HC Deb 23 October 1992 vol 212 c383W
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sikhs have applied for political asylum since 1984; and how many have been successful.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The statistics on persons applying for asylum do not identify the ethnic origin of the applicant, but are analysed by citizenship. From January 1984 to September 1992 inclusive, some 5,900 Indian citizens, excluding dependants, applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. It is likely that the majority of these applications have been made by Sikhs. Since 1984, no applicants have been found to be genuine refugees and granted asylum. but nearly 800 of those refused asylum have been granted exceptional leave to remain.