§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many Iraqis have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; how many Iraqi asylum seekers have been forcibly removed from the United Kingdom during that period; how many remain in detention or removal centres; and what plans they have for their removal in the coming weeks. [HL4987]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe number of nationals of Iraq who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom between October 2003 and September 2004 are shown in the table.
Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, for nationals of Iraq,
October 2003—September 2004
1Principal applicants Applications Iraq Total Port In Country October 2003 235 10 220 November 2003 220 15 205 December 2003 130 5 125 January 2004 90 5 85 February 2004 155 15 145 March 2004 95 5 90 April 2004 115 15 95 May 2004 135 10 125 June 2004 160 15 145 July 2004 205 10 200 August 2004 150 5 145 September 2004 120 5 115 Total 1,810 115 1,690 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5. The number of nationals of Iraq who have sought asylum at some stage and who were removed from the UK during this same period are shown in the table. The removal figures include both persons who 190WA departed the UK after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes operated on our behalf by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Removals, voluntary departures assisted returns, of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, for nationals of Iraq,
October 2003—September 2004
1Principal applicants Iraq Removal2 October 2003 25 November 2003 20 December 2003 20 January 2004 60 February 2004 60 March 2004 90 April 2004 25 May 2004 55 June 2004 50 July 2004 65 August 2004 50 September 2004 75 Total 590 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5. 2 Figures for October to December 2003 have been estimated due to data quality issues. As at 25 September 2004, there were 35 Iraqi asylum seekers recorded as being in detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers. This figure has been rounded to the nearest five and comprises persons detained in removal centres and prison establishments.
Earlier this year we announced our intention to start enforcing returns to Iraq, and we intend to commence doing so as soon as the necessary practical arrangements are in place. As yet there is no fixed date for enforced returns to commence.
Information on asylum applications received and persons removed from the UK between October and December 2004 will be available in February 2005 from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.