§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 December to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Blunkett),Official Report, column 674, (a) how many refugees have been admitted to Britain from former Yugoslavia to the current date, (b) how many applications for asylum have been granted and (c) how many applications for asylum are under consideration.
§ Mr. Charles WardleInformation on asylum applications by nationals of the former Yugoslavia, and on decisions made, in the period 1 January 1992 to 31 January 1994 is given in the table. The large majority of these cases—an estimated 6,640 at 31 January 1994—are under consideration and the applicants are being allowed to stay in the meantime.
In addition to consideration of asylum applications, the Government have, under arrangements announced in November 1992 and June 1993, offered to receive 1,000 particularly vulnerable individuals from the former Yugoslavia, and their close dependants, an estimated total of 4,000 people. As at 21 February 1994, 568 particularly vulnerable individuals and 781 dependants had arrived under these arrangements. Prior to this, 68 sick and wounded ex-detainees from Bosnia arrived in September 1992.
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Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom from nationals of the former Yugoslavia, excluding dependants, 1 January 1992 to 31 January 1994 1 January 1992–31 January 1994 Asylum applications1 7,590 Decisions234 370 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 5 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain5 110 Refused asylum and ELR—after full consideration 15 Refused under para 180F6 145 Refused on safe third country grounds7 95 Applications pending4 6,640 1 Provisional 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 period. 4 Information on withdrawals is not readily available and not shown in the table. 5 Usually granted for a year in the fist instance, subject then to further review. 6 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity (para. 101 prior to 26 July 1993). 7 Refused on the grounds; that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.