Written question asked by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Monday, 17 June 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 July 2002. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Monday, 1 July 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with his Dutch colleagues about Dutch Somalians who have left the Netherlands to settle in the UK.

Answer: Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with his Dutch colleagues about Dutch Somalians who have left the Netherlands to settle in the UK. [63446] Beverley Hughes: We are aware of increasing numbers of individuals of Somali origin arriving in the United Kingdom and claiming local authority support. It is in response to this issue that we have introduced an amendment to the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill. The purpose of this amendment is to clarify in law the duty that local authorities have to provide social assistance to these individuals, and will limit support available to this category of person when they have support available elsewhere. The Dutch have recently expressed concern about this issue. My officials are in the process of liaising with other Government Departments and the Dutch Embassy in London about setting up channels of communication with the Dutch in response to this issue.

Secondary information