§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people made applications for asylum to his Department in the last half of 1993 and the first half of 1994; and of these how many waited(a) less than three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six months and a year and (d) over a year for a decision;
(2) how many people who made applications for asylum to the Home Office in the last half of 1993 and the first half of 1994 waited for a decision (a) for less than three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six months and a year and (d) for over a year.
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§ Mr. Nicholas BakerIn the period 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1994, 25,660 applications for asylum, excluding dependants, were lodged in the United Kingdom.
As at 30 September 1994, an estimated 11,100 decisions had been taken on the 25,660 applications for asylum lodged between 1 July 1993 and 30 June 1994; of these decisions an estimated 3,600 waited less than three months for an initial decision on their asylum application; 3,000 waited between three and six months; 4,100 waited between six and 12 months; and 500 waited longer than 12 months, while an estimated 14,600 applications were outstanding.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers have been waiting for a decision on their claim for asylum for(a) over one year, (b) over two years and (c) over six years;
(2) who is the longest-delayed applicant for asylum; and how long has the applicant waited for a decision on his case.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerInformation on the length of time applicants have been waiting for an initial decision on their asylum application or the longest outstanding case is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum seekers detained are those who are yet to have their application refused or granted or are contesting refusal of their application (i) in 1991, (ii) in 1992, (iii) in 1993 and (iv) in 1994.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe information is not available in the form requested. However, on 14 October 1994, 658 people detained under immigration powers had sought asylum at some stage. Of these, 177 had applications still under consideration and the remainder had had their applications refused. Of these, 386 had an appeal pending.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum seekers were initially detained(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe available information suggests that less than 1.5 per cent. of people who have sought asylum are detained. Information on the percentage of asylum seekers detained in a given year can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of the former Yugoslavia formerly resident in the area of Kosovo and of Albanian ethnic origin who had applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom and whose political asylum applications have been refused have been returned to any part of the current Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the past 12 months.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerDuring the period 1 October 1993 to 30 September 1994, no nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia/Montenegro, have been returned to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia/Montenegro. Information on the original residence or ethnic origin of asylum seekers is not separately identifiable in the statistics.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all the provisions of the resolution on manifestly unfounded applications for asylum, agreed by the European Ministers meeting on 30 November 1992 299W and to be implemented by 1 January 1995, have now been incorporated into national law.
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe procedures contained in the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 and the immigration rules relating to applications for asylum that are judged to be without foundation are fully consistent with the principles contained in the resolution.