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20 Jan 2003 : Column 182W—continued

Immigration

Mr. Andrew Turner: To 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]

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Beverley Hughes: The 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

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initial decisions are independent of applications data, and do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.

Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions^(29),(30)Number of principal applicants

		Initial decisions(31),(32)
			Cases considered under normal procedures(33)				Backlog clearance excercise(34)
Quarter	Total applications(35)	Total	Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum(32)	Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave	Refusals	Granted exceptional leave under backlog criteria(36)	Refused on non-compliance grounds under backlog criteria(37)
1997 Q4	8,455	8,380	1 535	720	6,125	—	—
1998 Q1	8,710	9,170	1,485	1,045	6,640	—	—
1998 Q2	9,820	7,555	1,345	880	5,325	—	—
1998 Q3	13,090	8,015	1,420	1,270	5,320	—	—
1998 Q4	14,400	6,835	1,095	715	5,030	—	—
1999 Q1	13,945	4,925	200	580	2,290	1,845	10
1999 Q2	16,405	1.3,510	6,480	910	2,670	3,330	120
1999 Q3	20,910	7,800	620	365	2,510	3,560	745
1999 Q4	19,895	7,485	515	610	3,550	2,410	400
2000 Q1	18,900	23,245	995	2,070	14,985	4,965	225
2000 Q2	20,125	31,420	5,375	5,495	16,225	3,690	635
2000 Q3	20,435	25,750	1,725	2,285	19,595	1,675	470
2000 Q4	20,855	28,795	2,275	1,640	24,875	—	—
2001 Q1	18,905	46.600	3,940	6,645	36,015	—	—
2001 Q2	15,895	27,845	2,760	4,540	20,550	—	—
2001 Q3	18,860	23,095	2,235	4,140	16,720	—	—
2001 Q4	17,705	21,475	2,245	4,525	14,705	—	—
2002 Q1	19,520	23,105	2,085	6,060	14,965	—	—
2002 Q2	20,400	19,625	1,860	5,205	12,560	—	—
2002 Q3	22,560	20,415	2,080	4,540	13,795	—	—

⁽²⁹⁾ Figures rounded to the nearest five.

⁽³⁰⁾ Data for 2001 and 2002 are provisional.

⁽³¹⁾ Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

⁽³²⁾ Based 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.

⁽³³⁾ Cases considered under normal procedures after Q3 2000 may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.

⁽³⁴⁾ Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog.

⁽³⁵⁾ May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between Q1 1999 and Q1 2000.

⁽³⁶⁾ Includes cases where asylum or exceptional leave has been granted under the backlog criteria.

⁽³⁷⁾ Includes 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.

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/immigration1.html.

Mr. Andrew Turner: To 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 Hughes: The 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.

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These 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 Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers came from each country in the last 12 months. [91250]

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Beverley Hughes : I 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.

Applications⁽³⁸⁾ 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	1,495	1,345	2,105	6,725
Others	800	865	910	1,235	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

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Information 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/immigration1.html.

Mr. Gerrard: To 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 Hughes: I 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. Malins: To 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 Hughes: The 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.

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