§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were received for asylum from Afghan citizens(a) in the period from 11 September 2001 to the date when British peacekeeping forces were deployed in Afghanistan and (b) since the latter date. [31091]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 28 January 2002]: I regret that the information requested is unavailable. Information on asylum applications is published quarterly and provides data for latest available months and quarter. The latest published information relates to the third quarter of 2001.
The latest published information shows that 745 applications for asylum were lodged by nationals of Afghanistan in September, compared with 930 in August and 825 in July. These figures are provisional.
The next publication (relating to the final quarter of 2001) will be available from 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he will use to decide whether Afghanistan is a safe country of origin for the purpose of asylum applications. [31090]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 28 January 2002]: All applications for asylum by Afghanistan nationals are individually considered under the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees and take full account of the conditions in Afghanistan at the time the decision is made.