§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for the granting of political refugee status; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe criteria are those set out in the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees and its protocol of 1967. They are reflected at paragraph 73 of the published Immigration Rules (HC 169).
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iranians have applied for political refugee status since 1979 to the latest date; and how many have been granted this status.
§ Mr. WaddingtonBetween 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1983, 7,945 applications were received from Iranian nationals, of whom 4,164 have been recognised as refugees and 998 granted asylum without refugee status. In addition, some of those whose applications were refused have been allowed to stay on an exceptional basis; 1,152 cases were outstanding at the end of 1983.