§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were detained in Birmingham prison during(a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those detained; [1037]
(2) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were deported from Birmingham prison during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those deported. [1038]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe available information on asylum seekers detained in Her Majesty's prison Birmingham is given in the table.
There were no failed asylum seekers recorded as being deported from Her Majesty's prison Birmingham during each of the months July to September 1996.
This does not include asylum seekers removed as illegal entrants.
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Asylum seekers detained1 at Her Majesty's prison Birmingham as at 31 July, 4 September and 1 October by nationality Nationality 31 July 4 September 1 October India 18 15 14 Nigeria — — 6 Algeria 5 5 4 Pakistan — 3 — Others2 4 3 2 Total 27 26 26 1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include asylum applicants detained in after-entry enforcement work and those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal. 2 The "Others" category may include nationalities already listed.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to declare a country as one in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [972]
§ Miss WiddecombeMy right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to declare that any country has undergone a major upheaval such that we would not seek to return people there for the time being.
§ Dr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total number of asylum seekers held in detention at the end of(a) June, (b) July, (c) August and (d) September; in which establishments they were held; what were the nationalities of those detained; what were the gender of those detained; and how many were deported and from which establishments. [1044]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe available information on asylum seekers detained, and on those deported from detention, is given in the tables. The number deported does not include those who are removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.
Number1 of asylum detainees deported2 during June, July, August and September Number of deported asylum detainees June 11 July 6 August 7 September 3 1Provisional figures. 2 Removed under the deport process, including those removed voluntarily prior to the initiation of deportation action. 204W
Table 1: Number of people recorded as detailed on 17 June, 31 July, 4 September, and I October 19961 who sought asylum at some stage, by gender Gender As at 27 June As at 31 July As at 4 September As at 1 October Male 720 716 727 783 Female 52 60 82 81 Total 772 776 809 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention As at 27 June As at 31 July As at 4 September As at 1 October Prisons HMP Rochester 154 146 148 154 HMP Haslar 99 112 107 97 HMP Birmingham 37 27 26 26 HMP Wormwood Scrubs 12 6 11 14 HMP Magilligan 8 7 7 7 HMP Manchester 2 — 6 5 HMP Bristol 6 3 4 4 HMP Wandsworth 4 6 2 3 HMP Greenock 5 5 6 3 HMP Holloway — — — 2 HMP Doncaster 2 2 2 2 HMP Brixton 2 — 2 2 HMP Belmarsh — — — 2 Other prison2 20 26 18 22 Other Places of Detention Campsfield House 151 151 170 173 Tinsley House 45 68 96 119 Harmondsworth 102 89 82 91 Meadvale Buildings 36 35 33 38 Police Cells 27 33 35 33 Port — 8 8 19 Queens Building 13 10 15 15 Dover Harbour 10 14 7 14 Manchester Airport Detention Suite 6 11 7 7 Other Place of Detention2 31 17 17 12 Total 772 776 809 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution. 2 The 'Others' categories may include places of detention already listed.
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Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 19961, who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality Nationality As at 27 June As at 31 July As at 4 September As at 1 October Nigeria 106 106 110 112 India 101 96 91 95 Algeria 75 70 65 63 Ghana 52 56 60 58 Sri Lanka 43 45 47 48 China Peoples Republic of 32 35 39 44 Zaire 38 43 48 44 Turkey 35 39 47 42 Columbia 15 11 10 35 Pakistan 25 35 35 34 Angola 16 16 18 23 Bangladesh 18 17 16 18 Romania 23 33 20 18 Cyprus 7 6 12 17 Gambia 27 16 16 16 Israel — — — 15 Iran 11 9 11 13 Jamaica 5 8 8 10 Ethiopia 6 8 9 9 Yugoslavia 9 6 12 9 Russia 6 5 6 8 Sierra Leone 6 4 7 8 Uganda 4 3 4 8 Kenya 6 4 9 7 Liberia 4 5 9 7 Lithuania 5 4 4 7 Ivory Coast 6 7 7 6 Poland 6 8 6 5 Somalia 9 6 6 5 Equador 8 6 3 4 Lebanon 3 2 3 4
Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 27 June, 31 July, 4 September, and 1 October 19961, who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality Nationality As at 27 June As at 31 July As at 4 September As at 1 October Sudan 3 — 4 4 Tanzania 4 4 3 4 Bulgaria — — 2 3 Egypt 2 2 2 3 El Salvador — — 3 3 Morocco 2 — — 3 Albania 3 2 3 2 Nationality Doubtful1 6 10 8 11 Others2 45 49 46 39 Total 772 776 809 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution. 2 The 'Others' category may include nationalities already listed.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (i) nationality, (ii) gender, (iii) place of detention, (iv) length of detention and (v) immigration status at the time of application. [882]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe information requested on detained asylum seekers is given in the tables.
Table 1: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status Gender Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation order Total Male 481 258 44 783 Female 62 14 5 81 Total 543 272 49 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
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Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by stage of application and immigration status Stage of application Port Illegal Entrants Subject to deportation order Total Awaiting initial decision 157 53 8 218 Awaiting result of appeal 256 139 32 427 Awaiting removal after refusal 130 80 9 219 Total 543 272 49 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
Table 3: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by length of detention and immigration status Length Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation order Total 0–1 Month1 154 86 4 244 1–2 Months 84 56 14 154 2–6 Months 196 95 20 311 6–12 Months 90 25 6 121 12 Months + 19 10 5 34 Total 543 272 49 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution. 207W
Table 4: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by nationality and immigration status Nationality Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation order Total Nigeria 73 26 13 112 India 20 69 6 95 Algeria 21 37 5 63 Ghana 40 16 2 58 Sri Lanka 30 17 1 48 China Peoples Rep of 35 9 0 44 Zaire 37 4 3 44 Turkey 34 7 1 42 Columbia 32 3 0 35 Pakistan 14 17 3 34 Angola 17 4 2 23 Bangladesh 9 8 1 18 Romania 4 14 0 18 Cyprus 17 0 0 17 Gambia 13 1 2 16 Israel 15 0 0 15 Iran 9 3 1 13 Jamaica 4 3 3 10 Ethiopia 5 3 1 9 Russia 3 5 0 8 Yugoslavia 5 4 0 9 Sierra Leone 5 2 1 8 Uganda 6 1 1 8 Kenya 5 2 0 7 Liberia 7 0 0 7 Lithuania 6 1 0 7 Ivory Coast 5 1 0 6 Poland 3 2 0 5 Somalia 5 0 0 5 Ecuador 4 0 0 4 Lebanon 2 2 0 4 Sudan 4 0 0 4 Tanzania 4 0 0 4 Bulgaria 2 1 0 3 Egypt 0 2 1 3 Morocco 1 1 1 3 El Salvador 3 0 0 3 Albania 2 0 0 2 Other 31 7 1 39 Nationality Doubtful 11 0 0 11 Total 543 272 49 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
Table 5: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by location of detention and immigration status Port Illegal entrants Subject to deportation order Total Prisons HMP Rochester 97 43 14 154 HMP Haslar 54 38 5 97 HMP Birmingham 8 17 1 26 HMP Wormwood Scrubs 3 11 0 14 HMP Magilligan 0 7 0 7 HMP Manchester 0 5 0 5 HMP Bristol 0 4 0 4 HMP Wandsworth 0 1 2 3 HMP Greenock 0 3 0 3 HMP Holloway 1 0 1 2 HMP Doncaster 0 2 0 2 HMP Brixton 0 2 0 2 HMP Belmarsh 1 1 0 2 Other 13 5 4 22 Other Places of Detention Campsfield House 116 48 9 173 Tinsley House 80 31 8 119 Harmondsworth 64 23 4 91 Meadvale Buildings 33 5 0 38 Police Cells 9 23 1 33 Port 19 0 0 19 Queens Building 15 0 0 15 Dover Harbour 14 0 0 14 Manchester Airport Detention Suite 4 3 0 7 Other 12 0 0 12 Total 543 272 49 864 1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many substantive asylum appeals to immigration appellate authority special adjudicators have been (i) allowed, (ii) dismissed and (iii) withdrawn in 1996 to date. [884]
§ Mr. KirkhopeProvisional information shows that, of the estimated 9,070 substantive asylum appeals determined by special adjudicators between January and September 1996, 3 per cent. were allowed, 81 per cent. were dismissed and 16 per cent. were withdrawn.
§ 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; and how many of these applications were made prior to July 1993. [885]
§ Mr. KirkhopeAs at 30 September 1996, there were 60,275 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, of which an estimated 27,900 were made prior to the implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993. Work is currently in hand to revise this estimate.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements his Department has made to expedite initial decisions on asylum applications in those cases where the applicant is detained under Immigration Act powers; and what is the current average time taken by his Department to reach an initial decision in such cases. [887]
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§ Mr. KirkhopeStatistics on the average time taken to decide cases where the applicant is detained are not available. However, all such cases are given priority consideration within the asylum directorate, with many applications being determined within days.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time currently taken by his Department to reach an initial decision on (i) asylum applications submitted prior to implementation of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, (ii) asylum applications submitted since implementation of the 1993 Act and (iii) all asylum applications; [889]
(2) what is the average time currently taken by the Home Office and the immigration appellate authority to prepare, hear and determine an appeal against a refusal to asylum. [890]
§ Mr. KirkhopeInformation on the times taken at the various stages of the asylum process are given in the table.
Average times involved in deciding applications for asylum (March-August 1996) Months Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Pre-act applications) 44.8 Time taken for an initial decision to be made (Post-act applications) 11.6 Time taken by the Home Office to process an appeal 1.4 Time taken by the Immigration Appellate Authority to determine an appeal 8.1
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to declaring Sri Lanka a country in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 following the upsurge of fighting in September. [974]
§ Miss WiddecombeWe do not believe that the continuing hostilities in Sri Lanka constitute such a fundamental change in the circumstances there as to justify my right hon. and learned Friend declaring that the country has undergone a major upheaval.
The hostilities since May 1995 have been sporadic and confined largely to the north and east of the country. Most reports suggest that conditions elsewhere in the country remain reasonably safe and normal.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to declaring Afghanistan a country in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 since the capture of Kabul by Taliban. [973]
§ Miss WiddecombeWe do not believe that the recent developments in Afghanistan constitute such a fundamental change in the circumstances as to justify my right hon. and learned Friend declaring that the country has undergone a major upheaval.
Afghanistan has been in a state of civil unrest for a number of years. The fall of Kabul to Taliban is part of this long-term continuing conflict.
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§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, having been refused asylum, have (i) been removed and (ii) made a voluntary departure from the United Kingdom in 1996 to date. [886]
§ Mr. KirkhopeProvisional information shows that, during the period January to September 1996, there have been 2,810 removals—including voluntary departures—of persons refused asylum.
§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum, by persons applying(a) at a port of entry to the United Kingdom and (b) after entry have been decided in 1996 to date; and how many in each category have been granted (i) asylum and (ii) exceptional leave to remain. [888]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe information requested is given in the table.
Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, January to September 1996 Number of principal applicants Applied at port Applied in-country Total Asylum applications2 8,280 13,240 21,520 Decisions3 10,385 18,170 28,550 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 380 1,185 1,565 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain4 1,430 2,160 3,595 Total refusals 8,575 14,820 23,395 Refused asylum and ELR after full consideration 7,610 13,245 20,855 Refused on safe third country grounds5 965 50 1,015 Refused on non-compliance grounds6 — 1,530 1,530 1Provisional figures rounded to the nearest five. 2Figures exclude information on applications made overseas. 3Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the period. 4Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review. 5Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country. 6Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. 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.