HC Deb 27 October 1998 vol 318 cc116-7W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much investment in the determination of asylum casework has been made since 1 May 1997; and how much new investment has been planned since 1 May 1997. [56167]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The estimated cost to the Home Office of processing asylum applications, excluding most overheads in 1997–98, was about £14 million. In 1998–99, up to £15 million is available.

We announced in the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—a Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum" that the Immigration and Nationality Directorate spending limits will increase by £120 million over three years from April 1999. One of the key objectives of this investment is to speed up the handling of asylum applications. By increasing the number of asylum cases decided to 59,000 in 1999–2000, 65,000 in 2000–01, and 65,000 in 20001–02 the Government aim is (on current intake forecasts) that, by April 2001, the backlog will be cleared and decision times will be two months or less.