HC Deb 03 November 1997 vol 300 cc18-20W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers, who have been admitted and not held since 1994, officials have subsequently been unable to trace.[13392]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the options he is considering to stem the flow of Czech and Slovak asylum seekers into the United Kingdom. [13400]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The firm line we have taken with abusive asylum seekers from these countries has already led to a substantial decrease in the numbers of new arrivals. Many recent arrivals have already been removed to France. Where appropriate, we have detained applicants. My right hon. Friend announced on 27 October a reduction from 28 to five days in the period allowed for post-interview representations in certain cases where claims are judged likely to be abusive. All applications continue to be considered individually, on their merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention. Policy options are constantly reviewed to ensure we maintain our firm line.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each establishment used by his Department to hold in custody asylum seekers under immigration laws the numbers currently held. [13502]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

As at 30 September 1997, the most recent date for which information is available, a total of 772 persons who had sought asylum at some stage, were recorded as being detained solely under Immigration Act powers. I regret, however, that a reliable breakdown of these detainees, by location of detention, is not currently available.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been received from Algerian nationals for each month since January 1996; and of these how many have had their application(a) granted, (b) refused but been allowed to remain and (c) refused and been removed from Britain. [13494]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The information requested is given in the table.

Decisions1 on applications2 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, and the removal or voluntary departure of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, for nationals of Algeria, January 1996 to September 19973,4
Number of principal applicants
Applications for asylum Grants of asylum Grants of exceptional leave to remain Refused asylum and exceptional leave to remain Removals and voluntary departures
January 1996 100 * 195 15
February 1996 75 * 160 15
March 1996 100 * * 155 15
April 1996 50 * 160 20
May 1996 40 5 * 165 25
June 1996 30 * * 145 15
July 1996 85 * 190 15
August 1996 65 * 125 20
September 1996 35 5 * 135 20
October 1996 55 * * 170 10
November 1996 40 5 5 130 10
December 1996 35 5 5 100 15
January 1997 55 5 100 15
February 1997 35 5 75 10
March 1997 45 * 95 20
April 1997 35 5 65 15
May 1997 55 5 60 25
June 1997 50 5 * 85 15
July 1997 60 5 70 20
August 1997 60 5 60 25
September 1997 60 15 15 5
Total 1,175 80 15 2,455 340
1Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
2 Applications and decisions on asylum applications may not relate to the same cases within each period.
3 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
4 Application and decision figures for 1997 and removals for 1996 and 1997 are provisional.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been received in each of the last 12 months from(a) the Czech Republic and (b) the Slovak Republic; and how many people have been (i) granted asylum, (ii) refused but given leave to remain and (iii) removed from Britain. [13489]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The information requested is given in the table:

Table 1: Decisions1 on applications2 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, for nationals of the Czech Republic and Slovakia October 1996 to September 19973
Number of principal applicants
Applications for asylum Grants of asylum Grants of exceptional leave to remain Refused asylum and exceptional leave to remain
Czech Republic
October 1996 5 5
November 1996 5 5
December 1996 5 5
January 1997 5 5
February 1997 10 10
March 1997 5 10
April 1997 * *
May 1997 5 5
June 1997 15 15
July 1997 30 20
August 1997 30 35
September 1997 15 5
Total 135 115
Slovakia
October 1996 5 20
November 1996 10 15
December 1996 10 10
January 1997 * *
February 1997 * 5
March 1997 5 15
April 1997 5 10
May 1997 * 15
June 1997 25 25
July 1997 20 25
August 1997 50 45
September 1997 55 10
Total 190 195

Notes:

1Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

2 Applications and decisions on asylum applications may not relate to the same cases within each period.

3 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.

Figures for October 1997 are not yet available.

Source:

Immigration and General Unit, RSD.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were held in custody under immigration laws in month since Janaury 1996; and what was the average length of time of such detentions. [13493]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 11 June,Official Report column 441, which gives the available information on detained asylum seekers for selected dates in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Information on the number held at the end of each month between May and September 1997 is given in the table.

I regret that reliable information on the average length of detention could only be obtained by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, only available at disproportionate cost.