§ Mr. HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time has been in the last 12 months for which figures are available for decisions to be made on immigration applications from(a) work permit holders, (b) people with UK ancestry, (c) EEA nationals and their families, (d) spouses, (e) fianc?s and fianc?es and (f) asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [30994]
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§ Angela EagleThe table provides the information requested on asylum seekers for the period of October 2000 to September 2001, inclusive. The average decision times have been calculated using all initial decisions made for which data are available, including a minimal number of cases decided under the backlog criteria, as well as new cases. These data are subject to revision following quality checking.
Average time to initial decision1,2, initial decisions made October 2000 to September 2001 Months3,4,5 October 2000 to September 2001 14 1 The average length of time (in months) is calculated from date application is lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the month in which the decisions were made. 2 Figures are estimates based on cases for which information is recorded. 3 Based on data from A-CID (Asylum Cases Information Database). 4 Excluding dependants. 5 Provisional figures. We do not routinely publish processing times for individual types of general and settlement applications. We aim to decide all straightforward applications within three weeks, although at present it is taking up to eight weeks. This is due to the exceptionally high number of applications received in 2001, especially in recent months, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance. We are working to reduce this to three weeks as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target waiting times for immigration applications are used in respect of(a) work permit holders, (b) people with UK ancestry, (c) EEA nationals and their spouses, (d) fiancés and fiance és, (e) spouses and (f) asylum seekers; what proportion of cases have met the waiting time targets in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [30997]
§ Angela EagleWe aim to decide 70 per cent. of all new general and settlement application within three weeks, and met this for the first half of 2001. We do not generally prioritise specific categories of application other than for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals where, under European Community (EC) legislation, we have to deal with any application for a residence permit within six months. During 2001 such cases were on average dealt within three-four months. Regrettably at present it is taking up to eight weeks to decide new straightforward applications due to the exceptionally high number of new applications received during 2001, especially in recent months; and process changes that are being introduced to improve our longer term performance. We are working to reduce this timescale to three weeks or less as soon as possible.
The asylum decision target for 2001–02 is to make 60 per cent. of initial decisions in new substantive cases within two months of the date of application. We intend to publish provisional figures indicating progress over the first half of the year with the quarterly asylum statistics bulletin on 28 February 2002.