§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not replied to the letters of 4 February, 8 March and 24 April with regard to Fowsia Hussein of 24 Craston road, sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton; and if he will now do so.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe delay in replying to the right hon. Member's representations on behalf of Mrs. Hussein has been caused by the large increase in the number of applications for asylum in the past two years which has produced a considerable backlog of work in the asylum division. I announced on 26 April my intention to increase the staff in this division from about 120 to over 500. I shall be writing to the right hon. Member shortly.