Asylum Seekers

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 22 December 1997.

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Photo of Damian Green Damian Green Conservative, Ashford 12:00, 22 December 1997

What representations he has received on problems relating to Czech and Slovak asylum seekers in Kent. [20166]

Photo of Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office

There have been numerous representations from various interested parties since the Czech and Slovak asylum seekers began to come in June this year. The major influx has now abated, and we are now concentrating our efforts on resolving the remaining cases. That is made slower and more difficult by the complex asylum system that we inherited from the Conservative Government.

Photo of Damian Green Damian Green Conservative, Ashford

I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he give the House his latest assessment of the cost of the influx of so-called asylum seekers? Has any progress been made in the fair allocation of that cost? By any standards, this is a national not a local problem, and for the cost to fall exclusively on my constituents and other council tax payers in Kent is manifestly unfair.

Photo of Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office

The cost is on-going, but local authorities receive from the Government £140 a week per adult asylum seeker. The council tax payers of Kent contribute, but they will also contribute as income tax payers should there be any further Government money. Last April, the Conservative Government cut the amount available from the Government to Kent and other authorities by some £20 a week per adult asylum seeker. This Government have been more generous to Kent. I have agreed to look at the further help that could be given to Kent by releasing some of its section 11 funding. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will join me in praising many of the people of Kent for their tolerance and assistance in coping with what is, for a small town such as Dover, quite a large influx of people.

Photo of Gwyn Prosser Gwyn Prosser Labour, Dover

Is my hon. Friend aware that the prompt action that the Government took in reapplying immigration law had a significant effect in reducing the number of asylum seekers coming through the port of Dover, particularly into my constituency? Is he further aware that that action considerably calmed the situation and has removed what could have been an inflammatory problem? Will he contrast the Government's prompt, sensible and rational action with some of the unhelpful suggestions by some Conservative Members—not the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green), I hasten to add—that thousands of asylum seekers and refugees were queuing up to flood into the port of Dover?

Photo of Mike O'Brien Mike O'Brien Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his responsible and statesmanlike approach to a difficult problem for the people of Dover—[Interruption.] Conservative Members may jeer, but they do not understand the seriousness of the problem in Dover, and a number of them have not been terribly helpful in seeking to resolve it. My hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Prosser), who represents his constituency so ably, has dealt with the problem calmly and sensibly, and has worked with the people of Dover and with Kent council to try to cope with the problem. We are grateful to him.

For example, from 2 November until the end of that month, five asylum seekers tried to enter this country from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Government's prompt action managed to abate that influx and dealt effectively with the problems that it was causing.