§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications have been outstanding for(a) more than three months and (b) more than 6 months. [102438]
§ Beverley HughesAs at the end of December 2002 the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision for more than three months is estimated to be 25,800, of which 21,400 cases were outstanding after more than six months. This includes cases that are currently under consideration and compares with 27,300 and 22,100 such applications as at the end of December 2001, and 72,000 and 60,600 applications as at the end of December 2000.
Provisional data show that 60 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in 2001–02 had initial decisions reached and served within two months, 78 per cent. within four months and 84 per cent. within six months. 76 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in the period April to September 2002 had initial decisions reached and served within two months.
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§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it is taking to process(a) straightforward and (b) non-straightforward cases for (i) asylum and (ii) British citizenship. [102463]
§ Beverley HughesThe information requested is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. Each asylum claim is assessed on its individual merits, and it is not clear on what criteria an asylum case would be classified as being straightforward or not straightforward. An asylum case, which appears straightforward at the outset, can become more complex later in the asylum process. 76 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in the period April to September 2002 had initial decisions reached and served within two months.
The average time between application and initial decision was six months for initial decisions made in 2002. This has been calculated using all cases for which data are available, including older cases decided as part of the reduction of the backlog, as well as new cases. This compares to 20 months in 1997.
Applications for British citizenship are dealt with upon receipt and are not subdivided into straightforward and non-straightforward applications.
The most recently published data on average processing times for British citizenship relate to applications lodged prior to 31 March 2001, when the average waiting time was 11.6 months.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding arrangements are in place to enable the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to meet the target to halve the number of asylum applicants by September. [102469]
§ Beverley HughesThe budget for 2003–04 will be published in the Home Office's main estimates (in the usual way).
§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) guidelines and (b) rules the National Asylum Advisory Service gives to contracted companies as to where each asylum seeker can be housed in a cluster. [103182]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 17 March 2003]: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) identified areas suitable for the provision of accommodation to asylum seekers. NASS contracted companies were told where these areas were and that accommodation must be located within the defined areas. All accommodation had to meet a strict specification laid down by NASS. Providers were responsible for ensuring that all necessary planning regulations were met, including local requirements relating to houses in multiple occupation. Additionally, where it is proposed that a single address will have over six bedspaces, there is a requirement that NASS should formally consult the local authority.