Asylum (Hansard, 21 June 1995)

§ Dr. Howells
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were taken in; how many decision were made; what was the backlog of all work; what was the average cost per case; and what was the average output per staff day in each year since 1990. [29702]

§ Mr. Nicholas Baker
The information requested is given in the table.
266W

Decisions¹ on applications¹ received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1990 to 1994

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Asylum applications² 26,205 44,840 24,605 22,370 32,830

Decisions^{2 3} 4,025 6,075 34,900 23,405 20,990

Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 920 505 1,115 1,590 825

Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain⁴ 2,400 2,190 15,325 11,125 3,660

Total refused 705 3,380 18,465 10,690 16,500

Refused asylum and ELR—after full consideration 705 3,380 2,675 4,705 12,655

Refused under para 340⁵ — — 15,195 5,240 2,985

Refused on safe third country grounds⁶ — — 595 745 865

Applications outstanding at end of year⁷ 34,050 72,070 19,110 45,805 55,255

Average cost per case⁸ — — — £175 £185

Average output per staff day⁹ — — — 0.30 0.25

¹ Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with '—' = not available.

² Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

³ Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same year.

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.

⁷ Figures for 1991 and earlier years are maxima which may overstate. They are not directly comparable with figures for later years.

⁸ Cost of asylum determination staff per initial asylum decision.

⁹ Number of initial asylum decisions by the number of determination staff days worked.

§ Dr. Spink
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that all people who request asylum upon arriving on the Eurostar train at Waterloo station are returned immediately. [29628]

§ Mr. Nicholas Baker
All such asylum applications are referred to the asylum division. In accordance with paragraph 345 of the Immigration Rules, claims may be refused without substantive consideration where there is a safe third country to which the applicant may be sent.

Decisions¹ on applications¹ received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1990 to 1994
	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Asylum applications²	26,205	44,840	24,605	22,370	32,830
Decisions^{2 3}	4,025	6,075	34,900	23,405	20,990
Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum	920	505	1,115	1,590	825
Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain⁴	2,400	2,190	15,325	11,125	3,660
Total refused	705	3,380	18,465	10,690	16,500
Refused asylum and ELR—after full consideration	705	3,380	2,675	4,705	12,655
Refused under para 340⁵	—	—	15,195	5,240	2,985
Refused on safe third country grounds⁶	—	—	595	745	865
Applications outstanding at end of year⁷	34,050	72,070	19,110	45,805	55,255
Average cost per case⁸	—	—	—	£175	£185
Average output per staff day⁹	—	—	—	0.30	0.25
¹ Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 with '—' = not available.
² Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.
³ Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same year.
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.
⁷ Figures for 1991 and earlier years are maxima which may overstate. They are not directly comparable with figures for later years.
⁸ Cost of asylum determination staff per initial asylum decision.
⁹ Number of initial asylum decisions by the number of determination staff days worked.