HL Deb 30 March 1998 vol 588 cc8-9WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications for asylum which have not yet had a first response were lodged before 1 April 1993. [HL1075]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

As at 28 February 1998, there were 50,960 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, awaiting an initial decision. Of these, it is estimated that 10,000 were lodged prior to the introduction of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993, which came into force on 26 July of that year. I regret that reliable information regarding the number lodged before 1 April 1993 is not available.