§ David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets are in place for the length of time taken to process asylum claims; when these targets were introduced; and which Minister in his Department approved the setting of these targets. [166557]
§ Mr. BrowneThe principal target for processing asylum claims made in 2003–04 is to decide and serve 75 per cent. within two months. This was an element of target 7 of the Home Office Public Service Agreement (PSA) covering the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. The PSA targets were agreed between my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and formed the basis for the Home Office's funding settlement for SR2002.
The technical notes were published on 25 March 2003, and this was announced by Written Ministerial Statement on 25 March 2004, Official Report, column 55WS, by the Minister for the Environment and Agri-environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Elliot Morley). The notes are held on the Home Office website and can be accessed at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/aims/index.html. The relevant section is on p20. Latest published performance figures against this target indicate that 80 per cent. of applications, received between April and September 2003, were decided and served within two months.