§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were received from nationals of(a) the Czech Republic and (b) Slovakia in each month since 1 May 1997. [67856]
Mr. Mike O?BrienThe information requested is given in the table. The hon. Gentleman will note that the recent trend is downwards in respect of both counties.
Asylum applications1,2 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants—May 1997 to December 1998, by month, nationals of
the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Number Period Czech Republic Slovakia 1997 May 5 * June 15 25 July 30 20 August 30 50 September 15 55 October 85 85 November 20 20 December 15 15 1998 January 5 5 February 5 15 March 15 15 April 30 10 May 20 15 June 35 35 July 45 125 August 60 230 September 90 250 October 75 115 November 70 15 December 60 15 1 Provisional figures rounded to 5 with * = 1 or 2 2 Principal applicants