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Asylum Seekers

Volume 406: debated on Wednesday 11 June 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there were in (a) Hull and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each month in the last two quarters for which figures are available; how long each application took to process; and how many applications were successful. [116771]

The availability of information on the location of asylum seekers in the UK is currently linked to the support the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers in the UK either receive support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), local authorities or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or are supporting themselves.

Information on outstanding asylum cases, initial decision outcomes and asylum case processing times relating to persons in particular areas of the UK is unavailable as are statistics regarding the location of asylum seekers not in receipt of support.

NASS does not disperse asylum seekers to any areas in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The following table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) accommodated by NASS and receiving subsistence only support in Hull as at the end of each quarter since June 20021 :

As at end of quarter

Number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation in Hull

Number of asylum seekers (including dependants) receiving subsistence only support in Hull2

June 2002995

3

September 2002995

3

December 20021,01035
March 200394050

1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. These figures exclude cases where support has been ceased.

2 Figures on the location of cases receiving subsistence only support only became available below regional level from December 2002.

3 Figures for subsistence only cases by Local Authority are only available from December 2002.

From grant claims sent to the Home Office by local authorities, as at the end of March 2003, there were the following additional number4 of asylum seekers being supported by the local authorities in Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire: (Asylum seekers are not necessarily resident in the Local Authority that supports them due to the voluntary dispersal programme which operated prior to NASS).

Local Authority

Number of singles supported as at end March 2003

Number of families supported as at end of March 2003

East Riding50
Hull205

Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigratio 1. html

4 Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. These figures exclude cases where support has been ceased.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether accusations of domestic violence to the police about the behaviour of an asylum seeker are taken into consideration by Ministers when considering deportation. [117925]

Before a person can be removed or deported full account is taken of all known relevant factors. These include any criminal convictions, and the individual's personal history including his or her character and conduct.