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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are located in Essex while awaiting determination of their application or appeal; and what estimate he has made of their total cost to (a) central Government and (b) local government funds. [159952] Mrs. Roche: [holding answer 1 May 2001]: The available information comes from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), which began supporting destitute asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom on or after 3 April 2000. NASS records information on the location of NASS supported asylum seekers by region and cluster area but not by county. Statistics from NASS, for the end of February 2001, show that for asylum seekers located in the east of England (which includes Essex) 40 asylum seekers (including dependants) had been allocated accommodation and 810 asylum seekers (including dependants) had been allocated voucher only support. These figures may include some asylum seeker families who have received a final negative decision because families of asylum seekers are eligible to remain supported by NASS until removal. Information is not available centrally on the location of asylum seekers not supported by NASS. Asylum seekers who entered the United Kingdom before 3 April 2000 are supported by local authorities. Estimated expenditure on asylum support, including unaccompanied asylum seeking minors, in 2000-01 was £751 million (estimated final outturn) Notes: 1. Information on the costs of supporting asylum seekers in specific areas of the United Kingdom are not available. 2. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Costs rounded to the nearest £1 million.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

368 c163-4W; 159952

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Appeals Asylum Applications Costs Essex Refugees Temporary accommodation

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk