§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received in the last 12 months for exceptional leave to enter or remain from citizens of Iraq and Iran, who are unable or unwilling to return due to the civil disorder in those countries; how many of these applications have been turned down; and how many, having expressed a fear of returning, have been deported or removed to Iraq or Iran, or any other country.
§ Mr. MellorI regret that information in the form requested is not available.
340WIn the 12 months to 30 June 1983, 215 Iraqi nationals, and 1,909 Iranian nationals applied for asylum in the United Kingdom; and 141 Iraqis and 705 Iranians were refused asylum. Some of those refused asylum will have been allowed to remain exceptionally.
In the same period 132 Iraqis and 245 Iranians were refused leave to enter and removed and three Iraqis and 17 Iranians were deported. Information about whether any of those removed or deported had applied for asylum could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.