§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the hon. Member for Stretford can expect a reply to his letter to the Minister of State, dated 29 August concerning Mohammed Fasih (F177119/2);
(2) when Mr. Mohammed Fasih was interviewed; when he first applied for political asylum; and if he will indicate the reasons for the delay in reaching a decision in this case.
§ Mr. WaddingtonMr. Fasih applied for asylum in August 1983, and was interviewed in respect of his application on 14 December 1983. It was necessary to make further inquiries about the information provided by Mr. Fasih in support of his application and this together with the general pressures on the Home Office refugee unit resulted in the long delay in dealing with the case, which I very much regret.
I shall write to the hon. Member very shortly with my right hon. Friend's decision on Mr. Fasih's application.