Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications by Turkish Cypriots for entry into the United Kingdom have been submitted in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [26349]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI regret that Turkish Cypriots are not separately identifiable within the statistics. The available information relates to all asylum applications submitted by nationals of Cyprus.
During 1997, a total of 495 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were lodged by nationals of Cyprus. Of these, 455 were made at the port of arrival and 40 were made in-country. Equivalent information for the years 1993 to 1996 is given in table 2.2 of the Home Office Statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1996" issue 15/97, a copy of which is available in the Library.