§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
In how many cases of refusal of asylum, where all the appeal procedures had been exhausted and where deportation was the next step, were applicants actually deported in 1996 and 1997; and what were these figures as a percentage of the total. [HL2333]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe available information on removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants during 1996 and 1997 is given in the table. The figures cover persons who had applied for asylum at some stage and may therefore include some 37WA persons who departed voluntarily before a decision had been taken on their asylum application or prior to the outcome of an appeal.
Regrettably, comprehensive information on the total numbers of failed asylum seekers who had exhausted their rights of appeal and who had no right to stay in the United Kingdom, during a period of a year could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, 1996–19971 1996 19971 Port removals2 2,691 4,032 Enforcement removals3 2,119 2,987 Total 4,810 7,019 1 1997 data are provisional. 2 Includes any voluntary departure up to and including notification of the decision on the asylum application but excludes any subsequent departure. 3 Includes those departing voluntarily following the initiation of enforcement (deportation or illegal entry) action.