§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum appeals were still awaiting resolution on(a) 1 April 1997 and (b) 1 April 1998; [38939]
(2) how many asylum applications were still awaiting resolution on (a) 1 April 1997 and (b) 1 April 1998. [38938]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienInformation on the number of outstanding cases relates to the position at the end of the month rather than the beginning.
536WThe table shows the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, and the number of asylum related appeals awaiting determination at the end of March 1997 and 1998.
Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and Appeals which are outstanding at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 1998. Number of principal applicants Year Applications outstanding Appeals outstanding 31 March 1997 54,950 23,215 31 March 1998 50,950 23,760 1Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five. The backlog of applications has been cut by almost 4,000, but in some of these cases the applicant has appealed, increasing the number of outstanding appeals. The number of appeals determined by adjudicators increased by 31 per cent. from 15,385 in the year to March 1997 to 22,185 in the year to March 1998.