§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide the asylum statistics for 1992, including details of the numbers of decisions reached, refusals by category and their nationalities.
§ Mr. Charles WardleInformation for the period January to November 1992 is given in the table.
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Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions,1 2 by nationality, 1 January 1992–30 November 1992. Decisions Nationality Applications Granted asylum Granted exceptional leave Total refused Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination Refused on safe third country grounds Refused under para 101 of immigration rules3 Total decisions Europe and Americas Bulgaria 145 * — 35 20 — 15 35 Colombia 220 * 10 20 10 5 5 30 Romania 270 — 10 85 50 10 25 95 Turkey 1,650 420 1,375 580 140 70 370 2,375 Former USSR 230 5 5 20 * 15 10 30 Former Yugoslavia 4,830 — * 110 — 60 50 110 Others 245 5 5 65 10 25 25 75 Total 7,585 430 1,405 915 230 180 500 2,745 Africa Angola 190 10 5 3,640 65 5 3,565 3,650 Benin 15 — — 325 — — 325 325 Cameroon 35 — — 530 5 — 525 530 Congo 15 — * 255 * * 255 255 Ethiopia 590 10 1,900 140 5 10 120 2,045 Ghana 1,400 5 20 1,120 270 25 825 1,145 Somalia 1,360 25 2,065 290 * 40 250 2,380 Sudan 510 140 100 120 * * 115 360 Togo/Ivory Coast 285 — — 1,120 10 5 1,110 1,120 Uganda 240 10 850 270 115 5 145 1,130 Zaire 795 10 10 4,470 90 65 4,315 4,490 Others 1,145 5 75 1,355 125 25 1,200 1,440 Total 6,580 210 5,030 13,640 685 190 12,760 18,880 Middle East Iran 345 105 580 50 15 5 30 735 Iraq 635 175 1,165 35 5 5 25 1,375 Lebanon 345 20 515 60 40 10 15 600 Others 415 30 95 105 50 15 45 230 Total 1,740 335 2,360 250 110 30 115 2,945 Asia China 300 15 10 35 15 * 20 60 India 1,325 — 435 1,095 700 65 330 1,525 Pakistan 1,535 * 395 965 650 10 300 1,360 Sri Lanka 1,860 40 4,135 195 10 45 140 4,370 Others 460 10 240 180 125 * 50 430 Total 5,480 65 5,215 2,470 1,500 125 845 7,745 Other and Unknown Nationality — — — — — — — — Grand Total 21,390 1,040 14,010 17,270 2,525 530 14,220 32,315 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with* = 1 or 2. 2 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. 3 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been returned since November 1991 to third countries outside the EC; and if he will name those countries.
§ Mr. Charles WardleInformation is given in the table. All decisions on third country removals are taken in the light of the circumstances of the individual case.
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Asylum applicants at ports removed on safe third country grounds to non-EC countries, by country to which removed, excluding
dependants, 1 November 1991 to 30 November1992
Country to which removed Switzerland 20 Sweden 17 United States 10 Austria 5 Ghana 2 Iran 2 Turkey 2 Australia 1 Canada 1 Guinea 1 India 1
Country to which removed Kenya 1 Norway 1 Poland 1 Total 65
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new detention places for asylum seekers have been set up since August 1991; if he will name the detention centers; and what further plans his Department has to set up new detention places.
§ Mr. Charles WardleSince August 1991, the number of detention places available to accommodate Immigration Act 1971 detainees including asylum seekers has increased by 18. A new seven-bed detention center at Stansted airport was commissioned in August 1992 and improvements to the detention facilities at Haslar which were completed in September 1992 provided an additional 11 places. Under plans which have not yet been finalised, we are aiming to provide around a further 300 additional detention places in phases from 1993 to 1995.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the criteria used to place asylum seekers in Her Majesty's prisons and the conditions in force.
§ Mr. Charles WardleDetention under the powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 is authorised only where there is no alternative. The overriding consideration is whether the person is likely to comply voluntarily with any restrictions imposed upon him, including any arrangements for removal from this country.
Her Majesty's prison Haslar is used almost exclusively for Immigration Act detainees, including asylum seekers. Otherwise, prisons are used only when no places are available at either Haslar or an immigration service detention center, or where the detainee is unsuitable for detention in these establishments.
Immigration detainees in prisons are accorded access to visits, private cash, education, physical education, work and legal aid.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants refused asylum have been deported or removed in 1991 and 1992, under category 101 and the safe third countries rule.
§ Mr. Charles WardleInformation for the period January to November 1992 on asylum applicants refused under paragraph 101 of the immigration rules, and on applicants at ports removed from the United Kingdom on safe third country grounds, is given in the table. Comprehensive information for 1991 is not available.
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Refusals1 under paragraph 101 of the immigration rules of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, and removals1 of
port asylum applicants on safe third country grounds, excluding
dependants, 1 January 1992 to 30 November 1992.
Refused under para 101 of immigration rules2 Removals of port applicants on safe third country grounds 14,220 365 1 Figures rounded to nearest 5. 2 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish indentity.