§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have applied for asylum in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; [121158]
(2) what the average length of time is for the processing of applications for asylum made in Northern Ireland. [121159]
§ Beverley HughesInformation on asylum applications in Northern Ireland is unavailable. Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port of application. Similarly information on the average length of time of initial decisions is also unavailable. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 8 April 2003,Official Report, column 201W, on asylum seekers, if he will list the figures given in that answer in respect of the financial year 2002–03; and what estimate he has made of the amounts in 2003–04. [120358]
§ Beverley HughesProvisional figures for 2002–03 are reproduced in the table. Figures for this financial year 2003–04 are not yet available.
£ million 2002–03 Local Authorities 99 Private sector (including non-profit making organisations) 241 Total 340 Note:
All figures are provisional and rounded to nearest £ million
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who entered the UK on a temporary work visa in each of the last three years subsequently claimed asylum. [120915]
§ Beverley HughesIt is not possible to say precisely how many people who entered the UK on a temporary work permit and then subsequently applied for asylum. However the numbers are likely to be small. The nationalities of most people granted work permits are generally different from the nationalities of asylum seekers. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.