§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are currently being undertaken by his Department to ensure that families of Bosnian refugees are entitled to join refugees who have settled within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Charles WardleSpouses and minor children are admitted to join those recognised as refugees under the terms of the 1951 convention on the status of refugees. In such cases Bosnian family members would need first to obtain visas from a British diplomatic post. Close dependants are also admitted to join former detention camp inmates evacuated to the United Kingdom, and we are in close liaison with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate their entry.
In common with all other nationalities, Bosnian asylum applicants may not bring their families here while their applications are under consideration.
Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions2, 1987 to 1992 Number of principal applicants 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Total applications received 4,256 3,998 11,640 22,000 44,840 24,610 Decisions2 Total decisions 2,432 2,702 6,955 4,015 5,965 34,900 Recognised as refugee and granted asylum3 266 628 2,210 900 505 1,115 Not recognised as refugee, but granted exceptional leave4 1,531 1,578 3,860 2,400 2,230 15,325 Refusals Total refused 635 496 890 710 3,240 18,465 Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration 635 496 890 710 2,185 2,680 Refused on safe third country grounds5 — — — — 270 595 Refused under paragraph 101 of Immigration Rules6 — — — — 785 15,195 1 Includes applications made at ports on arrival and those made in-country. 2 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. 3 Excluding South East Asian refugees. 4 Where it would have been unreasonable or impractical to seek to enforce return to country of origin. 5 Figures from 1 January 1991 only. Prior to this, these refusals are included in the column "Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration". 6 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity. 7 Figures from 1 December 1991 only. Prior to this, these refusals are included in the column "Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration".