§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were received for asylum in each quarter of the last five years; how many failed; and how many of those who failed(a) have left or been removed, (b) have been granted leave to remain, (c) remain in the legal process and (d) have disappeared. [91247]
183W
§ Beverley HughesThe table shows the number of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom lodged between Quarter 4 1997 and Quarter 3 2002, and initial decisions made in the same periods. However, data on
Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions1,2 Number of principal applicants Initial decisions3,4 Cases considered under normal procedures5 Backlog clearance exercise6 Quarter Total applications7 Total Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum4 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Refusals Granted exceptional leave under backlog criteria8 Refused on non-compliance grounds under backlog criteria9 1997 Q4 8455 8380 1 535 720 6125 - - 1998 Q1 8710 9170 1485 1045 6640 - - 1998 Q2 9820 7555 1345 880 5325 - - 1998 Q3 13090 8015 1420 1270 5320 - - 1998 Q4 14400 6835 1095 715 5030 - - 1999 Q1 13945 4925 200 580 2290 1845 10 1999 Q2 16405 1.3,510 6480 910 2670 3330 120 1999 Q3 20910 7800 620 365 2510 3560 745 1999 Q4 19895 7485 515 610 3550 2410 400 2000 Q1 18900 23245 995 2070 14985 4965 225 2000 Q2 20125 31420 5375 5495 16225 3690 635 2000 Q3 20435 25750 1725 2285 19595 1675 470 2000 Q4 20855 28795 2275 1640 24875 - - 2001 Q 1 18905 46.6 3940 6645 36015 - - 2001 Q2 15895 27845 2760 4540 20550 - - 2001 Q3 18860 23095 2235 4140 16720 - - 2001 Q4 17705 21475 2245 4525 14705 - - 2002 Q1 19520 23105 2085 6060 14965 - - 2002 Q2 20400 19625 1860 5205 12560 - - 2002 Q3 22560 20415 2080 4540 13795 - - 1Figures rounded to the nearest five. 2Data for 2001 and 2002 are provisional. 3Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 4Based on decisions implemented for in-country cases and on decisions made for port cases until April 2000. The Asylum Casework Information Database (A-CID) has been the source of data on decisions since May 2000. 5Cases considered under normal procedures after Q3 2000 may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria. 6Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog. 7May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between QI 1999 and Q1 2000. 8Includes cases where asylum or exceptional leave has been granted under the backlog criteria. 9Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds. It is not possible to determine the number of these applications which remain outstanding as this information is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. At the end of September 2002, there were a total of 37,200 asylum cases awaiting an initial decision, including work in progress. This figure relates to the number of cases ie the number of principal applicants. On the same date, there were an estimated 47,000 appeals lodged with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) that had not yet been sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority. This figure includes non-asylum appeals.
Of those persons who have been refused over this period, it is not possible to determine how many have subsequently been removed as this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. Asylum applicants do not always inform the Immigration Service prior to leaving the United Kingdom, so information is not available on how many refused persons have left the country or have disappeared.
184Winitial decisions are independent of applications data, and do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
Information on asylum applications, initial decisions, appeals and removals is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period October to December 2002 and will be available from 28 February 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were admitted in return for the closure of the Sangatte Red Cross camp and under what power; and under what power were they issued with work permits. [91249]
§ Beverley HughesThe Red Cross centre at Sangatte was emptied by 14 December 2002. by 14 December 2002, 1,018 individuals had been admitted to the UK. Four further individuals were brought to the UK having previously been in hospital. One further individual is still currently in hospital and will be brought to the UK when discharged. This will bring the total number of individuals to be admitted to the UK from Sangatte to 1,023.
185WThese individuals have all been granted leave to enter pursuant to section 4(1) of the Immigration Act 1971. Their leave to enter does not restrict their employment and so they are free to seek and take employment.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers came from each country in the last 12 months. [91250]
186W
Applications1 for asylum,received in the UK excluding by nationality Quarter 4 2001 to Quarter 3 2002 Q4–2001 Q–2002 Q2–2002 Q3–2003 Total Europe Albania 250 265 335 330 1,180 Czech Republic 120 80 595 620 1,410 FRY 545 580 685 635 2,445 Poland 155 235 310 275 975 Romania 310 220 320 315 1,165 Russia 110 80 65 70 320 Turkey 810 650 730 700 2,885 Ukraine 100 90 80 90 360 Other former USSR 390 475 445 510 1,820 Other former Yugoslavia 210 125 120 85 540 Others 85 100 95 70 350 Total 3,080 2,890 3,780 3,695 13,450 America Colombia 130 140 110 80 460 Equador 75 85 75 75 305 Others 210 235 305 365 1,115 Total 415 460 485 520 1,880 Middle East Iran 680 600 525 725 2,535 Iraq 1,800 2,840 3,420 4,300 12,365 Others 230 225 240 295 990 Total 2,715 3,665 4,185 5,325 15,885 Africa Algeria 190 260 305 240 1,000 Angola 295 405 355 330 1,380 Democratic Republic of Congo 430 570 475 565 2,035 Ethiopia 140 105 165 220 635 Gambia 20 20 25 35 105 Ghana 45 45 60 90 245 Ivory Coast 55 45 35 35 170 Kenya 85 90 70 80 320 Nigeria 305 265 270 270 1,110 Rwanda 125 170 180 180 655 Sierra Leone 420 355 370 210 1,355 Somalia 1,360 1,295 1,455 2,095 6,205 Sudan 90 80 120 200 485 Tanzania 10 10 10 15 45 Uganda 165 185 165 150 665 Zimbabwe 780 1495 1345 2105 6,725 Others 800 865 910 1235 3,810 Total 5,315 6,260 6,315 8,050 25,945 Asia Afghanistan 2,225 2,350 2,130 1,555 8,255 Bangladesh 125 140 180 160 605 China 790 915 960 955 3,620 India 425 505 405 530 1,870 Pakistan 705 645 615 615 2,575 Sri Lanka 1,410 1,240 900 615 4,165 Other 465 410 375 490 1,740 Total 6,140 6,210 5,570 4,915 22,835 Other and unknown nationalities 40 35 60 50 190 Grand total 17,705 19,520 20,400 22,660 80,185
§ Beverley HughesI regret that reliable information on the entry routes of asylum seekers from their country of origin to the United Kingdom (UK), is not available. The table shows the nationality of applications for asylum in the UK, excluding dependants, received between October 2001 and September 2002.
187WInformation on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period October to December 2002 and will be available from 28 February 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at:
http://www.homeoffice.govuk/rds/immigrationl.html.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Canada, (b) Australia and (c) New Zealand have failed to leave the UK in each of the past five years (i) on the expiry of a limited leave to enter the UK and (ii) after having been granted temporary admission at a port of entry to the UK. [91340]
§ Beverley HughesI regret that information on the number of people who fail to leave the UK upon expiry of their limited leave to enter or temporary admission is not routinely available. However, I can confirm that very few nationals of these countries abscond having been given temporary admission. For each of these nationalities there were less than five individuals who absconded during the first six months of 2002.
Mr. MatinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2002,Official Report, column 988W, on immigration, when the evaluation was completed, and by whom; who was consulted; and when she expects to be in a position to write to the hon. Member for Woking. [91894]
§ Beverley HughesThe evaluation was completed by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Intelligence Section (INDIS) on 20 September 2002 and submitted to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) senior managers for consideration. Recommendations were put to Home Office Ministers on 23 December 2002 following a review by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Board.
The consultation process for the preparation of the evaluation report included INDIS, the Immigration National Enquiry Bureau (INEB) who were responsible for handling all incoming calls, and enforcement officers who assessed the allegations received for local action.
I have remitted the recommendations of the evaluation back to officials for further details on cost and application. I will write again to the hon. Member once these details have been considered.