§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to invite applications from Irish nationals serving sentences in prisons in the United Kingdom to be transferred to prisons in the Irish Republic; how many Irish nationals are detained in United Kingdom prisons; how many have indicated their intention of applying to be transferred; how many have applied; what are the arrangements for recording and processing such applications; and if he will make a statement. [40451]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 30 October 1995]: The Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons comes into effect for the Republic of Ireland from 1 November. The convention requires that all eligible prisoners who may wish to seek repatriation 169W are informed by the sentencing jurisdiction of the availability of these procedures. With the agreement of the Irish Government, Irish prisoners in England and Wales will be advised of these arrangements through instructions given to prison governors. I am placing a copy of the relevant instruction—"Instruction to Governors 101/95"—in the Library.
As at 30 September 1995, 644 prisoners held in England and Wales gave their nationality on reception into prison as Irish. Under the convention, prisoners may not themselves apply for repatriation but may indicate an interest in this. To date, 35 Irish prisoners have done so. It will be open to either jurisdiction to make a formal request for repatriation on a prisoner's behalf.
Decisions on asylum applications made at ports of entry and after entry into the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1994 and January to September 1995 1994 1995 (January to September) Port applications In country applications Total Port applications In country applications Total Decisions123 Total decisions 7,150 13,840 20,990 7,325 12,585 19,910 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 300 530 825 250 570 820 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave 1,785 1,875 3,660 1,700 2,055 3,750 Refusals Total refused 5,065 11,435 16,500 5,375 9,965 15,340 Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration 4,255 8,400 12,655 4,490 8,080 12,570 Refused on safe third country grounds 810 55 865 885 130 1,015 Refused under para.340 of Immigration Rules4 — 2,985 2,985 — 1,755 1,755 1 Provisional and estimated figures rounded to the nearest 5. 2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. 4 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken or intends to take to ensure that refugees arriving from abroad are aware that they must apply for asylum on arrival in order to protect their potential entitlement to social security benefits. [40607]
§ Mr. KirkhopeNone. The immigration rules make it clear that matters which may damage an asylum applicant's credibility include failure to apply forthwith upon arrival—paragraph 341 of HC 395. Genuine asylum claims ought not to be affected by considerations of benefit entitlement. People who gain admission on the basis that they will support themselves should be held to that requirement whether or not they subsequently claim asylum.