§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons claimed asylum during each of the last three years in Northern Ireland. [78506]
§ Beverley HughesNo statistics are kept of the numbers of asylum applicants in Northern Ireland, or any other geographic region in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources are available to the Immigration Service in dealing with asylum applications made on entry to Northern Ireland from Eire. [78728]
§ Beverley HughesAny person seeking asylum in Northern Ireland is directed to the UK Immigration Service staff at Belfast International airport, where arrangements are then made for their screening and interview in the same way as a person seeking asylum elsewhere in the UK.
The Belfast office currently has 11.5 staff, part of whose duties is to screen new asylum applicants identified in Northern Ireland.