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28/08/2003
Blunkett hails figures showing asylum applications halved
The number of people applying for asylum in the UK has halved, removals are up 20% and the number of claims awaiting an initial decision has fallen to the lowest in a decade, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced today.
The government claims that the new figures "clearly demonstrate" that action taken by the moving of border controls to France and Belgium and investment in new technology is "succeeding in tackling both illegal immigration and abuse of the asylum system".
The number of asylum applicants fell to 3,610 in June 2003, and the government anticipates meeting its goal to reduce by half the 8,770 applications in October 2002. Quarterly figures for April to June this year are down by a third compared with the previous three months and are less than half the number in the last quarter of 2002.
There was an increase of 20% in the number of principal asylum applicants removed in the second quarter of 2003.
Mr Blunkett said: "These figures show that the tough measures the government has put in place to prevent illegal immigration and tackle abuse of the asylum system are working. We now have half as many claims as we did nearly a year ago. The notion that nothing can be done and government action is failing is clearly proven to be wrong by today's figures.
"The changing situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka has also played a part and this is reflected elsewhere in Europe. But claims have fallen more than twice as much in the UK than elsewhere in Europe because of our tough measures."
Asylum Statistics 2002, also published today, shows that the number of asylum applications in 2002 was slightly lower than provisional figures indicated, with 84,130 applications compared with 85, 865 and 103,080 including dependants, provisionally estimated at 110,700. It estimates that 42% of applications in 2002 resulted in grants of asylum (10%), exceptional leave to remain (23%), or in allowed appeals (10%). Exceptional leave to remain has now been replaced by more narrowly drawn categories which resulted in a grant rate of seven per cent in the second quarter of 2003.
(gmcg)
The government claims that the new figures "clearly demonstrate" that action taken by the moving of border controls to France and Belgium and investment in new technology is "succeeding in tackling both illegal immigration and abuse of the asylum system".
The number of asylum applicants fell to 3,610 in June 2003, and the government anticipates meeting its goal to reduce by half the 8,770 applications in October 2002. Quarterly figures for April to June this year are down by a third compared with the previous three months and are less than half the number in the last quarter of 2002.
There was an increase of 20% in the number of principal asylum applicants removed in the second quarter of 2003.
Mr Blunkett said: "These figures show that the tough measures the government has put in place to prevent illegal immigration and tackle abuse of the asylum system are working. We now have half as many claims as we did nearly a year ago. The notion that nothing can be done and government action is failing is clearly proven to be wrong by today's figures.
"The changing situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka has also played a part and this is reflected elsewhere in Europe. But claims have fallen more than twice as much in the UK than elsewhere in Europe because of our tough measures."
Asylum Statistics 2002, also published today, shows that the number of asylum applications in 2002 was slightly lower than provisional figures indicated, with 84,130 applications compared with 85, 865 and 103,080 including dependants, provisionally estimated at 110,700. It estimates that 42% of applications in 2002 resulted in grants of asylum (10%), exceptional leave to remain (23%), or in allowed appeals (10%). Exceptional leave to remain has now been replaced by more narrowly drawn categories which resulted in a grant rate of seven per cent in the second quarter of 2003.
(gmcg)
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25 May 2004
Asylum applications fall by a fifth: government figures
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Asylum applications fall by a fifth: government figures
The number of asylum applications has fallen by a fifth in the past quarter, according to statistics published today. The Home Office published its latest quarterly asylum statistics which found that asylum applications has nose-dived by more than 60% since October 2002.
17 May 2005
Asylum applications fall by 17%
Asylum applications dropped by 17% over the first three months of 2005, according to the latest figures from the Home Office. The Home Office’s quarterly statistics also showed that monthly applications are now at their lowest level since March 1997.
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Asylum applications dropped by 17% over the first three months of 2005, according to the latest figures from the Home Office. The Home Office’s quarterly statistics also showed that monthly applications are now at their lowest level since March 1997.
24 August 2004
Home Office hails fall in asylum applications
The number of asylum applications fell by 11% between April and June this year, and is now at its lowest level since the same three months in 1997, according to government figures published today.
Home Office hails fall in asylum applications
The number of asylum applications fell by 11% between April and June this year, and is now at its lowest level since the same three months in 1997, according to government figures published today.
16 November 2004
Asylum applications rise 9% over last quarter
Asylum applications rose by 9% last quarter, but stand around a third lower than this time last year, according to statistics published today. The statistics for July to September of 2004 found that asylum applications rose by 685, compared to the previous three months.
Asylum applications rise 9% over last quarter
Asylum applications rose by 9% last quarter, but stand around a third lower than this time last year, according to statistics published today. The statistics for July to September of 2004 found that asylum applications rose by 685, compared to the previous three months.
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