HC Deb 12 February 1998 vol 306 c345W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum were being dealt with by his Department on 1 February. [28665]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

As at 31 December 1997, (the most recent date for which information is available) there were 51,795 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, awaiting an initial decision by the Asylum Directorate of the Home Office.