§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish a table showing the number of applications for asylum received, the number granted, the number given exceptional leave to remain and the number rejected in respect of citizens of Turkey in each of the years 1995 and 1996, and in 1997 up to the latest convenient month; and what was the number of applications outstanding at the end of those periods.
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe information requested is given in the table.
Decisions on applications1 for asylum in the United Kingdom from Turkish nationals, excluding dependants, 1995, 1996 and January to September 1997 Number of principal applicants 1995 1996 19972 January to September Asylum applications3 1,820 1,495 1,130 Total decisions3,4 995 1,405 1,280 — Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 50 55 60 — Recognition rate (%) 5% 4% 5% — Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain5 35 20 15 — Exceptional leave rate {%) 3% 1% 1% — Total refusals 910 1,330 1,205 — Refusal rate (%) 92% 95% 94% Applications outstanding at end of period6 4,280 4,280 4,050 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5. 2 Provisional figures. 3 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas. 4 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the period. 5 Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review. 6 Takes into account withdrawn applications.