§ 1998. Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who entered the United Kingdom in(a)(b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [3879]
127W
§ Angela EagleThe numbers of unaccompanied children who sought asylum in the United Kingdom are as follows:
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children 1998 3,037 1999 3,349 2000 2,733
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the countries from which the majority of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children come to the United Kingdom. [3878]
§ Angela EagleIn 2000, the majority of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children came from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (666), Afghanistan (300), Somalia (177), Sri Lanka (170) and Turkey (153).
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 100W, on asylum seekers, what plans he has to monitor the reasons for non-compliance of asylum applications. [4416]
§ Angela EagleNo specific arrangements are currently in place systematically to follow up asylum seekers who fail to comply with procedures without providing a reasonable explanation to ascertain reasons underlying their failure to comply. We are, however, always open to looking at our procedures to ensure that any genuine difficulties applicants have in complying with them are minimised.
The main reasons for non-compliance refusals are failure, without reasonable explanation, to attend on time an interview connected with the asylum claim or to complete and return a statement of evidence form (SEF) within 10 working days. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does take account of events outside the asylum seeker's control, for example the serious disruption to rail travel experienced as a result of flooding earlier this year.
We have made some changes in recent months; for example, a PO box number was introduced to act as a single point for the return of all SEFs to IND, and the explanatory note accompanying the SEF has been translated into 33 of the main languages used by asylum seekers. We are monitoring the effect of these changes closely.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people sought asylum in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what proportion were refused. [3076]
§ Angela EagleInformation on asylum applications and initial decisions in Northern Ireland is unavailable. Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port of application. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.