HC Deb 30 October 1990 vol 178 cc451-2W
Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of persons presently residing in the United Kingdom together with their country of origin, who are seeking political asylum.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 22 October 1990]: The available information is given in the following table:

Estimated number1 of asylum applications outstanding at 30 September 1990, by nationality
Number
Europe
Czechoslovakia 20
Hungary 40
Poland 80
Romania 100
Turkey 1,690
Yugoslavia 20
Others 130
Total 2,080
Americas
Chile 20
Colombia 130
Others 40
Total 190
Africa
Angola 700
Ethiopia 1,910
Ghana 1,290
Libya 70
Seychelles 110
Somalia 2,990
South Africa 70
Sudan 240
Uganda 2,910
Zaire 2,460
Others 760
Total 13,500
Middle East
Iran 1,080
Iraq 1,180
Lebanon 410
Syria 20
Others 80
Total 2,780
Asia
Afghanistan 140
Bangladesh 50
India 1,890
Pakistan 960
Sri Lanka 4,950
Others 200
Total 8,190
Other and unknown nationality 440

Number
Grand total 27,170
1 Figures are maxima which overstate the position, because of under-recording of decisions made earlier.

Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were received for political asylum in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many were granted.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 22 October 1990]: Information is given in the following table:

Applications1 for refugee status in the United Kingdom, and grants1 2 of asylum and exceptional leave, in the 12 months ending 30 September 1990.
Number
Applications received 20,400
Grants of asylum 2,180
Grants of exceptional leave 4,210
1 Provisional figures which understate because of delays in recording, particularly of grants.
2 Grants do not necessarily relate to applications made in this period.

Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average delay in processing an application for political asylum.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 22 October 1990]: The estimated average length of time between the receipt of an asylum application and the decision, for cases decided in the third quarter of 1990, was thirteen and a half months.