§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to give asylum detainees access to the judicial process. [922]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAll detainees held under powers conferred by the Immigration Acts, some of whom may be asylum seekers, already have some access to the judicial process and are able to take legal advice. Posters advertising the services of organisations such as the Refugee Legal Centre, which offers advice free of charge, are prominently displayed in detention centres. The right to apply for bail to an independent adjudicator is open to most of those in detention, including asylum seekers. It is open to any asylum seeker to seek a judicial review of his or her case at any time.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the United Kingdom(a) applied for asylum and (b) were granted asylum in (i) January, (ii) February (iii) March and (iv) April; and what were their nationalities. [1927]
§ Mr. O'BrienThe requested information is given in the following tables. 337W
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Table 1: Applications1 received for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, and initial decisions2 3 by nationality January 1997 Number of principal applicants Applications Decisions Applications Recognised as a regfugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Refused asylum and exceptional leave Europe Bulgaria 35 — — 45 Cyprus 65 — — 55 Poland 90 — — 125 Romania 30 — — 35 Former USSR 220 * — 20 Turkey 165 5 — 130 Former Yugoslavia 110 155 40 35 Others 30 — — 10 Total 755 165 40 455 Americas Colombia 110 * — 35 Others 80 * * 45 Total 190 5 * 80 Middle East Iran 35 40 5 30 Iraq 90 10 25 5 Lebanon 15 * 5 5 Others 50 5 5 20 Total 195 60 35 60 Africa Algeria 55 5 — 100 Angola 15 5 * 50 Cameroon 20 — — 10 Ethiopia 10 5 10 20 Gambia 5 — — 35 Ghana 20 * — 145 Ivory Coast * 5 — 20 Kenya 40 * * 70 Liberia 15 — 10 10 Nigeria 60 * * 350 Rwanda 5 — — * Sierra Leone * — * 95 Somalia 170 — 240 35 South Africa * — — 20 Sudan 25 10 * 25 Tanzania * — * 75 Togo 5 — — 10 Uganda 10 * 5 30 Zaire 45 * 10 80 Zimbabwe * — — 10 Others 25 — 5 30 Total 530 30 285 1,210 Asia Afghanistan 45 5 55 * Bangladesh 15 — — 55 China 300 * * 50 India 50 — * 265 Pakistan 65 — — 190 Sri Lanka 95 5 — 175 Others 25 — — 30 Total 595 10 60 770 Other and unknown nationalities 10 — — — Grand total 2,275 265 415 2,580 1Figures rounded to nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. 2Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month. 3Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 339W
Table 2: Applications1 received for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, and initial decisions2 3 by nationality January 1997 Number of principal applicants Applications Decisions Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Refused asylum and exceptional leave Europe Bulgaria 20 * — 25 Cyprus 40 — — 25 Poland 40 — — 105 Romania 10 — — 15 Former USSR 155 — — 25 Turkey 125 10 * 140 Former Yugoslavia 135 220 20 40 Others 40 — — 15 Total 565 230 20 390 Americas Colombia 190 5 — 25 Others 85 — * 50 Total 270 5 * 70 Middle East Iran 50 20 5 25 Iraq 70 15 30 10 Lebanon 5 * 5 10 Others 25 10 5 30 Total 150 50 45 75 Africa Algeria 35 5 — 75 Angola 30 — * 65 Cameroon 10 — — 15 Ethiopia 10 * 10 25 Gambia * * — 30 Ghana 20 — — 105 Ivory Coast 10 — — 20 Kenya 40 — * 105 Liberia 15 — 10 25 Nigeria 55 * * 350 Rwanda 10 — — — Sierra Leone 5 — — 70 Somalia 105 * 170 25 South Africa * — * 5 Sudan 10 5 * 20 Tanzania 5 — — 50 Togo 5 * — 5 Uganda 15 * 5 35 Zaire 40 5 5 70 Zimbabwe * — — 10 Others 30 — * 30 Total 455 20 205 1,135 Asia Afghanistan 65 — 100 5 Bangladesh 15 — — 55 China 230 — — 50 India 35 * — 240 Pakistan 70 — * 175 Sri Lanka 90 * * 185 Others 20 — — 20 Total 525 * 105 730 Other and unknown nationalities 15 — — 5 Grand total 1,985 305 375 2,410 1Figures rounded to nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. 2Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month. 3Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
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Table 3: Applications1 received for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, and initial decisions2,3 by nationality March 1997 Number of principal applicants Applications Decisions Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Refused asylum and exceptional leave Europe Bulgaria 35 * — 20 Cyprus 50 — — 35 Poland 30 — — 80 Romania 15 — — 35 Former USSR 140 — — 40 Turkey 105 * * 120 Former Yugoslavia 65 180 20 30 Others 60 — — 55 Total 505 185 20 415 Americas Colombia 235 — 20 Others 115 — — 25 Total 350 — — 45 Middle East Iran 45 30 5 15 Iraq 65 25 25 10 Lebanon 10 5 5 10 Others 30 15 * 40 Total 150 70 35 75 Africa Algeria 45 * — 95 Angola 20 * 5 40 Cameroon 5 — — 20 Ethiopia 15 — 5 30 Gambia * — — 30 Ghana 20 — — 150 Ivory Coast 5 — — 25 Kenya 35 10 * 95 Liberia 15 5 5 15 Nigeria 55 * * 335 Rwanda 10 — * — Sierra Leone 5 — * 75 Somalia 130 5 — 35 South Africa: * — — 5 Sudan 10 5 * 10 Tanzania * — — 55 Togo * — * 15 Uganda 15 * * 15 Zaire 35 5 5 50 Zimbabwe 5 — — 5 Others 20 * 5 25 Total 440 35 35 1,140 Asia Afghanistan 50 5 50 5 Bangladesh 10 — — 50 China 135 * — 35 India 20 — * 250 Pakistan 55 * * 200 Sri Lanka 85 * — 170 Others 15 — — 25 Total 365 5 55 735 Other and unknown nationalitites 10 — — — Grand total 1,820 295 140 2,410 1Figures rounded to nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. 2Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month. 3Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
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Table 4: Applications1 received for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, and initial decisions2 3 by nationality April 1997 Number of principal applicants Applications Decisions Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Refused asylum and exceptional leave Europe Bulgaria 45 — — 20 Cyprus 20 — — 20 Poland 30 — — 130 Romania 50 — — 35 Former USSR 180 — — 40 Turkey 80 5 * 120 Former Yugoslavia 155 190 10 70 Others 85 — — 30 Total 640 195 15 500 Americas Colombia 290 — — 35 Others 150 * — 40 Total 440 * — 75 Middle East Iran 50 10 * 25 Iraq 75 15 35 15 Lebanon 10 — 5 10 Others 40 5 10 25 Total 175 30 50 70 Africa Algeria 35 5 — 65 Angola 15 * * 60 Cameroon 15 — — 10 Ethiopia 10 5 * 25 Gambia 5 — — 35 Ghana 15 * — 165 Ivory Coast 5 * — 20 Kenya 55 — * 140 Liberia 15 * * 15 Nigeria 45 * 5 475 Rwanda 10 — — 5 Sierra Leone 15 — — 80 Somalia 165 5 — 35 South Africa 5 — — * Sudan 20 5 5 25 Tanzania 10 — — 65 Togo 5 — — 5 Uganda 20 — 5 50 Zaire 50 5 15 5 Zimbabwe 5 * * 10 Others 25 * 5 65 Total 540 30 40 1,345 Asia Afghanistan 75 * 70 10 Bangladesh 15 — 5 65 China 175 * * 100 India 25 — — 295 Pakistan 65 — 5 305 Sri Lanka 90 5 * 160 Others 20 — * 15 Total 465 5 80 955 Other and unknown nationalities 15 — — — Grand total 2,275 265 185 2,945 1Figures rounded to nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2. 2Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month. 3Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
§ Dr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were held in detention in the United Kingdom at the end of (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March and (iv) April; in which establishments they were held; what the(a) nationalities and (b) gender were of those detained; how many were deported; and from which establishments. [1928]
§ Mr. O'BrienThe available information on asylum seekers detained, and on the number deported from detention is given in the tables. The number deported does not include those who are removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.
Table 1: Number of people recorded as being detained1 2 who had sought asylum at some stage, by detention location, as at selected dates in 1997 As at 31 Janaury3 1997 As at 27 March 1997 As at 30 April 1997 Prison HMP Armley 3 3 3 HMP Birmingham 16 15 10 HMP Bristol 2 2 3 HMP Brixton 5 3 5 HMP Greenock 11 14 19 HMP Haslar 92 89 82 HMP Holloway 2 2 2 HMP Liverpool 4 3 2 HMP Magilligan 4 8 10 HMP Manchester 4 3 3 HMP Rochester 139 132 129 HMP Wandsworth 6 6 4 HMP Wormwood Scrubs 9 8 7 Other prison4 27 25 19 Other places of detention Campsfield House 159 141 137 Dover Harbour 6 5 5 Harmondsworth 88 89 91 Manchester Airport 6 7 8 Meavdale Buildings 32 24 36 Police Cells 35 71 84 Queens Buildings 12 13 15 Tinsley House 104 111 114 Other place4 2 3 9 Total 768 777 797 1Provisional figures. 2Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include both detained asylum applicants who applied at ports, and those detained in after-entry enforcement work and include those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal. 3Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action are as at 31 January and Port cases are as at 3 February. 4The "other" categories may include locations already listed. 342W
Table 2: Number of people recorded as being detained1 2 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality of detainee, as at selected dates in 1997 Nationality As at 31 January3 1997 As at 27 March 1997 As at 30 April 1997 Albania 4 6 11 Algeria 78 78 75 Angola 11 17 14 Bangladesh 15 13 21 Bulgaria 4 10 6
Table 2: Number of people recorded as being detained1 2 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality of detainee, as at selected dates in 1997 Nationality As at 31 January3 1997 As at 27 March 1997 As at 30 April 1997 China 48 53 53 Columbia 10 18 16 Congo 3 3 4 Cyprus 18 12 17 Ethiopia 7 6 7 Gambia 15 13 13 Ghana 37 30 28 India 96 116 129 Iran 7 8 6 Iraq 3 4 4 Ivory Coast 3 3 6 Jamaica 10 9 8 Kenya 7 9 11 Liberia 8 10 10 Lithuania 10 8 7 Morocco 6 6 5 Nigeria 108 109 101 Pakistan 44 42 49 Poland 7 10 11 Romania 13 16 13 Russia 8 6 7 Sierra Leone 7 6 5 Sri Lanka 16 14 14 Sudan 7 6 4 Turkey 28 26 21 Uganda 8 7 7 Zaire 38 33 37 Other4 75 62 70 Nationality doubtful 9 8 7 Total 768 777 797 1Provisional figures. 2Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include both detained asylum applicants who applied at ports, and those detained in after-entry enforcement work and include those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal. 3Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action are as at 31 January and Port cases are as at 3 February. 4The 'other' categories may include nationalities already listed. 343W
Table 3: Number of people recorded as being detained1 2 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender of detainee, as at selected dates in 1997 Gender As at 31 January3 1997 As at 27 March 1997 As at 30 April 1997 Male 698 714 730 Female 70 63 67 Total 768 777 797 1Provisional figures. 2Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include both detained asylum applicants who applied at ports, and those detained in after-entry enforcement work and include those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those applications were under consideration or subject to appeal. 3Illegal entrants and those subject to deportation action are as at 31 January and Port cases are as at 3 February.
Table 4: Number of asylum detainees1 2 recorded as being deported3, by location of detention4, January to April 1997 Number of deported asylum detainees Prison HMP Rochester 8 HMP Haslar 3 Other prison 7 Other places of detention Tinsley House 7 Harmondsworth 3 Meadvale Buildings 2 Queens Building 2 Other 12 Total 44 1Provisional figures. 2Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. 3Removed under the deportation process, including those who departed voluntarily after deportation action had been initiated. 4Information is of the last recorded detention location.