Asylum

HC Deb 12 December 1990 vol 182 cc402-3W

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants for asylum in the United Kingdom have been held in detention for longer than three months in(a) 1989 and (b) 1990;

(2) how many people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have been detained in Her Majesty's prisons for more than seven days since (a) 1 January 1989 and (b) I June 1990;

(3) how many people by nationality were held in detention on the first day in each month in 1990 pending their seeking asylum.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. On 7 December, 51 persons who had claimed asylum had been detained under Immigration Act powers for three months or more.

Mr. Cartwright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are currently employed in the asylum and special cases division of the immigration and nationality department; how many of these are processing applications for asylum; and what were the comparable figures in each of the preceding five years.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the staff complement at the Home Office refugee unit in each year since 1980.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 11 December 1990]: Figures are not available for years before 1984. In subsequent years the number of staff in post or in training dealing with asylum matters was as follows:

	Numbers
1 April 1984	39
1 October 1985	48
1 October 1986	47
1 October 1987	52
1 October 1988	57
1 October 1989	67
6 December 1990	100

The figures for 1990 include three senior managers, two personal secretaries, and three members of the research unit, none of whom is directly engaged in processing applications; a similar number of staff were engaged in these duties in previous years. The asylum and special cases division, which was established as a separate division on 12 November 1990, is also responsible for the issue of Home Office travel documents and re-entry visas on which 17.6 staff are employed, in addition to those dealing with asylum matters.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialist training relating to asylum issues is given, upon appointment, to officials in the public inquiry office of the immigration and nationality department.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Staff in the public inquiry office receive training which lasts about 11 weeks. The course covers immigration law and practice, interviewing and communication skills and customer care. No specialist training on asylum policy is given as the staff in the public inquiry office do not take decisions in such cases. Their role in asylum cases is confined to receiving applications and interviewing applicants to obtain details of their claim on behalf of the asylum and special cases division who provide guidance on specific geographical areas as necessary.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish all written instructions for officials dealing with asylum applications, including immigration officers and officials in the public inquiry office and refugee unit.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No. It is not the usual practice to publish such internal management instructions.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether written reasons of refusal of asylum are given, at the time of refusal, to those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom who are refused asylum but granted exceptional leave to remain.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Written reasons are given only when the applicant is to be removed to the country in which he claims to fear persecution.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to ensure that the procedures used by his Department for dealing with applications for asylum in the United Kingdom comply with internationally recognised standards for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I am satisfied that asylum procedures in my Department meet the United Kingdom's obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.