§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the approximate cost in money and manpower, based upon experience to date, of the thorough investigation of every asylum-seeker's case by his Department.
§ Mr. WaddingtonUnder current procedures all applications for asylum are thoroughly considered and investigated. It is not possible to say what the average cost360W of investigating an asylum application is. However, in 1985–86 the staffing costs of the central unit responsible for the consideration of the cases made by asylum-seekers and the representations received on those cases was estimated at over £780,000. This is only one element in the overall cost of our asylum procedures as part of immigration control.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries from which there are currently refugees seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe numbers of applications for refugee status by nationality which were undecided at the end of 1985 were published in table 1 of Home Office Statistical Bulleting "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1985", issue 12–86. It is hoped to publish corresponding figures for 1986 around the end of April.