Asylum Seekers (Hansard, 27 October 2003)

§ 14. Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are held in detention under immigration law. [134171]
113WS

§ Beverley Hughes
As at 28 June, the most recent date of which published figures are available, there were a total of 1,690 individuals detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Of these, 1,355 were asylum seekers.

§ 17. Mr. Prosser
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there was in the number of asylum applications between October 2002 and September 2003. [134174]

§ Beverley Hughes
In June 2003, the most recent month for which published figures are available, there were 3,610 asylum applications, 59 per cent. lower than the 8,770 in October 2002¹. Figures for July-September have not yet been finalised but we are confident that we will meet our commitment to halve intake in September 2003 compared with last October.
¹ All figures exclude dependants.