§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of applicants for political asylum in 1993; and how many of them were refused permission to stay in this country;
(2) how many people are currently seeking political asylum.
§ Mr. Charles WardleInformation for 1993 on the number of applications for asylum, and on decisions made, is given in the table. At the end of February 1994 the estimated number of applications for asylum outstanding was 47,100.
Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1993 Number of principal applicants Asylum applications2 22,370 Decisions23 23,400 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum4 1,590 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain5 11,125 Refused asylum and ELR— after full consideration 4,705 Refused under para 180F6 5,240 Refused on safe third country grounds7 745 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 1993. 4 Excluding South East Asian refugees. 5 Usually granted for a year in the first 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.