Written question asked by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 October 2006.

Asylum Seekers: Lancashire

Question: How many properties are currently provided by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in (a) Blackburn; (b) Hyndburn; (c) Burnley; and (d) Pendle (Nelson); how many asylum seekers are being housed in each of these local authority areas; and whether there are any empty properties still under NASS contracts in these areas.

Answer: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does not directly provide accommodation. Instead, it has contracts with accommodation providers that supply accommodation for asylum seekers.. The new ““Target Contracts”” entered into earlier this year mean that the IND only pays for those asylum seekers who are actually accommodated and not for properties. The IND, through its accommodation contracts, currently has 157 properties in Blackburn with Darwen and five properties in Hyndburn. There are no asylum seekers being housed in either Burnley or Pendle. 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 third quarter of 2006 will be available on the 21 November 2006, on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at 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 of the House.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 7511; 685 c185WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Asylum Housing Empty property Burnley National Asylum Support Service Hyndburn Blackburn Pendle
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk