons given settlement on arrival, for which an age analysis is not available, and a further 1,795 persons whose ages are not available.
⁽¹⁹⁾Provisional.
Note:
Data rounded to the nearest 5.

2 Feb 2005 : Column 963W

Geographical region	Children (under 16)	16–24	25–34	35–44	45–59	60+	Adults (16 and over)
All nationalities
Male	13,270	8,000	20,915	12,245	5,240	1,790	48,195
Female	12,630	14,760	26,550	12,695	5,620	3,105	62,730
Total	25,900	22,765	47,470	24,940	10,860	4,895	110,925

Europe (excluding EEA)
Male	1,230	925	2,195	1,070	410	75	4,680
Female	1,165	1,835	4,075	1,370	595	180	8,055
Total	2,395	2,765	6,265	2,440	1,010	260	12,735

Americas
Male	1,630	680	2,150	1,645	805	215	5,490
Female	1,655	1,080	3,260	2,085	1,005	295	7,725
Total	3,280	1,760	5,410	3,730	1,810	510	13,215

Africa
Male	5,635	2,475	5,825	4,800	2,050	540	15,690
Female	5,330	3,140	6,570	4,350	1,990	915	16,965
Total	10,965	5,615	12,400	9,150	4,040	1,455	32,655

Asia
Indian sub-continent
Male	2,035	2,670	5,510	2,050	860	565	11,660
Female	1,885	6,515	4,205	1,290	695	1,035	13,740
Total	3,920	9,185	9,710	3,340	1,560	1,600	25,400

Middle East
Male	525	320	665	510	235	115	1,845
Female	480	445	660	420	190	215	1,930
Total	1,005	765	1,325	930	425	330	3,775

Remainder of Asia
Male	1,795	735	2,295	1,510	605	220	5,370
Female	1,750	1,430	5,190	2,585	870	390	10,470
Total	3,550	2,165	7,485	4,095	1,475	610	15,840

Asia
Male	4,355	3,725	8,470	4,070	1,705	905	18,875
Female	4,110	8,395	10,055	4,295	1,755	1,640	26,135
Total	8,470	12,120	18,520	8,365	3,460	2,545	45,010

Oceania
Male	305	90	2,135	600	240	35	3,100
Female	285	200	2,430	505	215	35	3,380
Total	590	290	4,560	1,105	455	70	6,480

British Overseas citizens and other countries
Male	115	105	145	55	30	20	360
Female	85	110	165	95	55	40	470
Total	200	220	310	150	90	60	830

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of central Government grants to each local authority to supportasylum seekers was in each year since 1996–97. [207955]

2 Feb 2005 : Column 964W

Mr. Browne: The information is not available in the precise format requested. Information for the 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 is not available. Available information for the years 1999–2000 to 2004–05 is in the following table.
Local authority grant rates—per week of support £

Category/year (rates shown represent maximum grant available)

1999–20001, 5 1999–20002, 3, 5 2000–01 2001–02⁽²³⁾

Adults London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾ 140.00 140.00 140.00 140.00

Non-London boroughs 140.00 140.00 140.00 140.00

Families London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾ 240.00 240.00 350.00 350.00

Non-London boroughs 240.00 240.00 240.00 240.00

Large families London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾ 240.00 240.00 350.00 380.00

Non-London boroughs 240.00 240.00 240.00 270.00

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (U16) Up to 100 claimants n/a n/a 400.00 400.00

More than 100 claimants n/a n/a 575.00 575.00

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (016) Up to 100 claimants n/a n/a 200.00 200.00

More than 100 claimants n/a n/a 300.00 300.00

2 Feb 2005 : Column 965W

£

Category/year (rates shown represent maximum grant available)

2002–034, 7 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05

Adults London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾ ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Non-London boroughs ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Families London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾ ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Non-London boroughs ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Large families London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾ ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Non-London boroughs ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾— ⁽²⁵⁾—

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (U16) Up to 100 claimants 420.00 ⁽²⁶⁾— 670.00 686.75

More than 100 claimants 575.00 ⁽²⁶⁾— 670.00 686.75

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (016) Up to 100 claimants 220.00 ⁽²⁶⁾— 300.00 307.50

More than 100 claimants 300.00 ⁽²⁶⁾— 300.00 307.50

⁽²⁰⁾Prior to Royal Assent of the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999—up to 5 December 1999.
2Post Royal Assent of the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999—6 December 1999 onwards.
⁽²¹⁾Post Royal Assent, overspends in the adults or families category were allowed to be offset in the other, hence actual rates paid may be higher in one or other of these categories from this point on.
⁽²²⁾For the period 1 April 2001 to 7 November 2002 UASC aged 16 and 17 who had applied for asylum prior to their 16thbirthday and were still being cared for under Sect 20 or Sect 23 of the Children Act 1989 could be claimed.
5In 1999–2000 grants for UASC were paid by DoH and not MASS.
6From 2002–03 onwards individual rates were set for each local authority for adults and families, based upon actual spend in 2001–02 and increased for inflation.
⁽²³⁾Rates shown for UASC in 2002–03 were paid for the period up to Royal Assent of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act on 7 November 2002, subsequent to this individual rates were set for each authority based unit costs in 2001–02 adjusted for inflation.
⁽²⁴⁾Rates for London boroughs were also paid to several adjacent local authorities with similar costs.

		Category/year (rates shown represent maximum grant available)
		1999–20001, 5	1999–20002, 3, 5	2000–01	2001–02⁽²³⁾
Adults	London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾	140.00	140.00	140.00	140.00
	Non-London boroughs	140.00	140.00	140.00	140.00

Families	London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾	240.00	240.00	350.00	350.00
	Non-London boroughs	240.00	240.00	240.00	240.00

Large families	London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾	240.00	240.00	350.00	380.00
	Non-London boroughs	240.00	240.00	240.00	270.00

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (U16)	Up to 100 claimants	n/a	n/a	400.00	400.00
	More than 100 claimants	n/a	n/a	575.00	575.00

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (016)	Up to 100 claimants	n/a	n/a	200.00	200.00
	More than 100 claimants	n/a	n/a	300.00	300.00

		Category/year (rates shown represent maximum grant available)
		2002–034, 7	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Adults	London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—
	Non-London boroughs	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—

Families	London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—
	Non-London boroughs	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—

Large families	London boroughs⁽²⁷⁾	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—
	Non-London boroughs	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—	⁽²⁵⁾—

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (U16)	Up to 100 claimants	420.00	⁽²⁶⁾—	670.00	686.75
	More than 100 claimants	575.00	⁽²⁶⁾—	670.00	686.75

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (016)	Up to 100 claimants	220.00	⁽²⁶⁾—	300.00	307.50
	More than 100 claimants	300.00	⁽²⁶⁾—	300.00	307.50

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been removed from the UK less than three months after all appeals have been exhausted in the last year for which figures are available. [211600]

Mr. Browne: Information is not currently available for all case types.

Management information indicates that between January 2004 and December 2004 1,500 failed asylum seekers were removed within three months of having exhausted all appeals.

This information has not been quality assured and should be treated as provisional management information only.

Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in Stoke-on-Trent who are applying for asylum are (a) male, (b) female, (c) married and (d) single; and how many have children. [211710]

Mr. Browne: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives.

The table shows the numbers of people supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) resident in Stoke-on-Trent as at the end of September 2004. These data are analysed by gender and whether the person is a single applicant, an applicant with dependants or a dependant of an applicant. Details of age, marital status and number of children are not available.

2 Feb 2005 : Column 966W

Table showing asylum seekers supported in (A): NASS accommodation1, 2, 3and (B): in receipt of subsistence only support from NASS1, 3, 4Stoke-on-Trent as at end Q3 2004

Male Female Total

NASS accommodation
Single applicants 100 395 495

Applicants with dependants 55 25 80

Dependants ⁽²⁹⁾ 85 65 150

Total 240 485 725

NASS subsistence only

Single applicants 5 25 30

Applicants with dependants * — —

Dependants⁽²⁹⁾ * — —

Total 5 25 30

⁽²⁵⁾Figures have been rounded to nearest 5 and are provisional, with * = 1 or 2.
⁽²⁶⁾Asylum seekers that have been allocated NASS accommodation and have been confirmed as having arrived in that accommodation.
⁽²⁷⁾Excludes cases where support has been ceased by the National Asylum Support Service.
⁽²⁸⁾Asylum seekers receiving subsistence only support from the National Asylum Support Service.
⁽²⁹⁾A dependant is defined as any person who accompanies the support applicant in the UK and will need to be supported.

	Male	Female	Total
NASS accommodation
Single applicants	100	395	495
Applicants with dependants	55	25	80
Dependants ⁽²⁹⁾	85	65	150
Total	240	485	725

NASS subsistence only
Single applicants	5	25	30
Applicants with dependants	*	—	—
Dependants⁽²⁹⁾	*	—	—
Total	5	25	30

Analyses of these totals are based on internal management information and as such are not of sufficient quality to be published as National Statistics.

Corresponding figures for those not in receipt of NASS support are not available. In addition some applicants may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration Service.

Numbers of asylum seekers placed in MASS accommodation and numbers who are in receipt of subsistence only support from MASS, are published on

2 Feb 2005 : Column 967W

a quarterly and annual basis. The next publication covering the fourth quarter of 2004 (October to December) will be available on 22 February 2005 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum registration cards have been issued in each of the last six months; and how many in each month prohibited employment. [212102]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 31 January 2005]: The information requested is set out in the table:

2004 Employment prohibited ARCs produced Total ARCs produced

July 4,840 5,300

August 4,680 5,170

September 5,000 5,550

October 4,700 5,200

November 4,490 4,990

December 4,180 4,480

Total for period 27,890 30,690

Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

2004	Employment prohibited ARCs produced	Total ARCs produced
July	4,840	5,300
August	4,680	5,170
September	5,000	5,550
October	4,700	5,200
November	4,490	4,990
December	4,180	4,480
Total for period	27,890	30,690

These figures have been obtained from the Asylum Registration Cards Database and are subject to change. They include cards issued to new asylum seekers and their dependants as well as replacements where, for instance, the original has been lost or damaged.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holders of asylum registration cards with employment prohibited have left the UK (a) voluntarily and (b) through deportation in each of the last six months. [212103]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 31 January 2005]: I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people to whom asylum registration cards have been issued are resident in the UK. [212105]

Mr. Browne [holding answer 31 January 2005]: Application Registration Cards (ARCs) are only issued to asylum seekers who are present in the UK. Details are not recorded of the numbers of ARC holders who have since left the UK.

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