§ Mr. Graham RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many asylum seekers there were in May in each year since 1988; how many of those who applied in each such month have been granted asylum in the United Kingdom; how many are still in the United Kingdom; and what was the annual cost to his Department of asylum seekers in each of the years specified. [32070]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerI have been asked to reply.
The information requested is given in the table. Figures for years prior to 1992 are not available.
It is not known how many of those granted either asylum or exceptional leave have remained in the United Kingdom.
Decisions1 on applications1 for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, submitted in May of each year from 1992 to 1995 May 1992 May 1993 May 1994 May 1995 Asylum applications2 1,370 1,865 2,650 3,450 Decisions2 on those applications 605 920 835 nya Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 40 35 20 nya Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain3 285 160 150 nya Total refused4 280 720 665 nya Applications withdrawn 105 80 60 nya Applications undecided 660 865 1,755 nya Average cost per case for year quoted5 — £175 £185 £165 1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with '..' = not available and 'nya' = not yet available. 2 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas. 3 Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review. 4 Including refusals on third country grounds and refusals under paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. 5 Cost of asylum determination staff per initial asylum decision. 6 Average for January to May 1995.