§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the Turkish Kurdish asylum seekers who sought entry in May and June 1989 whom he was minded to refuse have since been granted refugee status;
(2) how many of the Turkish Kurdish asylum seekers who sought entry in May and June 1989 and who were initially granted one year exceptional leave to remain have since been recognised as refugees.
§ Mr. Peter LloydA total of 240 of the Turkish nationals who sought asylum on arrival in April, May and June 1989 have been recognised as refugees. Central records do not distinguish at what stage of the procedure applicants were granted refugee status and this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries are made into the political affiliations and background of interpreters before they are used in asylum cases.
§ Mr. Peter LloydAll prospective interpreters are interviewed by a chief immigration officer or more senior officer to assess their linguistic qualifications and personal suitability. Other checks may be made if necessary.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the length of time it is taking to process applications to vary one year exceptional leave to remain permits to refugee status under the 1951 convention on refugees.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThese applications are dealt with as quickly as possible by the refugee section of the immigration and nationality department. Priority is however being given to resolving outstanding applications for asylum made by some 3,700 Turkish nationals on arrival in April, May and June 1989.
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§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the length of time it is taking for decisions to be reached on whether to grant entry clearance to the dependents of Turkish Kurdish asylum seekers who have been granted one year exceptional leave to remain.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThere is no provision in the immigration rules for this purpose. Dependents are normally admitted to join a person granted exceptional leave if he is still in the United Kingdom after four years. However, all applications for entry clearance in these cases are referred to the Home Office to consider whether there are special circumstances which would justify earlier admission. Decisions on these applications are reached as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of(a) the training manual for immigration officers who interview asylum seekers and (b) any written instructions that are given to interpreters.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThere is no single comprehensive training manual for immigration officers who interview asylum seekers. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in reply to a question by him on 14 November 1989 at column205. On the question of instructions for interpreters, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in reply to a question by him on 14 November 1989 at column 203.