HC Deb 15 July 1999 vol 335 cc314-5W
Mr. Coleman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding asylum applications remained unprocessed from (i) the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Somalia and (iv) Afghanistan on 30 June; and if he will make a statement. [90576]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

It is estimated that as at the end of March 1999, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision for nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was 9,540; Iraq 1,920; Somalia 4,900; and Afghanistan 2,325.

Mr. Coleman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were processed in(a) May and (b) June, from (i) the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (ii) Iraq and (iii) Somalia; how many of these were (1) agreed and (2) refused; and if he will make a statement. [90575]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information is given in the table. I regret that information for June is not available until the statistics are published on the Home Office website on the 26 July.

Initial decisions made on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom1,2 by type, nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Iraq and Somalia, May 1999
Number
Federal Republic Yugoslavia
Total decisions of which: 1,675
Grants of asylum 1,340
Grants of ELR
Refusals 10
Grants of ELR under the backlog criteria3.4 325
Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria3
Iraq
Total decisions of which: 45
Grants of asylum 15
Grants of ELR 25
Refusals 5
Grants of ELR under the backlog criteria3.4
Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria3
Initial decisions made on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom1.2 by type January to May 1999, nationals of Afghanistan
January 1999 February 1999 March 1999 April 1999 May 1999
Total decisions of which: 130 100 125 320 140
Grants of asylum * 5
Grants of ELR 130 100 115 315 125
Refusals 5 * 10 5 10
Grants of ELR under the backlog criteria3.4
Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria3
1 Figures rounded to nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2
2 Excluding dependants
3 Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog
4 May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted
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