§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the approximate number of (a) Syrian, (b) Iranian, (c) Iraqi and (d) Libyan nationals currently resident in the United Kingdom who have permission for an extended stay on compassionate or humanitarian grounds, or because of political difficulties in their own countries; and how many are currently described as students.
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§ Mr. WaddingtonInformation in the precise form requested is not available, but in the years 1979–1983 21 Syrians, 5,162 Iranians, 295 Iraqis and 84 Libyans were granted asylum (with or without refugee status) in the United Kingdom. In the period 1 July 1983 to 30 June 1984 66 Iranians and 11 Iraqis originally given leave to enter as students were granted asylum and a further 137 Iranians and eight Iraqis were granted leave to remain exceptionally for an initial period of 12 months. No Syrians of Libyans originally admitted as students were granted asylum or exceptional leave to remain in that period.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Nigerian nationals are currently resident in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WaddingtonAccording to the census of population, 31,500 persons born in Nigeria were resident in the United Kingdom in April 1981. It is estimated from the labour force survey that some 25,000 of them were Nigerian nationals and that their number was similar in 1983.