Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 December 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 1999. It was answered by Barbara Roche (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 1999 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will estimate how many people claiming political asylum arrived in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many people were (a) accepted and (b) rejected for political asylum in each of the last five years for which figures are available. - Inc table and ref to Home Office internet site at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.

Answer: Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate how many people claiming political asylum arrived in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [102210] (2) how many people were (a) accepted and (b) rejected for political asylum in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [102209] Mrs. Roche: Information on persons applying for asylum on or after entry to the United Kingdom is given in the table. Information on the number of asylum applications and decisions received in 1999 can be found on the Home Office internet site at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm. Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions, 1994 to 1998 {1} _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 {2} Applications 32,830 43,965 29,640 32,500 46,015 Total decisions 20,990 27,005 38,960 36,045 31,570 Recognised as a refugee and 825 1,295 2,240 3,985 5,345 granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee 3,660 4,410 5,055 3,115 3,910 but granted exceptional leave Refused asylum and 16,500 21,300 31,670 28,945 22,315 exceptional leave _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Figures rounded to the nearest five {2} Provisional

Secondary information