HC Deb 22 January 2002 vol 378 cc833-7W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seekers are receiving(a) accommodation and subsistence support and (b) subsistence support only from the National Asylum Support Service. [28779]

Angela Eagle

As at the end of September 2001 the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation was 32,8901,2. A further 19,9001,2 asylum seekers (including dependants) were receiving voucher only support from NASS.

1 Figures rounded to the nearest 10.

2 Cases which have had their support ceased are excluded from these figures.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to produce guidelines for the protection of women seeking asylum based on the Immigration Appellate Authority's adopted comprehensive gender guidelines. [28073]

Angela Eagle

We have not identified a need to issue separate guidance on dealing with women asylum seekers. However, in 2000 we reviewed our instructions to asylum caseworkers and incorporated some of the suggestions and principles contained in the guidelines produced by the Refugee Women's Legal Group.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people claimed asylum from(a) Zimbabwe, (b) Afghanistan, (c) Macedonia, (d) Yugoslavia and (e) Pakistan in each month since January 2000; and how many have (a) been accepted, (b) had their applications rejected, (c) returned to their country of origin and (d) are yet to have their application resolved; [28237]

(2) how many people claimed asylum in the United Kingdom each month since January 2000; and how many have (a) been accepted, (b) had their applications rejected, (c) returned to their country of origin and (d) yet to have their application resolved. [28238]

Angela Eagle

The number of applications lodged in the United Kingdom between January 2000 and September 2001, both in total and by nationals of the requested countries, is shown in Table 1. Information on the decision outcomes and removals relating to these applications is not readily available.

The number of asylum and exceptional leave to remain (ELR) grants made to nationals of the requested countries, and in total, and the number of applications refused are shown in Table 2. However, these initial decisions do not all relate to applications made in the same period. A proportion of applications which received an initial refusal result in an appeal being lodged.

Between January 2000 and September 2001, 15,810 principal asylum applicants (to the nearest five) were removed from the United Kingdom, including persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under assisted voluntary returns programmes. This figure excludes 570 dependants of asylum seekers who departed during the period April to September 2001. Comparable information on the numbers of Zimbabwean, Afghan, Macedonian, Yugoslavian and Pakistani asylum seekers removed over the same period is not available.

The number of applicants who have applied for asylum since 1 January 2000 and are currently awaiting an initial decision on their asylum application, and the number awaiting the outcome of appeal determinations, is not available, and would be available only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.

Information on asylum applications, initial decisions and removals are published quarterly. The next publication will be available from 28 February

Table 1: Applications1,2,3 received for asylum in the United Kingdom from selected nationalities, excluding dependents, January 2000 to September 2001
Number of principal applicants
Afghanistan Zimbabwe Pakistan FRY4 Macedonia Other nationalities Total
January 315 30 335 895 5 4,530 6,110
February 460 50 225 780 5 4,590 6,110
March 365 75 305 545 5 5,390 6,680
April 510 55 315 380 5 5,595 6,855
May 430 85 310 450 10 5,435 6,725
June 395 115 260 590 10 5,175 6,545
July 405 75 265 475 5 5,645 6,870
August 495 70 220 410 * 5,570 6,770
September 535 90 215 395 5 5,555 6,790
October 560 90 230 485 10 5,860 7,230
November 550 130 250 405 5 6,155 7,500
December 535 150 230 250 5 4,960 6,125
January 510 125 215 270 * 5,260 6,380
February 615 125 170 375 * 4,235 5,520
March 680 145 175 330 15 4,470 5,815
April 700 110 220 375 25 3,570 5,000
May 900 130 180 200 30 3,855 5,290
June 910 115 235 160 25 3,855 5,300
July 825 145 300 165 125 4,560 6,125
August 930 150 265 285 140 4,905 6,670
September 745 190 225 175 125 4,600 6,060
Total 12,365 2,235 5,155 8,400 550 103,765 132,470
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
2 May exclude some cases lodged at local enforcement offices between January and March 2000.
3 Provisional figures.
4 The Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) is comprised of Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro but the majority of FRY applications are thought to be from Kosovars.

Table 2: Initial decisions1,2,3,4 made on application form selected nationalities, January 2000 to September 2001
Number of principal applicants
Zimbabwe Afghanistan Macedonia FRY Pakistan Other nationalities Total
Total initial decisions 2,035 12,245 405 24,285 8,200 159,010 206,180
of which considered under normal procedures
Granted asylum 85 2,315 * 500 265 15,995 19,160
Granted ELR 40 6,310 45 2,335 220 17,605 26,555
Refused 1,865 3,615 355 21,245 6,965 114,760 148,810
of which considered under backlog clearance exercise5
Granted asylum or ELR under backlog criteria 35 10 5 165 685 9,425 10,325
Refused under backlog criteria 5 * * 35 65 1,225 1,335
1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.
2 Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
3 Decisions figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in this period.
4 Provisional figures.
5 Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum application backlog.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people claimed asylum in the United Kingdom each month since January 2000(a) having apparently arrived via another EU country, (b) having apparently arrived via a safe country outside the EU and (c) having apparently arrived direct from their country of origin; and how many have (i) been accepted, (ii) had their applications rejected, (iii) returned to their country of origin and (iv) yet to have their application resolved. [282391]

2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

Angela Eagle

I regret that reliable information on the entry routes of asylum seekers from their country of origin to the United Kingdom is not available. In 2000 more than two thirds of applications (68 per cent.) were made in-country (that is by people who had already entered the United Kingdom).

Information on asylum applications, initial decisions and removals are published quarterly. The next publication will be available from 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.