§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the amount of time the 366 applicants for United Kingdom residence who arrived from Eastern bloc countries in 1982 had to wait for their application to be determined.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe figure of 366 refers not to applications made by persons who arrived here in 1982, but to applications for asylum by nationals of East162W European countries which were under consideration by the Home Office on 31 December 1982. Of these, 351 were in respect of Polish citizens; 147 were lodged by Poles in the United Kingdom who were protected from removal from the United Kingdom by the undertaking, given by the Government immediately following the imposition of martial law in Poland, that no Pole would be forced to return to Poland; 204 were lodged by Poles overseas. It is not possible to give average times for the determination of applications of asylum: we attempt to give priority to those cases where a decision is most urgently needed.
§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is given to refugees as to the legal advice which is available to them to support their applications for residence.
§ Mr. WaddingtonAn applicant for refugee status who sought our advice on this matter would be given the address of the London representative of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees or that of the United Kingdom immigrants advisory service. Applicants refused extensions of stay who have a right of appeal are advised in writing of the assistance they can obtain from the United Kingdom immigrants advisory service. We are considering the form of future arrangements which would enable applicants for refugee status to have their cases referred automatically to UKIAS.