Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate how many people claiming political asylum arrived in the United 9W Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [102210]
(2) how many people were (a) accepted and (b) rejected for political asylum in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [102209]
Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions, 1994 to 19981 1994 1995 1996 1997 19982 Applications 32,830 43,965 29,640 32,500 46,015 Total decisions 20,990 27,005 38,960 36,045 31,570 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 825 1,295 2,240 3,985 5,345 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave 3,660 4,410 5,055 3,115 3,910 Refused asylum and exceptional leave 16,500 21,300 31,670 28,9450 22,315 1 Figures rounded to the nearest five 2 Provisional