§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will bring up to date the information regarding Syrian, Iranian, Iraqi and Libyan nationals resident in the United Kingdom given by the Minister of State in reply to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton on 24 July 1984, Official Report, columns 585–86.
§ Mr. WaddingtonAccording to provisional figures the total numbers of these nationals granted asylum and leave to remain on an exceptional basis in 1984 were as follows:
Asylum Exceptional leave to remain Iran 295 502 Iraq 48 60 Libya 6 1 Syria 3 1 Provisional figures for the period 1 July 1984 to 31 December 1984 show that 33 Iranians, 11 Iraqis and one Libyan originally given leave to enter as students were granted asylum and a further 107 Iranians and 16 Iraqis were granted leave to remain on an exceptional basis. No Syrians originally admitted as students were granted asylum or exceptional leave to remain during this period.
Records for earlier years are now being computerised and I regret that this has shown that the figures previously given for the numbers granted asylum (with or without refugee status), including the figures I gave in reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 24 July 1984 were too high. According to provisional information from the computerised records the numbers granted asylum (with or without refugee status) in the period 1979–83 were as follows:
Country Number Iran 4,336 Iraq 231 Libya 73 Syria 16