Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 7 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 June 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 June 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what criteria a decision to raise the resettlement quota for asylum seekers would be based.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what criteria a decision to raise the resettlement quota for asylum seekers would be based. [177931] Mr. Browne: The Gateway Protection Programme brings refugees to the UK, not asylum seekers. This is the first year in which we have operated the Programme. It is a complex operation and our current priority is ensuring the policy and procedures are working satisfactorily. We will be reviewing the scope for extending the Programme in future years in light of our initial experiences, including the available caseloads and identified needs, the contribution resettlement is able to make to refugee protection and the availability and costs of placements in the UK.

Secondary information