HC Deb 21 May 1992 vol 208 cc210-4W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom in each month in 1991 and 1992 to the nearest available date.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information is given in the table:

1991
Nationality January February March April May June July
Total 2,020 1,665 2,330 3,715 2,395 1,805 2,460
Middle East
Iran 65 55 35 65 35 35 35
Iraq 125 75 110 70 55 25 45
Lebanon 295 145 65 40 25 15 15
Others 25 45 30 20 40
Total 485 275 235 225 145 95 135
Asia
china 20 50 45 60 55 40 55
India 260 185 160 165 170 175 165
Pakistan 400 255 305 320 305 290 245
Sri Lanka 600 450 385 355 360 275 255
Others 85 85 90 55 115
Total 1,275 940 980 990 975 835 830
Other nationalities2 240 195
Grand Total 4,455 3,445 3,885 5,275 3,805 3,000 3,725

1991 1991 1992
Nationality August September October November December total January February March April
Europe and Americas
Bulgaria 20 30 15 20 15 375 25 10 5 10
Colombia 10 20 5 15 15 140 30 10 10 10
Romania 65 60 30 45 35 555 35 45 40 25
Turkey 155 145 125 125 95 2,110 205 120 170 135
USSR 20 25 25 20 25 245 20 15 20 15
Others 25 50 70 110 110 450 130 130 110 130
Total 295 335 275 335 300 3,875 440 325 355 325
Africa
Angola 360 360 600 465 170 5,780 40 15 20 15
Congo 25 70 50 65 15 370 10 + +
Ethiopia 110 150 115 65 45 1,685 65 40 30 50
Ghana 145 145 115 105 70 2,405 140 110 140 130
Nigeria 40 25 35 25 20 335 30 25 25 35
Somalia 140 145 135 110 80 1,995 125 95 110 105
Sudan 160 155 175 150 120 1,150 100 75 65 40
Togo/Ivory Coast 185 185 360 315 45 1,910 35 15 15 20
Uganda 15 55 65 50 90 1,440 15 15 + 20
Zaire 420 555 725 625 410 7,010 105 95 80 75
Others 305 470 710 600 135 3,405 70 40 60 35
Total 1,900 2,320 3,090 2,580 1,205 27,490 730 530 550 520
Middle East
Iran 35 50 35 50 35 530 50 20 5 25
Iraq 75 55 70 110 85 915 125 60 80 45
Lebanon 35 20 35 30 35 755 35 20 15 35
Others 30 35 50 35 30 340 40 35 40 30
Total 175 170 190 225 180 2,540 250 140 140 140
Asia
China 25 50 50 35 45 525 35 40 30 25
India 155 160 190 135 165 2,045 245 115 155 115
Pakistan 240 235 290 210 150 3,195 160 140 175 140
Sri Lanka 285 205 225 235 135 3,750 255 110 160 150
Others 265 50 65 40 35 890 55 25 35 25
Total 970 700 815 655 530 10,405 745 435 550 455
Other nationalities2 435
Grand Total 3,340 3,525 4,375 3,790 2,210 44,840 2,165 1,420 1,595 1,440
1 Figures rounded to nearest 5 with + = 1 or 2.
2 Includes applications in January and February 1991 from nationalities not specifically identified above. From March 1991 these are included in the "other" category for the relevant geographical area.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom in the years 1989 to 1991, showing applications by country of origin.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The information is given in the table:

Applications1 received in the United Kingdom for asylum, excluding dependants, by nationality, 1989 to 1991
Number of principal applicants
Nationality 19891 2 19901 2 1991
Europe
Bulgaria 30 135 375
Romania 20 300 555
Turkey 2,415 1,185 2,110
USSR 30 100 245
Other Europe 135 65 360
Total 2,630 1,780 3,645
Americas
Colombia 90 170 140
Other 45 75 90
Total 135 245 230
Africa
Angola 235 1,160 5,780
Congo 20 70 370
Ethiopia 560 1,975 1,685
Ghana 330 1,020 2,405
Nigeria 20 115 335
Somalia 1,850 1,920 1,995
Sudan 110 255 1,150
Togo/Ivory Coast 20 110 1,910
Uganda 1,235 1,905 1,450
Zaire 525 1,730 7,010
Others 205 560 3,405
Total 5,095 10,820 27,500
Middle East
Iran 350 365 530
Iraq 215 890 915
Lebanon 180 1,020 755
Others 35 80 340
Total 780 2,355 2,540
Asia
China 85 240 525
India 630 1,430 2,075
Pakistan 250 1,315 3,245
Sri Lanka 1,790 3,215 3,765
Others 130 285 890
Total 2,885 6,490 10,495
Other nationalities and nationality not recorded 110 315 435
Grand Total 11,640 22,000 44,840
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
2 Figures are provisional 1990 figures may understate because of delays in recording.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were granted(a) asylum and (b) indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom in each year from 1981 to 1991.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Information is given in the table for those granted asylum. Information on the number of persons granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kindom, that is, the total accepted for settlement under the Immigration Act 1971, is published in table 10 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1990" (Cm 1571), a copy of which is in the Library.

Persons granted1 asylum in the United Kingdom
Granted asylum1
1981 1,473
1982 1,727
1983 1,185
1984 689
1985 915
1986 543
1987 464
1988 975
1989 3,335
1990 1,510
1991 670
1 Including dependants who applied with the principal applicant and those who arrived subsequently but before the principal application was decided.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to determine asylum applications in the United Kingdom; and how many claims currently await determination.

Mr. Charles Wardle

For cases decided in the first quarter of 1992, excluding those under paragraph 101 of the immigration rules for failure to provide evidence in support of the asylum claim, the estimated average length of time between the receipt of the asylum application and the decision was 171/2 months.

At 30 March 1992 around 61,000 cases awaited action in the asylum and special cases division.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from the conflict in Yugoslavia have been given permission to stay in the United Kingdom; what assistance they are being given; and what plans he has to assist possible arrivals of further refugees from that country.

Mr. Charles Wardle

It is estimated that about 750 citizens of the former state of Yugoslavia have sought asylum in the United Kingdom up to the end of April this year on the basis of claims associated with the various conflicts in that area. All these applicants will be allowed to stay while their claims are considered. They, and any future applicants, are eligible to claim income support and housing benefits.

Back to