§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants for asylum before August 1993 are(a) awaiting a decision on their application and (b) awaiting an appeal hearing against refusal of asylum; [11514]
(2) how many appeals against refusal of asylum, listed by nationality of applicant and by date of application, are awaiting decision; [11513]
(3) how many applications for asylum made to his Department, listed by nationality of applicant and by year of application, are awaiting decision. [11512]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienInformation on the number of applications awaiting an initial decision in the asylum directorate, as at the end of June 1997, is given in the tables. Of the total, 53.025, it is estimated that 11,300 were applications made prior to August 1993.
As at the end of June 1997, there were approximately 24,000 asylum appeals yet to be determined. I regret that the breakdowns requested, by nationality and year of application, are not available.
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Table 1: Asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 30 June 19971, 2, 3 Number Europe Bulgaria 770 Cyprus 585 Poland 640 Romania 570 Former USSR 3,225 Turkey 4,275 Former Yugoslavia 3,275 Others 310 Total 13,645 Americas Colombia 2,440 Others 2,300 Total 4,745 Middle East Iran 1,110 Iraq 1,085 Lebanon 380 Others 1,140 Total 3,710 Africa Algeria 530 Angola 1,220 Cameroon 185 Ethiopia 1,140 Gambia 640 Ghana 2,660 Ivory Coast 455 Kenya 2,170 Liberia 330 Nigeria 3,480 Rwanda 285 Sierra Leone 830 Somalia 690 South Africa 60 Sudan 795 Tanzania 485 Togo 155 Uganda 855
Table 1: Asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 30 June 19971, 2, 3 Number Zaire 3,165 Zimbabwe 145 Others 555 Total 20,825 Asia Afghanistan 685 Bangladesh 1,045 China 1,825 India 1,070 Pakistan 1,825 Sri Lanka 2,740 Others 695 Total 9,890 Other and unknown nationalities 205 Grand total 53,025 1 Excluding dependents. 2 Figures rounded to the nearest five. 3 Takes into account recent revisions to the number of in-country applications lodged in January to May 1997.
Table2: Asylum application awaiting an initial decision as at 30 june 1997 by year of application1 Year of application Percentage Pre 1992 5 1992 10 1993 10 1994 20 1995 30 1996 15 19972 10 Total 53,025 (100 per cent.) 1 Estimates rounded to the nearest 5 per cent. 2 January to June.
§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people refused asylum in the United Kingdom since August 1993, listed by year of application, have(a) applied for and (b) been granted leave to remain on (i) exceptional, (ii) marriage and (iii) other grounds. [11502]
§ Mr. O'BrienThe available information is given in the table.
align="center">Number1 of persons refused asylum but granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom, August 1993 to June 1997 Principal applicants align="center">Year of decision 1993 August to December 1994 1995 1996 19974 January to June Type of leave granted Exceptional leave to remain2 790 3,660 4,410 5,050 1,450 Leave to remain as a spouse3 50 150 270 330 120 Other leave3 10 20 40 40 30 1 Figures rounded to nearest 10 and exclude dependants. 2 Relates to those persons granted exceptional leave to remain at the time of being refused asylum. 3 Relates to those refused asylum seekers subsequently granted leave to remain on non-asylum grounds. 4 Provisional.