§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are currently awaiting an initial decision by his Department's asylum directorate; how many appeals against a refusal of asylum are currently being processed by the asylum directorate; and how many appeals against a refusal of asylum, having been processed by the asylum directorate and despatched to the Immigration Appellate Authority, are awaiting hearings by the authority. [35602]
§ Mr. KirkhopeAs at 31 May, there were 66,400 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision. As at the same date, there were 870 asylum appeals awaiting validation and preparation by the asylum directorate and 15,650 appeals awaiting a hearing by the Immigration Appellate Authority.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom pending determination of their application for asylum since 1 January 1994 are recorded as having absconded. [35606]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken by his Department's asylum directorate to process and despatch to the Immigration Appellate Authority an appeal against a refusal of asylum; and what is the average time taken by the authority to hear and determine such an appeal;[35601]
(2) what is the average time currently taken by his Department to reach an initial decision on (a) all asylum applications and (b) asylum applications submitted (i) prior to and (ii) since implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. [35609]
§ Mr. KirkhopeInformation on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.
31W
Average times involved in deciding applications for asylum (December 1995-May 1996) Months Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Pre-Act applications) 43.2 Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Post-Act applications) 10.7 Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal 2.0 Time taken by the Immigration Appellate Authority to determine an appeal 8.2
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and percentage of asylum seekers are(a) still waiting for consideration of their asylum application to be formally completed by the Home Office and (b) not having their asylum application pursued because his Department has granted them permission to stay. [35634]
§ Mr. KirkhopeAs at 31 May, there were 66,400 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision. Information on the number of asylum seekers granted leave to enter or remain in another capacity in the United Kingdom, prior to their asylum applications being decided, is not held centrally.