HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc87-8W
Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum from Burmese people were(a) received and (b) refused in 2002–03. [164451]

Mr. Browne

The number of Burmese nationals (excluding dependants) claiming asylum and initial decisions on asylum applications for 2002–03 are shown in the table. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. 75 per cent. of initial decisions made in 2002–03 on applications from Burmese nationals were refusals.

Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions2 on applications, April 2002 to March 2003, nationals of Burma
Burma (Myanmar)—April 2002 to March 2003 Number
Applications
Total 85
Port 15
In country 70
Decisions
Total decisions 85
Grants of asylum 20
Grants of ELR *
Total refusals3 65
1Provisional figures rounded to nearest five, with * = one or two.
2Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
3May include some refusals under non compliance grounds.

Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Burmese failed asylum seekers were deported to Burma in the year 2002–03. [164452]

Mr. Browne

Estimates of the number of Burmese nationals who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed from the UK in the financial year 2002–03 are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing `voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, removals to a safe third country and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.

Removals and voluntary1 departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): April2002 to March 20032,3,4
April2002 to March 2003
Burma (Myanmar) 5
1Including persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them.
2May include removals to a safe third country.
3Data are estimated due to data quality issues on the IND databases.
4Provisional figures.
Note:
Data are rounded to nearest five.

Information on the destination of these removals and whether they were forcibly removed or departed voluntarily is not available, except by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

All asylum (and human rights) claims made by Burmese nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Should a claim be refused and am' appeal before the independent Immigration Appellate Authority be unsuccessful, it means that for that individual it is safe to return.

In making decisions about removing failed asylum seekers, the Home Office takes full account of up to date information from a wide range of sources about the situation in the country of origin. These sources include intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN), governmental sources (including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and human rights organisations (for example Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch).

If an individual asylum seeker establishes a need for international protection they would not be returned.