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Documents (Croydon)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept regarding the whereabouts of documents sent to the Home Office facility in Croydon. [49683]
Angela Eagle: All packages received by recorded or special delivery are recorded on a database on the date of receipt. There is an audit trail of the subsequent movement of those packages. All applications and their movements are recorded on a case information database. Details of the passports submitted by applicants are recorded in their individual case records on that database. These systems are supported by local manual records recording the movement of passports and any other valuable documents.
Leave to Remain Applications
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring systems are used to track applications by non-UK citizens to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage. [49682]
Angela Eagle: All new applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom, including those lodged on the basis of marriage, are recorded on a case information database, together with any subsequent actions that may take place concerning that application.
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Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was to process an application for a non-UK citizen to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage over the last 12 months. [49684]
Angela Eagle: I regret that there are no published data on decision times for individual types of spouse applications. Our aim is to decide 65 per cent of all straightforward applications on initial consideration within three weeks. Due to the exceptionally high number of applications received over the past year, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance, it is at present taking up to six weeks to decide an application on initial consideration. We are working to reduce this to three weeks or less as soon as possible. Information on expected processing times for straightforward cases is provided to applicants on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate web site at http://194.203.40.90/default.asp?PageId=113.
Passports (Return)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was for a passport to be returned to United Kingdom citizens from the Home Office facility in Croydon over the last 12 months. [49685]
Angela Eagle: This information is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. However, United Kingdom passports are received only in those cases where the sponsor is a British citizen and where a passport is required as evidence of that status. They are normally returned with any other documents submitted by the applicant when an application is decided. Over the last 12 months, the majority of applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom were decided within three weeks, but over recent months this has been nearer to six weeks due to high levels of intake.
Asylum Seekers (Throckmorton Airfield)
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the additional funding required for (a) policing and (b) fire services if an asylum seekers centre were to be established at Throckmorton airfield; [48727]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the additional funding required for (a) transport and (b) housing if an asylum seekers centre were to be established at Throckmorton airfield. [48725]
Angela Eagle: In making final decisions on preferred sites, we will take all the relevant factors into account including those to which the hon Member refers. These assessments have not yet been made.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum cases have been dealt with over the last three years; how many cases have succeeded after the appeal process; how many cases have been refused; how many of those refused did not seek
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appeal; how many of those denied asylum have been removed from the UK; how many left voluntarily; how many are awaiting removal; and if he will make a statement. [47390]
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Angela Eagle: Information for 1999 to 2001 on applications for asylum, and initial decisions made, is shown in Table 1. However these initial decisions do not all relate to applications made between 1999 and 2001.
| Applications received(20) | Initial Decisions(21) | Cases considered under normal procedures(22)Granted asylum Granted ELR Refused | Backlog clearance exercise(23)Granted asylum or ELR under backlog criteria Refused under backlog criteria(24) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 71,160 | 33,720 | 7,815 | 2,465 | 11,025 | 11,140 | 1,275 |
| 2000p | 80,315 | 109,205 | 10,375 | 11,495 | 75,680 | 10,325 | 1,335 |
| 2001p | 71,700 | 118,195 | 10,960 | 19,510 | 87,725 | — | — |
| Totalp | 223,170 | 261,125 | 29,150 | 33,470 | 174,430 | 21,470 | 2,605 |
(18) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2.
(19) Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period.
(20) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January and March 2000.
(21) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
(22) Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
(23) Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog.
(24) Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
p Figures for 2000 and 2001 are provisional and subject to change.
Information on the numbers of appeals allowed and dismissed at the adjudicator stage is given in Table 2.
| Allowed | Dismissed | Withdrawn | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,280 | 11,135 | 3,050 | 19,460 |
| 2000p | 3,340 | 15,580 | 475 | 19,395 |
| 2001p | 8,155 | 34,440 | 825 | 43,415 |
| Totalp | 16,770 | 61,155 | 4,350 | 82,275 |
(25)Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
pFigures for 2000 and 2001 are provisional and subject to change.
Information on the numbers of further appeals to the Tribunal which were allowed, dismissed and withdrawn, for which data are available, is given in Table 3.
| Appellant(30) | Secretary of State(30) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowed | Dismissed | Withdrawn | Allowed | Dismissed | Withdrawn | Total Determined(31) | |
| 1999 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2000p | 560 | 730 | 110 | 130 | 115 | 25 | 2,635 |
| 2001p | 1,305 | 830 | 100 | 270 | 100 | 15 | 3,190 |
| Totalp | 1,865 | 1,560 | 210 | 400 | 210 | 45 | 5,825 |
(28) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(29) Appeals to the Tribunal can be brought be the appellant or the Secretary of State against a decision of an adjudicator. The figures do not distinguish and will include appeals brought by appellants and the Secretary of State.
(30) Total of these figures will not equal total determined in final column as these figures relate to cases for which information is known by the Home Office.
(31) Based on data supplied by the Lord Chancellor's Department.
p Figures for 2000 and 2001 are provisional and subject to change.
Information on the numbers of Judicial Reviews which were allowed, dismissed and withdrawn, for which data are available, is given in Table 4.
| Allowed | Dismissed | Withdrawn | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2000p | 365 | 300 | 95 | 755 |
| 2001p | 260 | 60 | 65 | 390 |
| Totalp | 625 | 360 | 160 | 1,145 |
(32) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(33) Figures refer to substantive judicial reviews (exclude permission applications). The figures also exclude asylum support judicial reviews.
p Figures for 2000 and 2001 are provisional and subject to change.
Information on the numbers refused at the initial decision stage who did not appeal is not available for the last three years and could only be obtained by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. However analysis of electronic data based on cases where data are available, indicated that around 50–60 per cent of refusals result in an appeal.
It is not possible to determine how many persons, denied asylum in this period, have been removed or await removal. The total number of asylum seekers (excluding dependants) removed in the last three years is given in Table 5. These figures include persons applying for asylum prior to 1999, and those departing voluntarily. The table identifies persons leaving voluntarily under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes. Others departing voluntarily after enforcement action has been initiated are included within the total numbers removed but cannot be separately identified. It is also not possible to say how many persons depart without informing the Immigration Service.
Table 5: Asylum applicants removed from the United Kingdom, 1999–2001
Number of principal applicants
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| Principal asylum applicants removed(34),(35) | Of which, Assisted Voluntary Returns(36) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 7,660 | 50 |
| 2000p | 8,980 | 550 |
| 2001p(37) | 9,285 | 995 |
| Totalp,(37) | 25,925 | 1,595 |
(34) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(35) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
(36) Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes.
(37) Figures exclude 1,055 dependants of asylum seekers who were removed in the period April to December 2001. Data on dependants removed have only been collected since April 2001.
p Figures for 2000 and 2001 are provisional and subject to change.
Information on initial decisions, asylum appeals and removals is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to March 2002, and will be available from 31 May 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether residents of accommodation centres for asylum seekers will be able to go to and fro as they wish. [48939]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 15 April 2002]: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Mr. Barrett) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 98W.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum his Department will transfer from its budget to the Ministry of Defence in respect of land vacated by the Ministry of Defence logistics at Bicester if such land is used by his Department as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers; and by whom, and how, such sums have been calculated. [48949]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 15 April 2002]: Ministry of Defence and Home Office officials are in contact on this issue, although no agreement has as yet been reached.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 February to the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Mr. Luff), Official Report, column 57W, on asylum accommodation centres, what further sites his Department has identified
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through procurement competition as possible sites for accommodation centres for asylum seekers; and if he will specify the sites and the criteria used in their selection. [48952]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 15 April 2002]: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1134W.
No further sites have as yet been identified.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to land vacated by Ministry of Defence Logistics at Bicester, what consultations (a) have taken and (b) will take place with members of the local community; and how consultation has been or will be carried out in respect of the proposal to establish an accommodation centre for asylum seekers on this land. [48943]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 15 April 2002]: Officials are discussing with relevant planning authorities the best way of consulting the public and other interested parties in the areas identified as having potential accommodation centre sites.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the establishment of accommodation centres for asylum seekers, if there will be compensation payable to householders living nearby whose property may be reduced in value as a consequence of the setting up of such accommodation centres. [48935]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 15 April 2002]: We do not anticipate grounds for compensation of this nature.
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