§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many induction centres for asylum seekers there are in the UK; and how many asylum seekers have been processed by induction centres since they opened. [147861]
§ Beverley HughesThere are currently two induction centres open in the UK: Dover Induction Centre which opened in January 2002 and Yorkshire and Humberside which opened in June 2003. These two induction centres have processed about 26,700 asylum applicants collectively.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many induction centres for asylum seekers the Government plans to open; when they will open; and where. [147862]
§ Beverley HughesThe Government plans to establish a network of induction centres in London and the regions during 2004. Negotiations with potential providers for further induction centres are ongoing so the exact locations and final number cannot be confirmed at this time. The final number will depend on the number of bedspaces each potential provider can deliver and capacity required will change to reflect changes in asylum intake. It is expected however that the network will consist of about eight induction centres.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers he expects will be processed by each induction centre; and what the expected cost is of each centre. [147863]
§ Beverley HughesWhen the national network of induction centres has been established it is expected that all asylum applicants will be processed through an induction centre, with the exception of detainees and those under Social Services care, for whom induction services will be tailored and delivered differently. Negotiations with potential providers are still ongoing and therefore information on the cost of each centre is not yet available. The number of asylum seekers processed by each centre depends on the number of bedspaces each centre can deliver and on asylum intake and dispersal rates.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum seekers reached the UK in 2003(a) as a result of illegal people-smuggling operations conducted by criminal gangs and (b) because they held false documentation. [148042]
§ Beverley HughesThe nature of illegal entry is such that it is impossible to quantify. Illegal entrants are detected in a wide range of circumstances and time frames, from discovery in the back of a lorry on, or shortly after, arrival, to discovery much later, when found working. Although many of those discovered will1266W claim asylum, no figures are kept centrally to differentiate between asylum seekers who arrive illegally, asylum seekers who arrive illegally as a result of criminal action, and illegal entrants generally.
The Government established the multi-agency Reflex strategy to tackle the criminality behind people smuggling, and will continue to support this strategy in tandem with increasingly effective border control measures, which saw a 52 per cent. reduction in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK in the 12 months from October 2002.
It is also not possible to quantify, except at disproportionate cost, the number of asylum seekers who reach the UK because they hold false documentation, although it is reasonable to conclude that many who do so arrive will claim asylum.
In the 12 months ending 30 September 2003, 8,446 false documents were detected at UK ports of entry.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has collated of links between the change in the number of asylum seekers and people traffickers. [148043]
§ Beverley HughesGovernment action led to a 52 per cent. reduction in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK in the 12 months from October 2002. Incidences of human trafficking to the UK remain low, although the vast majority of those entering the UK illegally do so with the assistance of people smugglers (or facilitators). Figures for the prosecutions of facilitators do not differentiate between asylum seekers who enter illegally, and other illegal entrants. There is no clear statistical trend in the number of facilitators prosecuted at the major ports of Dover and Heathrow.
§ Siobhain McDonaghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications the UK received from citizens of Sri Lanka in(a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003. [148420]
§ Beverley HughesThere were 6,395, 5,510 and 3,130 asylum applications (principal applicants) from nationals of Sri Lanka in 2000, 2001 and 2002 respectively and 630 asylum applications (principal applicants) from January to September 2003.
Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication, including provisional data for October to December 2003 and totals for 2003, will be available on the 24 February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
§ Siobhain McDonaghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications have been received from citizens of Sri Lanka since it was included in the list of designated countries on 17 July 2003; how many of these applications(a) have been accepted, (b) have been refused, (c) are still 1267W pending, (d) have led to non-suspensive appeals, (e) have resulted in successful non-suspensive appeals and (f) have resulted in judicial review. [148421]
§ Beverley HughesAsylum applications are published for annual, quarterly, and monthly periods. The following table shows the number of asylum applications (principal applicants) from nationals of Sri Lanka from January to September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available.
Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 2003 by month, nationals of Sri Lanka Applications January 120 February 80 March 100 April 70 May 95 June 75
Initial decisions on asylum applications1,2 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, nationals of Sri Lanka, 2003 by month Decisions Total decisions
Grants of asylum
Grants of exceptional leave
to remain
Grants of humanitarian
protection
Grants of discretionary
leave
Total refusals
3,4January 155 5 20 n/a n/a 130 February 180 * 20 n/a n/a 160 March 250 5 20 n/a n/a 225 April 185 * n/a — 10 175 May 140 — n/a — 5 135 June 155 5 n/a — 10 140 July 100 * n/a — 5 95 August 60 * n/a — 5 55 September 45 5 n/a — 5 40 Total to date 1,265 20 55 — 35 1,155 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest five, with '*' = 1 or 2. 2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 3 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country. 4 May include some refusals under non compliance grounds, n/a = not applicable
The following table provides information on the outcomes ofappeals at the IAA relating to Sri Lankan nationals, in January to September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available. Not all refusals result in
1268W
Outcome of Appeals1,2 determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Sri Lanka, 2003, by month Number of principal appellants Appeals determined by adjudicators2 Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn Total Total As percentage of Determined
Total As percentage of Determined
Total As percentage of Determined
January 625 55 9 560 89 10 2 February 535 45 8 475 89 15 3 March 600 65 11 525 87 10 2 April 545 80 14 455 83 15 3 May 505 85 17 405 80 20 4 June 480 75 16 395 82 10 2 July 505 70 14 420 83 15 3 August 490 50 10 435 88 10 2 September 410 55 14 350 85 5 1 Total to date 4,710 580 12 4,015 85 110 2 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest five (except percentages), with '*' = 1 or 2. Figures may not add up due to independent rounding. 2 Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
Application July 30 August 30 September 30 Total to date 630 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest five Information on how many of these applications have been accepted, refused, are still pending, have led to non-suspensive appeals or have resulted in judicial review could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
The following table provides information on the outcomes of initial decisions relating to Sri Lankan nationals, from January to September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available. Initial decisions made in any given month may relate to applications made in previous months.
appeals and appeal determinations made in any given month may relate to initial decisions made in previous months.
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§ Siobhain McDonaghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants who are citizens of Sri Lanka were given permission to stay in the UK in(a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; and how many applications were refused in each of these years. [148422]
Initial decisions on asylum applications1,2 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by year—nationals of Sri Lanka—principal applicants Decisions 2000 20013 20024 20034,5 Total decisions 9,050 10,350 4,285 1,265 Grants of asylum 900 1,440 340 20 Grants of exceptional leave to remain 285 540 275 55 Grants of humanitarian protection 6— 6— 6— — Grants of discretionary leave 6— 6— 6— 35 Total refusals7 6,875 8,370 3,670 1,155 Grants of exceptional leave to remain under backlog criteria8,9 895 6— 6— 6— Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria8,10 100 6— 6— 6— 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5. 2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 3 Revised figures 4 Provisional figures 5 January to September 6 Not applicable 7 May include some refusals under non compliance grounds. 8 Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog. 9 May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted. 10 May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds. The following table shows the available data, for outcomes of appeals relating to refused asylum applications (principal applicants) for nationals of Sri Lanka in 2000, 2001, 2002 and from January to September 2003. Allowed appeals may result in grants of asylum, grants of humanitarian protection or grants of discretionary leave, or in appeals to the IAT by the Secretary of State, and do not necessarily result in permanent settlement.
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Outcome of appeals1,2 determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants—nationals of Sri Lanka—2001 to September 2003 Number of principal appellants 2001 2002 Total to September
2003
Appeals determined by adjudicators Total 290 525 4,710 Allowed Total 105 145 580 As percentage of determined 36 28 12 Dismissed Total 180 370 4,015 As percentage of determined 62 70 85 Withdrawn Total 5 10 110 As percentage of determined 2 2 2 1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages). Figures may not add up due to independent rounding. 2 Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
§ Beverley HughesThe following table shows the available data, for outcomes of initial decisions relating to asylum applications (principal applicants) for nationals of Sri Lanka in 2000, 2001, 2002 and from January to September 2003. Grants of exceptional leave to remain and of discretionary leave may be followed by review of individuals' cases and do not necessarily result in permanent settlement.
Information on asylum applications and decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will be available on 24 February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were held in prisons in England and Wales owing to no final decision having been reached on their right to remain in the United Kingdom as political or religious asylum seekers on 1 January 2003. [148608]
§ Beverley HughesDetention under the Immigration Acts may normally be appropriate while a person's identity and basis of claim is established, where there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person will fail to comply with the terms of temporary admission or release, or to effect removal. In addition, individuals whose asylum claims appear to be capable of being decided quickly may be detained as part of a fast-track asylum process. The majority of those detained for these reasons are held in Immigration Service removal centres. In a small number of individual cases it is necessary for reasons of security and control to hold detained persons in prison accommodation. The immigration or asylum cases of such individuals may be at various stages. Information on case status is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
As at 27 September 2003 (the latest date for which information is available) there were 100 persons detained in prisons in England and Wales solely under the Immigration Act, who had claimed asylum at some stage.
1271WInformation on the number of asylum applicants detained solely under the Immigration Act is published quarterly on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data for those detained at the end of December 2003 will be published on 24 February.