§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average processing time for applications for indefinite leave to remain by people seeking settlement in the United Kingdom. [95549]
§ Mrs. RocheThe information requested is not available.
The time taken to process an application for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom is affected by a number of factors, including the complexity of individual
Decisions1 on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, July to September, 1999 Number of principal applicants July August September Total Decisions 2,940 3,075 2,680 8,695 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 610 245 245 1,100 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain 105 200 205 510 Total refusals 865 990 915 2,770 Backlog clearance exercise2 Granted under the backlog criteria 1,275 1,380 910 3,565 Refused under the backlog criteria 85 265 405 750 1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5 2 Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog
§ Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the total number of outstanding asylum applications and (b) the targets of his Department for clearing the current backlog. [95686]
§ Mrs. RocheThe number of asylum applications outstanding at the end of September was 90,685. We are committed to meeting the targets set out in the White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum" of deciding asylum applications within an average of two months, by April 2001. To do this we must eliminate the backlog. We are developing new procedures to speed up the consideration of both new cases and those in the current backlog. We are also recruiting around 250 new staff to deal purely with asylum applications, and training more of our existing staff in asylum skills.
§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the backlog of asylum claims which will be awaiting initial decision at 31 December. [95443]
960Wcases. About half the applications for variation of leave, which includes applications for indefinite leave to remain, can be dealt with as "fast track" cases. Such cases are at present being determined within six weeks, but applications where further inquiries are needed may take considerably longer. Streamlined procedures are, however, being introduced throughout the Integrated Casework Directorate to speed up the consideration of all applications.