§ Mr. Stephen TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were lodged(a) at the point of entry, (b) in country and (c) in total, in each month since January 1996; and how many asylum applications were awaiting an initial decision as at the end of each month since January 1996. [9756]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe information requested is given in the table and takes into account recent upward revisions to the number of in-country asylum applications lodged between September 1996 and May 1997. Due to an error in the method of calculation, certain in-country applications were not recorded in the monthly totals during this period.
Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by location of application, and applications awaiting an initial decision, January 1996 to May 1997 Principal applicants Number of asylum applications Lodged at port Lodged in-country Total Applications awaiting an initial decision2 1996 January 1,070 2,240 3,310 69,765 February 975 1,880 2,850 69,160 March 985 2,160 3,145 69,165 April 760 1,310 2,070 67,730 May 740 1,010 1,755 66,400 June 805 925 1,730 64,700 July 835 1,680 2,515 63,265 August 905 1,230 2,140 62,000 September 1,205 3980 32,185 360,455 October 1,270 31,540 32,810 358,970 November 1,180 31,270 32,450 357,415 December 1,710 3975 32,685 357,405 Total 1996 12,440 317,205 329,640 n/a 1997 January 1,210 31,505 32,715 356,640 February 1,135 31,340 32,475 355,820 March 1,210 3950 32,160 354,950 April 1,385 31,280 32,665 354,020 May 1,365 31,230 32,590 353,545 Total 1997 (January to May) 6,310 36,300 312,605 n/a 1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5. 2 Number of applications awaiting an initial decision as at end of month. 3Revised. n/a = not applicable.