§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees who have been granted asylum are currently resident in Britain; and what percentage are known to be in receipt of means-tested benefits. [76605]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI regret that information regarding the number of refugees currently resident in the United Kingdom is not available.
It is possible to say how many people are granted asylum in any one year, but not whether they have remained in the United Kingdom. Some refugees decide to go back to their country of origin when circumstances improve. Nor is it possible to determine the percentage of refugees in receipt of means-tested benefits.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of refugees seeking asylum in the United Kingdom by(a) nationality and (b) country of origin in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 1998. [R] [76751]
832W
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe requested information is given in the table. I regret that information on the country of origin is not held centrally and could be collated only at substantial cost.
833W
Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by location of application, by nationality,1996 to 1998 1996 1997 1998 Europe Bulgaria 305 545 165 Cyprus 615 495 90 Poland 900 565 1,585 Romania 455 605 1,015 Former Soviet Union 1,400 2,015 2,820 Turkey 1,495 1,445 2,015 Former Yugoslavia 1,030 2,260 7,980 Others 275 1,220 2,075 Total 6,475 9,145 17,745 Americas Colombia 1,005 1,330 425 Others 765 1,495 550 Total 1,765 2,825 975 Africa Algeria 715 715 1,260 Angola 385 195 150 Cameroon 105 175 95 Democratic Republic of Congo 680 690 660 Ethiopia 205 145 345 Gambia 245 125 45 Ghana 780 350 225 Ivory Coast 125 70 95 Kenya 1,170 605 885 Liberia 330 205 70 Nigeria 2,900 1,480 1,380 Rwanda 80 90 280 Sierra Leone 395 815 565 Somalia 1,780 2,730 4,685 South Africa 40 50 65 Sudan 280 230 250 Tanzania 225 90 80 Togo 50 30 60 Uganda 215 220 210 Zimbabwe 130 60 80 Others 450 445 895 Total 11,290 9,515 12,380
Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by location of application, by nationality,1996 to 1998 1996 1997 1998 Middle East Iran 585 585 745 Iraq 965 1,075 1,295 Lebanon 145 160 155 Others 455 515 595 Total 2,150 2,335 2,785 Far East Afghanistan 675 1,085 2,395 Bangladesh 645 545 460 China 820 1,945 1,925 India 2,220 1,285 1,030 Pakistan 1,915 1,615 1,975 Sri Lanka 1,340 1,830 3,505 Others 275 265 650 Total 7,885 8,570 11,940 Other and Unknown Nationalities 80 105 190 Grand total 29,640 32,500 46,015 Notes:
1. Provisional and estimated figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2
2. Includes relevant revisions to the number of in-country applications lodged in September-December 1996