Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the asylum seekers who entered the United Kingdom in each of the years 1985, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 have been accepted as such, after due process of investigation, and have been granted permission to stay. [HL2553]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe information requested is given in the table. The proportions relate to initial decisions made in that year, not the number 121WA of applications. Persons recognised as refugees and granted asylum or those not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave to remain prior to 27 July 1998 had to wait four or seven years respectively before being eligible for settlement. Since 27 July 1998, persons recognised as refugees and granted asylum are accepted for settlement at the same time, and those not
Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, grants of asylum and exceptional leave to remain 11985 11990 11995 11996 11997 11998 Applications received 4,390 26,205 43,965 29,640 32,500 46,015 Decisions in year 2,635 4,025 27,005 38,960 36,045 31,570 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum2 575 920 1,295 2,240 3,985 5,345 Percentage of decisions made 22% 23% 5% 6% 11% 17% Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave 2,3 1,560 2,400 4,410 5,055 3,115 3,910 Percentage of decisions made 59% 60% 16% 13% 9% 12% 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5. 2 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. 3 Where it would have been unreasonable or impracticable to seek to enforce return to country of origin.