Asylum Seekers (Hansard, 26 November 2002)

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers purportedly from Afghanistan and granted permanent settlement in the last 12 months have subsequently been found to have originated in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement] [82548]

§ Beverley Hughes
I regret that information is not available on the number of asylum applicants claiming to be from Afghanistan who have been granted asylum (and therefore settlement), and are subsequently found to have originated from Pakistan. The information could only be obtained by examination of individual case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
Asylum applicants are subject to screening processes designed to test the accuracy of the information that they supply as the basis of their claim, including their origin.
Where a person has obtained leave to enter by deception, they are an illegal entrant and liable to removal under the powers contained in the 1971 Immigration Act. Where someone has obtained leave to remain by deception, they are liable to removal under section 10 (1) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

§ Mr. Malins
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to remove Afghan asylum seekers who have failed to gain asylum. [82081]

§ Beverley Hughes
Under the Tripartite Agreement on voluntary return to Afghanistan signed by the Government, the Transitional State of Afghanistan and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on 12 October 2002, it was agreed that those found not to be in need of international protection, following proper consideration of their asylum claim would be offered a two month window to choose voluntarily to return to Afghanistan. If they choose not to return voluntarily they will be subject to removal to Afghanistan at a later date.

§ Mr. Malins
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are awaiting an initial decision after more than(a) six and(b) 12 months at the latest date for which figures are available. [82088]

§ Beverley Hughes
As at the end of June 2002 the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision for more than six months is estimated to be 19,600, of which 15,800 cases were outstanding after more than 12 months. This includes cases that are currently under consideration and compares with 34,000 and 20,400 such applications as at the end of June 2001.

§ Mr. Malins
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose cases are outstanding or whose appeals have failed, and who are in detention or prison, are pregnant women. [82093]
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§ Beverley Hughes
Pregnant women are not normally detained under the Immigration Acts unless there is a clear prospect of early removal from the United Kingdom and medical advice suggests no question of confinement prior to this. In addition, women in the early stages of pregnancy may be detained briefly at Oakington Reception Centre as part of the fast-track asylum process.
The latest available information on persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers relates to 29 June 2002. As at that date, there were less than five women in detention who were known to be pregnant, all of whom were asylum seekers at Oakington Reception Centre.

§ Mr. Malins
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose cases are outstanding are(a) detained and(b) detained in prison; and what proportion of each category has been charged with or convicted of a crime. [82094]

§ Beverley Hughes
The latest available information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers is for 29 June 2002 and is contained in the table.

Number as at 29 June 2002¹

Asylum seekers²detained 1,440

Of whom, detained in prison establishments 105

¹Figures are rounded to nearest 5.

²Persons recorded as having sought asylum at some stage.

I regret that information on those detained under Immigration Act powers that have been charged with or convicted of a crime is not available. Information on whether a case is outstanding would be available only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
The next quarterly information on detainees will be published in "Asylum Statistics: 3rd quarter 2002" on 29 November 2002 on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html

	Number as at 29 June 2002¹
Asylum seekers²detained	1,440
Of whom, detained in prison establishments	105
¹Figures are rounded to nearest 5.
²Persons recorded as having sought asylum at some stage.