§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who made an application in(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994, (f) 1995, (g) 1996 and (h) 1997 are awaiting a decision on their application. [53525]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienA detailed breakdown of cases by year of application is not available. However, the estimated percentage figures for asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 31 August 1998, by year of application are:
Year Percentage Pre 1994 20 1994 10 1995 20 1996 10 1997 20 1998 (January to August) 20 The total number of applications was 56,020.
The estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been granted political asylum in the UK in each of the last five years; and from which countries they came. [55812]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienInformation regarding the numbers of asylum seekers who have been granted asylum, for each of the years 1989 to 1997, is given in table 3.1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1997", issue 14/98. Information on the numbers of asylum seekers who were not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave is given in table 3.2 of the same bulletin, a copy of which is available in the Library.
The following table provides the same information for the period from January to September 1998.
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Cases1,2 recognised as refugees and granted asylum, excluding dependants, by nationality, January to September 1998 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Europe Bulgaria — — Cyprus — — Poland * * Romania * * Former USSR 5 10 Turkey 35 30 Former Yugoslavia 845 115 Others * — Total 890 160 Americas Colombia 140 45 Others — * Total 140 50 Middle East Iran 60 175 Iraq 345 330 Lebanon — 5 Others 35 5 Total 440 515 Africa Algeria 270 15 Angola * 55 Cameroon 10 5 Democratic Republic of Congo 10 395
Cases1,2 recognised as refugees and granted asylum, excluding dependants, by nationality, January to September 1998 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Ethiopia 30 10 Gambia 10 * Ghana 5 15 Ivory Coast 40 * Kenya * 5 Liberia * 30 Nigeria 80 50 Rwanda 125 15 Sierra Leone — 25 Somalia 1,865 365 South Africa — — Sudan 40 * Tanzania * 5 Togo 10 5 Uganda 5 60 Zimbabwe — 5 Others 200 100 Total 2,700 1,165 Asia Afghanistan 20 1,250 Bangladesh * — China * 0 India * 25 Pakistan 5 10 Sri Lanka 50 5 Others 5 * Total 85 1,300 Other and unknown nationalities — — Grand total 4,250 3,190 1 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome appeals or other subsequent decisions 2 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the amount of Immigration and Nationality Directorate casework which will be handled by the computer systems installed under his Department's contract with Siemens Business Services; [56184]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 30 July 1998, Official Report, column 387, if he has received proposals from Siemens Business Services for computerisation plans for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and when he expects the computerisation to be implemented; [56239]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 7 May 1998, Official Report, column 452, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), intends to write to the hon. Member for Hertsmere on the casework programme system; [56240]
(4) pursuant to his answer of 30 July 1998, Official Report, column 387, how long the pilot of working methods in the Integrated Casework Directorate is to last; and when the working methods will be implemented; [56238]
(5) pursuant to paragraph 8.9 of the White Paper, "Fairer, Faster, Firmer", what was the planned date for the implementation of the casework programme on 1 May 1997; and what is the present planned date for the implementation of the programme. [56183]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI shall be writing to the hon. Member shortly.
§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been received from nationals of(a) the Czech Republic and (b) Slovakia in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available. [56188]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe requested information is given in the table.
Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, Q4 1996 to Q3 19982, nationals of Slovakia and the Czech Republic Czech Republic Slovakia 1996 Qtr 4 15 25 1997 Qtr 1 20 10 Qtr 2 25 35 Qtr 3 80 125 Qtr 4 120 120 1998 Qtr 1 30 30 Qtr 2 85 60 Qtr 3 195 605 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 2 Provisional data
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department will take to reduce the number of illegal asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom from ports of entry in Essex; and if his Department will provide financial assistance to Essex County Council Social Services Department to meet their costs in providing for these illegal immigrants. [55765]
§ Mr. StrawThe Government's White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum", published on 27 July, outlines a number of measures designed to deal with the problem of illegal entry. We are liaising with the police forces most affected to ensure that those who come to light are dealt with properly. We are also working on a number of other operational measures to detect illegal entrants and process their cases more efficiently
targeting illegal entrants in lorries before they reach the United Kingdom, liaising closely with ferry operators and our European partners;high profile deterrent operations at ports of entry;streamlined administrative procedures; andbetter use of technology.Local authority social services departments already receive special grants towards the cost of supporting asylum seekers under the National Assistance Act 1948 or the Children Act 1989. We are currently considering whether further assistance should be made available.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of persons claiming asylum in the United Kingdom, for each month from May 1996 to September 1998. [56630]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe information requested is given in the table.
Application1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by month, May 1996 to September 19982 Month of Application Total Port In Country May 1996 1,755 740 1,010 June 1996 1,730 805 925 July 1996 2,515 835 1,680 August 1996 2,140 905 1,230 September 1996 2,185 1,205 980 October 1996 2,810 1,270 1,540 November 1996 2,450 1,180 1,270 December 1996 2,685 1,710 975 January 1997 2,715 1,210 1,505 February 1997 2,475 1,135 1,340 March 1997 2,160 1,210 950 April 1997 2,665 1,385 1,280 May 1997 2,590 1,365 1,230 June 1997 2,585 1,285 1,300 July 1997 3,070 1,545 1,525 August 1997 2,930 1,530 1,405 September 1997 2,850 1,345 1,505 October 1997 2,990 1,445 1,545 November 1997 2,345 1,265 1,080 December 1997 3,120 1,865 1,255 January 1998 2,860 1,605 1,255 February 1998 2,650 1,490 1,155 March 1998 3,200 1,555 1,640 April 1998 3,135 1,500 1,635 May 1998 3,110 1,465 1,645 June 1998 3,575 1,790 1,785 July 1998 4,215 1,940 2,275 August 1998 4,420 2,395 2,025 September 1998 4,455 2,585 1,870 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 2 Provisional data
§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on reducing the time taken in the administration of asylum claims; and if he will make a statement. [53511]
§ Mr. StrawThe average time taken to reach an initial decision in applications for asylum lodged in the United Kingdom was about 20 months during the period January to June 1998, compared with 23 months in July to December 1997. The average decision time for applications made after the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 came into force was 13 months during the period January to June 1998. Our aim is to ensure that by April 2001 most initial asylum decisions will be made within two months of receipt and that most appeals to adjudicators will be heard within a further four months.