§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of applications made for asylum by citizens born in Nigeria for each of the last three years up to the latest available date; how many applications have been(a) granted and (b) rejected; and if he will make a statement. [37478]
§ Mr. KirkhopeInformation on asylum applications from nationals of Nigeria, and decisions on applications, for the first six months of 1996, is given in the table. Similar information for the years 1993 to 1995 is given556W in tables 4.2 to 4.4 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1995", issue 9/96, a copy of which is in the Library.
Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom from nationals of Nigeria, excluding dependants, January to June 1996 January to June 1996 Asylum applications 2 1,815 Decisions2, 3 2,530 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 5 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain 4 5 Total refused 2,520 Refused asylum and ELR—after full consideration 2,260 Refused on non-compliance grounds5 230 Refused on safe third country grounds6 30 1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2 and '..' = 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 Paragraph 340 (paragraph 180F prior to 1 October 1994 and paragraph 101 prior to 26 July 1993) of the Immigration Rules, for failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitations to interview to establish identity. 6 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Deaprtment how many persons who have had their claims for asylum rejected are held in detention at the present time. [37518]
§ Mr. KirkhopeAs at 27 June, there were 586 asylum seekers held in detention after having their claims for asylum rejected.