Written question asked by Austin Mitchell (Labour) on Thursday, 26 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 May 2001. It was answered by Barbara Roche (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what opportunities for appeal (a) local authorities and (b) local electors have against the designation of their areas as a cluster for asylum seekers; how many places have had their designation as cluster areas for asylum seekers removed; and for what reasons.

Answer: Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what opportunities for appeal (a) local authorities and (b) local electors have against the designation of their areas as a cluster for asylum seekers; [159678] (2) how many places have had their designation as cluster areas for asylum seekers removed; and for what reasons. [159740] Mrs. Roche: The National Asylum Support Service consults regional consortiums which are local authority- led about the identification of cluster areas. Any evidence put forward about the suitability of the area for the accommodation of asylum seekers received as part of this consultation process will be taken into account. Once an area has been identified as a cluster area there is no formal appeal process against its use for accommodating asylum seekers, but any evidence put forward as to why a particular area should no longer be a cluster would be given due consideration. No area has had their designation as a cluster area removed.

Secondary information