HC Deb 15 February 2000 vol 344 cc495-6W
Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) number and (b) country of origin of asylum seekers who arrived in the United Kingdom in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999. [109761]

Mrs. Roche

The requested information is given in the table.

Applications 1 for asylum, received in the UK, excluding dependants, by nationality
1998 1999
Europe:
Bulgaria 165 80
Cyprus 90 20
Poland 1,585 1,860
Romania 1,015 1,985
Former USSR 2,820 4,105
Turkey 2,015 2,850
Former Yugoslavia 7,980 14,180
Others 2,075 3,200
Total 17,745 28,280
Americas:
Colombia 425 1,000
Others 550 1,025
Total 975 2,025
Middle East:
Iran 745 1,320
Iraq 1,295 1,800
Lebanon 155 240
Others 595 805
Total 2,785 4,165
Africa:
Algeria 1,260 1,385
Angola 150 545
Cameroon 95 245
Democratic Republic of Congo 660 1,240
Ethiopia 345 455
Gambia 45 30
Ghana 225 195
Ivory Coast 95 190
Kenya 885 485
Liberia 70 65
Applications 1 for asylum received in the UK excluding dependants, by nationality
1998 1999
Nigeria 1,380 945
Rwanda 280 820
Sierra Leone 565 1,125
Somalia 4,685 7,495
South Africa 65 90
Sudan 250 280
Tanzania 80 80
Togo 60 60
Uganda 210 420
Zimbabwe 80 230
Others 895 2,045
Total 12,380 18,435
Asia:
Afghanistan 2,395 3,975
Bangladesh 460 530
China 1,925 2,625
India 1,030 1,365
Pakistan 1,975 2,615
Sri Lanka 3,505 5,130
Others 650 1,225
Total 11,940 17,465
Other and unknown nationalities 190 785
Grand Total l46,015 71,160
1 Figures rounded to nearest 5

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that asylum seekers are not kept on a voucher system beyond the six-month target for processing claims. [109569]

Mrs. Roche

No. In the White Paper, "Fairer, Faster and Firmer", the Government set a target of delivering, by April 2001, most initial asylum decisions within two months and most appeals in a further four months. In respect of families with children, this target was brought forward to April 2000. For those people who remain on the support arrangements for more than six months through no fault of their own, additional payments of £50 per person will be made every six months to assist with the cost of any replacement items they may need.