HC Deb 07 November 1991 vol 198 cc564-5
10. Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present level of those seeking political asylum; and what were the comparable figures in 1989.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Between January and September this year the average monthly total of those seeking political refugee status in this country has been about 3,800. The monthly average in 1989 was 950. These figures exclude dependants.

Mr. King

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the widespread concern at the large number of people seeking political asylum? Is he further aware that in a city such as Birmingham, where problems arise over bringing families into the United Kingdom, there is widespread disgust and dismay at the high number of bogus asylum applications? Is he also aware that he has the united resolve of Conservative Members for the speedy passage of his Bill?

Mr. Baker

I thank my hon. Friend. I said that the average number was 3,800. The actual figure for applications in October was 4,400 and the number is likely to reach between 45,000 and 50,000 this year, whereas we used to receive 2,000 or 3,000 applications. This is a serious and important problem which has to be tackled. That is why we shall introduce the Asylum Bill, which will be debated next week. I am surprised that the Labour party has decided to oppose it.

Mr. Madden

Is the Home Secretary aware of the legal opinion that to restrict access to legal advice and representation in asylum and immigration matters may be a breach of the law? Will he instruct his Ministers to stop trying to bribe and blackmail the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service, which does not wish to collude in the Government's plans to pander to Essex man by restricting the longstanding traditional rights of people fleeing violence and persecution to seek refuge in this country?

Mr. Baker

This country has a long tradition of accepting genuine political refugees, but there is no doubt that the fact that three quarters of all applications are made by people who have been living in this country for weeks, months and, in some cases, years, is tantamount to an abuse of the system. What we must do is to distinguish between bogus and genuine refugees. That is what we will do, and we will do it fairly. Not only that—we intend to increase and extend the right of access to an appellate system, which does not exist at the moment.

Mr. Ashby

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the greatest injustice to genuine asylum seekers is to be found in the enormously long delays that occur in the processing of applications? What steps has my right hon. Friend taken to reduce those delays?

Mr. Baker

In May of this year, we were pressed by Amnesty International and other refugee groups to speed up the process of determination, and the Bill before the House, which will be debated next week, sets out a scheme that will allow determination to be decided within a period of three months. That applies not only to a decision but to appearing under an appellate process. That will speed up the existing time, which can be anything up to two to three years. It is important that we decide the matter quickly because, if we do so, the bogus applicants can be returned to the countries from which they came.