§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the medical foundation for the care of victims of torture regarding asylum seekers who are being detained in detention centres and mainstream prisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerI met representatives of the Medical Foundation on 15 September 1994. On 3 October, it wrote to the Home Secretary and to me following up items discussed at that meeting and enclosing copies of its report "A Betrayal of Hope and Trust: Detention in the United Kingdom of Survivors of Torture". I wrote to it on 15 November responding to the issues which it had raised.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Somali refugees are currently seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerAs at 30 September 1994—the latest date for which the information is available—there were an estimated 975 applications for asylum from Somali nationals outstanding.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees are currently being detained under the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 has no provision for the detention of an asylum seeker. The provision for the powers of 77W detention are contained within the Immigration Act 1971. However, at 18 November 1994, a total of 654 people who had sought asylum were detained. That figure includes people awaiting the setting of directions for removal following the refusal of the application, as well as those whose application was under consideration or subject to appeal.
§ Dr. HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by country of origin the total number of applications for asylum entry into the United Kingdom in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and in the first six months of 1994.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerInformation on the number of applications for asylum received in the United Kingdom, by nationality for the period 1990 to 1993, is published in table 2.2 of the Home Office statistical bulletin issue 17/94 "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1993", a copy of which is available in the Library. Information for the first six months of 1994 is provided in the table.
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Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by location of application and nationality, 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1994. Nationality Number of principal applicants 1994 (January-June) Total applications2 Applied at port Applied in country Europe Bulgaria 65 5 60 Romania 115 20 90 Turkey 1,035 295 740 Former USSR 275 25 250 Former Yugoslavia 715 155 560 Other 230 75 160 Total 2,435 570 1,865 Americas Colombia 195 125 70 Other 295 80 215 Total 490 205 285 Africa Angola 245 70 175 Congo 10 5 5 Ethiopia 360 105 255 Ghana 1,030 195 835 Kenya 755 520 235 Nigeria 1,750 165 1,585 Sierra Leone 660 225 435 Somalia 705 325 380 Sudan 155 35 120 Togo and Ivory Coast 375 208 165 Uganda 170 45 120 Zaire 365 165 200 Other 825 215 610 Total 7,400 2,280 5,120 Middle East Iran 220 55 165 Iraq 225 95 130 Lebanon 105 35 70 Other 280 115 160 Total 825 300 525 Asia China 145 70 75 India 890 90 800 Pakistan 800 75 725
Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by location of application and nationality, 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1994. Nationality Number of principal applicants 1994 (January-June) Total applications2 Applied at port Applied in country Sri Lanka 1,250 695 560 Other 400 145 255 Total 3,480 1,075 2,410 Other, and nationality not Known 105 105 — Grand Total 14,730 4,540 10,190 1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with '*' = 1 or 2 and 'ֵ' = unavailable. 2 Figures do not include applications made overseas.