HL Deb 23 February 1994 vol 552 cc54-6WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications for political asylum were received in each half-year of the last five years; how many decisions were given by the Home Office, including the numbers refused, given exceptional leave to remain and given full refugee status; and how many decisions were reversed or changed by adjudicators or tribunals during the five years; and

How many applications for political asylum were pending at the end of each half-year in the last five years.

Earl Ferrers

The available information is given in the following table. Information on a split into half yearly basis is not readily available for application figures prior to 1991 or decision figures prior to 1992.

Comprehensive information on the outcome of appeals against decisions on asylum applications is not separately identified in the statistics on appeals. Information on the outcome of all appeals to the immigration adjudicators is given in Table 8.2 of Home Office Command Paper Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1992(Cmnd 2368), a copy of which is available in the Library.

Applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions 1989 to 1993
Number of principal applicants
12Applications received 123Decisions Refusals 7Applications pending at end of period
Total decisions 4Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Total refused Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration 5Refused on safe third country grounds 6Refused under para.180F of Immigration Rules
1 January—31 December 1989 11,640 6,955 2,210 3,860 890 890 — — 12.240
1 January—31 December 19908 26,205 4,025 920 2,400 705 705 — — 34,050
1 January—30 June 19918 23,865 6,075 505 2,190 3,380 2,325 270 785 72,070
1 July—31 December 19918 20,975
1 January—30 June 19928 9,610 11,555 300 3,255 8,000 1,060 300 6,640 65,300
1 July—31 December 19928 14,995 23,345 810 12,070 10,460 1,615 295 8,555 49,110
1 January—30 June 19938 11,440 17,585 1,280 10,075 6,230 1,645 330 4,255 41,670
1 July—31 December 19938 10,930 5,820 305 1,050 4,460 3.060 415 985 45,800
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
2 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.
3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
4Excluding South East Asian refugees.
5 Figures from 1 January 1991 only. Prior to this, these refusals are included in the column "Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration".
6 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 (para 101 prior to 26 July 1993). Figures from 1 December 1991 only. Prior to this, these refusals are included in the column "Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration".
7 Figures for 1991 and earlier years are maxima which overstate. They are not directly comparable with later figures which are more accurate estimates following full counts made in November 1992 and November 1993.
8 Provisional figures.