§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of asylum applications submitted at ports of entry subsequent to the applicant being refused entry to the United Kingdom on other grounds in each of the last three years;
(2) what was the average decision time taken by his Department for port applications for asylum in each of the last three years; and what is the current position;
(3) how many people were refused entry to the United Kingdom at ports of entry in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. RentonI refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to questions from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 19 May, at columns316–17.
§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were made at United Kingdom ports of entry in each of the last three years; and how many applicants were granted asylum.
§ Mr. RentonThe available information is given in the following table. Information for 1988 is not yet available.
Applications1 for refugee status at United Kingdom ports, and grants' of refugee status or exceptional leave to enter in port application cases Number of cases1 Applications received Grants of refugee status2 Refused asylum but granted leave to enter on exceptional grounds2 1985 1,634 40 315 1986 1,102 30 1,118 1987 1,053 57 735 1 Excluding dependants. 2 The grant figures include, where relevant, grants on applications made in earlier years. These figures do not include south-east Asian refugees who are dealt with under separate arrangements and are granted settlement on their arrival in the United Kingdom. The number granted settlement in the years 1985 to 1988 is published in table 18 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1987" (Cm. 415) and in table 3 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin, issue 10/89 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1988", copies of which are in the Library.