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7 Jun 2006 : Column 726W—continued
Tuberculosis
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what inoculations are given to children to protect against tuberculosis. [73842]
Caroline Flint: The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination is the only inoculation recommended to protect at risk children against tuberculosis.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis was for the decision to withdraw tuberculosis inoculation for schoolchildren; and what guidance is available for parents who wish their child to be inoculated. [73791]
Caroline Flint: Since the introduction of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) schools programme in 1953 the epidemiology of tuberculosis has changed from a disease of the general population to one predominantly affecting high-risk groups. The new recommendations are based on the advice of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation and are aimed at delivering an improved targeted risk based programme. The widespread introduction of targeted BCG vaccination means that the majority of children at high risk of tuberculosis will now be vaccinated in early life.
The Chief Medical Officer announced changes to the BCG programme via a letter to the medical profession and primary care trusts on 6 July 2005. In support of these changes an updated leaflet, factsheet, and poster were produced and sent directly to the professionals and primary care trusts. All of these resources were aimed at raising awareness of tuberculosis, and also informing health professionals and the general public alike, of the changes to BCG policy. All these resources were also made available to order free of charge via the Department’s publications line.
Home Department
Abu Qatada
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in deporting Abu Qatada to Jordan. [69173]
Mr. Byrne: Abu Qatada has appealed against the decision to deport him. The appeal hearing started on 9 May, and closing submissions have still to be made. Subsequent action will depend on the outcome of that appeal.
Alcohol Sales
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the sale of alcohol to people who are already drunk. [74533]
Mr. McNulty: The Government’s strategy for tackling this issue is based on working in partnership with the licensed trade, who have themselves recognised the need to redouble their efforts to prevent their staff selling to those already drunk. We are working closely with the industry on the details of how they will do this.
In addition, through the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns (AMECs), we have been encouraging the police to develop and use innovative tactics to deal with alcohol-related crime and disorder, which include measures to prevent sales to drunks such as visits to licensed premises and to detect sales, through, for example, the use of undercover officers.
Anti-Semitic Incidents
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1613W, on anti-Semitic incidents, how many of the 132 reported incidents in Greater Manchester in 2005 occurred in each of the 10 Greater Manchester authorities. [70334]
Mr. McNulty: The information given in the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1613W, was taken from research conducted by the Community Security Trust and reported in 2005. That report is available at http://www.thecst.org.uk but does not give a further breakdown as to where these incidents took place.
Assisted Volunteers Return of Irregular Migrants Programme
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the assisted volunteers return of irregular migrants programme was in each year since its introduction; how many people have been helped under the programme; and how many of these subsequently returned to the UK without authorisation. [73523]
Mr. Byrne: The costs tabled in the attachment include all of those relating to the programme including staffing costs.
Of the 577 people who have returned to their country of origin under the assisted volunteers return of irregular migrants (AVRIM) programme since the introduction of the programme in November 2004, four were refused leave to enter the UK as visitors, two were granted leave to enter as visitors, one had entry clearance and was granted leave to enter as a spouse, one was granted leave to enter as they were applying under an EEA family permit and one held an EEA residence permit.
| Programme year | Number of those returning to their country of origin under Avrim | Cost of programme (£) |
| (1 )up to 30 April 2006 | ||
Asylum/Immigration
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in (a) Coventry, South and (b) the west midlands region. [71751]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 22 May 2006]: The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by Government office region and local authority. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2006 will be published on 23 May 2006, and will be available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library.
The location of asylum seekers not supported by NASS could be provided only by looking at individual case records.
While a supported application is being processed and dispersed accommodation arranged, asylum seekers are housed in Initial Accommodation. As at the end of April 2006 there were 160 asylum seekers in Initial accommodation in the west midlands region.
Some longer standing asylum seekers remain supported by local authorities. Latest available management information suggests that there are 17 cases still supported by authorities in the west midlands.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers that have yet to be deported reside in (a) Bexley and (b) Greater London. [72631]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested is not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of asylum seekers who were not removed when all their appeal processes had been exhausted in each of the last five years. [73524]
Mr. Byrne: The recent National Audit Office report “Returning failed asylum applicants” acknowledges that the number of failed asylum seekers in the UK is impossible to determine as some will have left the country of their own accord.
No Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of failed asylum seekers who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately, and that remains the case.
Information on the number of removals of failed asylum seekers is published quarterly and annually, on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 71W, on asylum/ immigration, what criteria are used when considering a fresh application from a foreign national whose previous appeal rights have been exhausted; and if he will make a statement. [73412]
Mr. Byrne: The criteria for deciding whether a fresh asylum claim has been made are set out in the immigration rules, particularly rule 353. A copy of the rules is available in the Library.
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 71W, on asylum/immigration, what the cost to public funds was of consideration of fresh applications for asylum from those who had exhausted their appeal rights in the latest period for which figures are available. [73414]
Mr. Byrne: This information was not recorded before June 2005. There were 279 fresh applications recorded in the period June 2005 to March 2006 from those who had exhausted their appeal rights. In its 2004 report “Improving the speed and quality of asylum decisions”, the National Audit Office accepted a figure of approximately £3,000 as the average cost of reaching an initial decision on an asylum application. Updating to 2006 prices suggests a current average cost of £3,400.
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 71W, on asylum and immigration, what percentage of the applicants who submitted a fresh asylum application came from each country. [73416]
Mr. Byrne: I am advised that of the approximately 6,000 failed asylum seekers whose appeal rights have been exhausted and who have submitted further representations which they claim amount to a fresh asylum claim, approximately 17 per cent. were from Zimbabwe, 13 per cent. from Iraq, 7 per cent. from Iran, 7 per cent. from Somalia, 7 per cent. from Eritrea, 6 per cent. from Sri Lanka, 6 per cent. from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 6 per cent. from Afghanistan, 3 per cent. from Pakistan, 3 per cent. from Turkey, 3 per cent. From Ethiopia, 3 per cent. from Sudan and 1 per cent. from Kosovo. The remaining numbers form percentages of less than one per cent. from each of a substantial number of countries. This information is based on internal management information and as such is not published within official statistics.
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 71W, on asylum and immigration, how many foreign nationals whose appeal rights have been exhausted have taken up the suggestion of returning home to their country voluntarily. [73417]
Mr. Byrne: I am advised that the numbers are as follows:
| Number | |
| (1) Of foreign nationals who have returned to their country of origin under the Voluntary Assisted Return Reintegration Programme (VARRP) programme and whose appeal rights exhausted. | |
Mr. Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average cost to public funds of supporting a failed asylum seeker in the last period for which figures are available. [73413]
Mr. Byrne: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) provides support to eligible asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. Generally, this support ends when the asylum seeker’s claim for asylum has been finally determined.
However, where the applicant’s claim has been finally determined as refused, support may continue under section 95 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 provided the applicant has minor dependants under the age of 18. The average cost of section 95 support, including accommodation and subsistence from un-audited April to November 2005 financial information is estimated at £141 per person per week.
Support may also be provided under section four of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 if the applicant is destitute and unable to leave the UK immediately due to circumstances beyond their control. The average cost of section four support for the same period is estimated at £129 per week.
Brian Haw
Mr. Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has
received regarding the (a) removal and (b) right to remain and protest of Mr. Brian Haw from Parliament Square. [74778]
Mr. McNulty: I cannot comment on this case as it is currently sub judice.
Careless Driving
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers received a custodial sentence in 2005 after being convicted of careless driving following an incident in which a person died. [70895]
Mr. Coaker: Available data for the specific offence of careless driving, contrary to s.3, Road Traffic Act 1988 in England and Wales, do not indicate whether the incidents to which they relate involved injury or death.
Control Communications Commands
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason (a) Waltham forest and (b) Redbridge are in the second half of the last wave of the process for the integration of control room functions to Control Communications Commands in the Metropolitan Police; what steps he has taken to ensure that the integration process has identified and tackled problems arising in the earlier stages; and if he will make a statement. [47940]
Mr. McNulty: This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis who will write to my hon. Friend separately. I will arrange for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library.
Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter to his predecessor dated 21 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. Asma Asad. [72166]
Mr. Byrne: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given on 16 May 2006, Official Report, column 902W.
Departmental Costs
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the top three grades are paid from his Department’s budget. [67459]
Mr. Byrne: The Home Office ministerial team consists of seven Ministers and I am advised that there are in total 260 substantive members of the senior civil service currently working in the Department.
Departmental Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in his Department have been (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in each of the last five years. [67992]
Mr. Byrne: The figures available for the Home Office are set out in the table in annex A. The data for staff disciplined for misuse of the internet includes any misuse of IT including misuse of the internal email system. Similarly, the data for staff disciplined for misuse of the telephone at work include any misuse of the telephone including excessive use or unauthorised telephone calls.
| Question: Figures of how many people in the Home Office (including its Agencies) have been (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed for (i) inappropriate use of the internet while at work and (ii) using work telephones to access premium rate telephone numbers in each of the last five years. Annex A | ||||||
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