§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were made at ports of entry when the applicant did not have prior entrance clearance to the United Kingdom; and how many such applicants were 317W granted (i) asylum and (ii) exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, in each of the years 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.
§ Mr. RentonThe information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were refused entry to the United Kingdom at ports of entry; and how many of those refused entry subsequently applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, in the years 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988.
§ Mr. RentonThe total number of passengers refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom in 1985, 1986 and 1987 is published in table 4.2 of the Home Office publication "Immigration Nationality and Passports, October 1988", a copy of which is in the Library. The total in 1988 was 20,871. Information on the numbers of these passengers who subsequently applied for refugee status in the United Kingdom is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average Home Office decision time for asylum applications made at ports of entry in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 and at the current time.
§ Mr. RentonThe available information is given in the table. Information for 1988 is not yet available.
Estimated average length of time1 taken to reach a decision on an application2 made at a port, for refugee status in the United Kingdom, for cases decided during the year. Average time in months 1985 38 1986 16 1987 11 1 Excluding the time accounted for by an appeal where practicable, although this cannot be done in all cases. 2 Excluding dependants. 3 The 1985 figure may be an underestimate.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with other EC Governments regarding harmonisation of asylum procedures in preparation for the implementation of the Single European Act in 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonAsylum procedures have been discussed in regular meetings of Ministers responsible for immigration, held on six occasions since December 1986. For details of the two most recent meetings, I refer the hon. Member to the replies my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 14 December 1988 at columns576–7 and for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on 17 May 1989 at column 208.
My right hon. Friend and I have also discussed asylum matters in various bilaterial contacts with Ministers from other member states.