HC Deb 04 July 1988 vol 136 cc410-1W
Mr. Randall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list what statistics can be produced by his Departments's computer on asylum seekers.

Mr. Renton

The refugee index computer records personal information about asylum seekers and their families, and details of their applications. In due course the outcome of each application is recorded, though this may be some considerable time later. A statistical bulletin aggregating some of this information is published annually by the Home Office. Home Office statistical bulletin 16/88, "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom 1987" is the most recent version. Copies are available in the Library.

Mr. Randall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how often statistical reports produced on his Department's computer on asylum seekers have been sent to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees; how much time, in man hours, is needed to input the data on asylum seekers to his Department's computer; and how many staff are competent to do the data input.

Mr. Renton

There is no record of the number of occasions that statistics have been sent to UNHCR. UNHCR is sent copies of the annual Home Office statistical bulletin on refugees and we respond whenever practicable to ad hoc requests. From this year we have agreed to provide UNHCR with information quarterly but the first quarter's statistics have been delayed because the figures initially produced were incomplete.

We have no accurate estimates of the time taken to enter information on the computer. Details of a single case can be entered in minutes but in 1987 there were some 4,500 applications and 3,000 decisions. This work is done by 11 administrative officers in the refugee unit, all of whom have other responsibilities.

Mr. Randall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if, pursuant to his answer of 7 June,Official Report, columns 442–4, he will publish such information on the number of asylum seekers (a) refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom, (b) refused leave to enter and detained, (c) refused leave to enter and granted temporary admission and (d) granted temporary admission pending a decision, for the London airports and Dover seaports as is available to him from the weekly returns IS/86 38/20/1.

Mr. Renton

No. It would be misleading to do so since the limited information on the outcome of cases contained in these returns is accurate only at the point they are compiled. It is not updated to take account of subsequent action and so would not give a meaningful picture.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether discussions between his Department, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Kingdom Immigration Advisory Service about referral procedures for asylum applications have reached a conclusion; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

Following lengthy and constructive negotiations between Home Office officials, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Kingdom immigrants advisory service, I have written to the London representative of UNHCR setting out new arrangements for the referral of asylum cases to UKIAS. These arrangements will commence on 1 September. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.