HL Deb 11 July 1995 vol 565 cc107-8WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Nigerian citizens applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1995; how many were recognised as refugees; how many were given exceptional leave to remain; how many had their applications withdrawn; and how many were refused asylum during the same period.

Baroness Blatch

The available information, for January to May 1995, is given in the table.

Decisions(1) on applications(1) for asylum in the United Kingdom from nationals of Nigeria, excluding dependants, January to May 1995.
January February March April May
Asylum applications(2) 650 495 560 385 610
Decisions(2)(3) 195 180 180 155 185
Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum — — — — *
Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain(4) — — — — —
Total refused 195 180 180 155 185
Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration 135 135 145 125 150
Refused under para.340(5) 55 45 30 25 30
Refused on safe third country grounds(6) 5 5 * 5 5
Applications withdrawn 35 30 65 35 40
(1) Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with '*'= 1 or 2.
(2) Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.
(3) Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same month.
(4) Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.
(5) 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. 180F prior to 1 October 1994 and para. 101 prior to 26 July 1993).
(6) Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.