§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many refugees from the former Yugoslavia have been given asylum status in each of the member states of the EU; [7232]
(2) how may refugees from the former Yugoslavia have been granted asylum status in the United Kingdom. [7231]
§ Mr. KirkhopeI have been asked to reply.
During the period 1991 to the end of the November 1995, there were in the United Kingdom approximately 250 grants of asylum to nationals of the former 59W Yugoslavia. Most of the decisions were made in 1995. Over the same time period, approximately 2,050 former Yugoslavs were refused asylum but granted exceptional leave in the United Kingdom.
In addition to the above, the Government announced on 30 November 1992 that the United Kingdom was willing to receive 1,000 people from Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia classified by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees as being vulnerable and in need of evacuation, together with their dependants. As at 19 December 1995, a total of 910 principals and 1,216 dependents had arrived. On 6 August it was announced that a further 500 would be accepted. To date, 176 persons from this quota have arrived.
The available information on grants of asylum or exceptional leave to remain by European Union member states is given in the table.
Grants of Asylum or Exceptional leave to Remain to nationals of the former Yugoslavia by EU Member States1, January to June 1995 Nationality Grants of Refugee status Not recognised as a Refugee but granted exceptional leave toremain2 Austria 50 0 Belgium 55 0 Denmark 10 10 Finland 0 5 France 150 0 Germany 1,745 0 Greece 0 25 Ireland 5 0 Italy 5 0 Luxembourg 0 0 Netherlands 0 0 Portugal 0 0 Sweden 0 0 Spain 0 0 United Kingdom 25 570 Total 2,050 615 1Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. 2Includes equivalent status used by European countries.