HC Deb 08 May 1989 vol 152 cc286-8W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of(a) the Soviet Union, (b) Hong Kong, (c) India, (d) Pakistan and (e) Bangladesh (i) the numbers of requests received annually since 1979 for political asylum from citizens of these countries and the number granted and (ii) the number of requests received annually since 1979 for residency from citizens of each of the countries and the number granted.

Mr. Renton

[holding answer 27 April 1989]: Information on applications for, and on grants of refugee status in the United Kingdom in the years since 1979 to 1987, by nationality, is published in the annual Home Office statistical bulletins "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom" (tables 5A-5F of issue 12/86, table 6 of issue 13/87 and table 7 of issue 16/88), copies of which are in the Library. Information for 1988 will be published in the summer of 1989.

Information on applications in the Indian subcontinent in 1979–87 for an entry clearance for settlement, and in 1985–87 for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode, in the United Kingdom is given in tables 6, 9, 11 and 12 of "Control of Immigration Statistics, United Kingdom, 1987" (Cm. 415). The corresponding figures for the other years, and information on applications in Hong Kong in 1985–88 for an entry clearance for settlement, are given in the following tables 1 and 2. Information for earlier years for Hong Kong and similar information for the Soviet Union is not readily available.

Information on the total number of persons granted settlement in the United Kingdom in the years 1979 to 1987, by nationality, is published in table 22 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom 1987" (Cm. 415). The number of persons accepted in 1988 for the nationalities requested is given in the following table 3.

Table 1
Applications1 in Hong Kong and the Indian sub-continent for an entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom
Number of persons
Applications
Country Newly received2 Granted34 Refused initially4
Hong Kong5:
1985 680 750 40
1986 960 850 40
1987 710 590 30
1988 750 640 40
India:
1988 4,090 3,630 1,100
Pakistan:
1988 6,540 4,270 1,420
Bangladesh:
1988 4,050 3,710 1,480
1 By wives, children, persons for immediate settlement, husbands and fiance(e)s.
2 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
3 Granted initially or on appeal.
4 These applications may have been received in an earlier period.
5 Including applications from Hong Kong stateless persons.

Table 2
Applications in the Indian sub-continent for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode1 in the United Kingdom
Number of persons
Country Applications
Newly received2 Granted3 4 Refused initially4
India
1979 440 430
1980 420 420
1981 480 430 5
1982 520 480 5
1983 180 180 5
1984 160 150 5
1988 190 180 5
Pakistan
1979 5

Country Applications
Newly receive2 Granted3 4 Refused initially4
1980 5 5
1981
1982 5 5
1983
1984
1988 420 460 10
Bangladesh
1979 20 10 10
1980 20 20 5
1981 20 20
1982 40 30 10
1983 50 20 30
1984 50 60 20
1988 2,600 2,150 390
1 Including applications for a confirmation of the right of abode (prior to August 1988).
2 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
3 Granted initially or an appeal.
4 These applications may have been received in an earlier period.
5 5 or fewer.

Table 3
Acceptances for settlement in the United Kingdom by nationality: 1988
Nationality Number of persons
Soviet Union 60
Hong Kong (British Dependent Territory Citizens) 1,150
India 5,020
Pakistan 4,280
Bangladesh 2,890