HC Deb 20 November 2000 vol 357 cc97-8W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and percentage of non-asylum refusals have culminated in removal during 2000–01 to date. [139361]

Mrs. Roche

As at 31 October 2000, 17,387 non-asylum refusals have culminated in removal since 1 April 2000. This is 89 per cent. of the total number of non-asylum refusals.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people evacuated from Kosovo to the United Kingdom under the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme and medical evacuation programmes(a) remain in the United Kingdom, (b) have applied to extend their stay on medical or humanitarian grounds, (c) have been granted permission to extend their stay, (d) have applied for political asylum or exceptional leave to remain and (e) have an address which is known to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [139384]

Mrs. Roche

The information is not available in the precise format requested. Of the 4,346 people evacuated to the United Kingdom under the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme, 2,439 have made permanent voluntary returns to Kosovo. Of the remaining 1,907, 182 principal applicants have submitted applications for further leave within the Immigration Rules. Short extensions were granted on a temporary basis to 89. A total of 514 principal applicants have submitted applications for political asylum and exceptional leave to remain of whom two principal applicants and five dependants have been granted asylum.

A number of applicants have made voluntary departures following refusal of their applications and others have returned to Kosovo while their applications remained outstanding.

The vast majority of those who came on the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme are accounted for, either having made applications to remain here or having left voluntarily. Those who sought to remain are in contact with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to grant British citizenship was in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 to date. [139382]

Mrs. Roche

On 1 April 1999, the average waiting time was 20.6 months. This had reduced to 19.9 months by 31 March 2000.

As at 31 October 2000, the average waiting time is now 14.1 months.