Summary
Introduction
Over recent years the number of asylum applications
made in the United Kingdom has fluctuated significantly, with
a peak of 84,130 applications in 2002 (Figure 1).
Since 2002, the number of applications has fallen steadily with
49,370 applying for asylum in 2003 and further reductions since.
The Home Office has had difficulty matching its handling capacity
to the volume of new applications, resulting in large backlogs.
At its peak in 1999, the number of applications outstanding in
the system stood at 129,000. By December 2003, the number of applications
outstanding stood at 63,700, comprising 24,500 undecided applications,
12,000 appeals lodged with the Directorate but not yet lodged
with the Appellate Authority and 27,200 in the appeal system.Figure
1: Asylum applications in the United Kingdom, 1994-2003
Asylum applications in 2003 fell significantly
below the high levels of 1999-2002
Source: National Audit Office analysis of Home
Office asylum statistics
The Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate's
objective is to process applications efficiently, focusing the
asylum system on those genuinely fleeing persecution by taking
speedy, high quality decisions. They are also responsible for
supporting applicants during the process. Speedy initial decisions,
and decisions on any subsequent appeals, reduce the cost of the
asylum process, mainly through reductions in support and accommodation
costs, and allow the Directorate to take action to remove those
applicants who fail to gain asylum or short-term protection.
Applicants may be granted asylum which allows them
to "settle" in the United Kingdom with no restrictions
on the time they are permitted to stay, or be granted short-term
protection for a limited period, or have their application refused.
Applicants who are refused asylum have a right to appeal against
the Directorate's decision. Appeals are heard by independent adjudicators
who are members of the judiciary. The adjudicators are supported
by the Immigration Appellate Authority which is part of the Tribunals
Group within the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
The Directorate spent £1.86 billion on its operations
in 2002-03, including £1.07 billion in supporting asylum
applicants. In the same year, the Immigration Appellate Authority
spent £101 million on dealing with appeals from immigration
and asylum cases.
This Committee last reported on the work of the Immigration
and Nationality Directorate in 2000.[1]
In its Report the Committee found that continuing backlogs within
the Directorate had caused enormous personal distress to applicants.
The problems had been exacerbated by inadequate contingency planning
when the introduction of new software did not work as expected.
On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor
General,[2] we examined
the Home Office, and the Department for Constitutional Affairs
on their effectiveness in tackling the influx of asylum applications;
and whether there was scope to improve the timeliness and quality
of decision making.
1 7th Report from the Committee of Public
Accounts, Home Office: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's
Casework Programme (HC 130, Session 1999-2000) Back
2
C&AG's Report, Improving the speed and quality of asylum
decisions (HC 535, Session 2003-04) Back
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