ASYLUM APPLICATIONS HALVED - HOME SECRETARY

The number of people applying for asylum in the UK has halved, removals are up 20 per cent and the number of claims awaiting an initial decision has fallen to the lowest in a decade, Home Secretary, David Blunkett, announced today.

The new figures clearly demonstrate that action taken by the Government such as moving 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, putting the Government on track to deliver on its promise 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 per cent in the number of principal asylum applicants removed in the second quarter of 2003. This is on top of a record 65,460 immigration offenders removed in 2002. The Home Office also published today the final Asylum Statistics 2002, Control of Immigration Statistics 2002 and Persons Granted British Citizenship 2002.

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 historic step of moving UK border controls to France has already stopped 4,000 people reaching our shores illegally during the first half of this year. The second list of seven countries added to the safe country list has halved the number of applications from those counties. Removals have increased by 20 per cent and the number of claims awaiting an initial decision is the lowest in a decade thanks to investment in staff and new technology.

“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.

“All this adds up to significant progress in tightening the UK's borders and getting to grips with abuse of the asylum system and I pay tribute to the hard work of all those involved. Those who now claim that this is an easy target said exactly the opposite when the numbers were high. The basis on which the figures are compiled and validated has not changed. However, we must not underestimate the challenge we face in sustaining the progress made.

“The criminal gangs behind the trade in illegal immigration are constantly seeking new ways to exploit the system. So far we have been one step ahead by introducing a new resettlement scheme enabling genuine refugees reach the UK without playing into the hands of criminal gangs. I will also be bringing forward new legislation at the earliest opportunity to deal with those who destroy their documents and reduce the opportunity to string out the appeals process.

“Now that we are making significant progress in dealing with the problems of illegal immigration and abuse of the asylum system we must continue to build public confidence and trust so that we can welcome the legal migrants the UK needs to sustain economic growth and give a safe haven to those who need our protection.”

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 per cent of applications in 2002 resulted in grants of asylum (10 per cent), exceptional leave to remain (23 per cent), or in allowed appeals (10 per cent). 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.

The other key findings of the quarterly asylum statistics April to June 2003 are:

· There were 10,585 applications (12,510 including dependants) for asylum in the 2^nd quarter of 2003 - a third less than from January to March and half the number for October to December 2002.

· The monthly figures were 3,695 in April, 3,280 in May and 3,610 in June. This trend puts the Government on course to meet its target to halve the number of applications in the month of September 2003 compared with October last year.

· Initial decisions were 29 per cent lower in the second quarter of 2003 than the first quarter as applications fell, but remained higher than the number of applications.

· The number of cases awaiting an initial decision fell for the second quarter in a row to 31,800 (8,900 of these were work in progress), the lowest level in a decade.

· Removals of principal applicants increased by 20% to 3,145 (including dependants there was an increase of seven per cent to 4,280).

· Applications from the second wave of countries to be added to the safe list halved from 1,435 in quarter one to 715 in this quarter.

· The target to make 65 per cent of initial decisions within two months was exceeded - 74 per cent were made in this timeframe in 2002/03.

The Government introduced wide ranging, radical reforms in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 to tackle abuse of the asylum system, including:

· a list of designated safe countries, from which refused applicants can be removed quickly with no right of appeal in the UK which has radically reduced claims from the first 17 countries on the list;

· restricting access to benefits for those who do not claim as soon as reasonably practicable;

· a clampdown on benefit shopping in the EU;

· increased penalties for facilitating illegal entry and enhanced powers to tackle illegal working; and

· simplifying the appeals process.

The Government has also taken the following steps to tackle abuse of the asylum system:

· Moving UK borders to France, improving security around the Channel Tunnel, closing Sangatte and extending high-tech freight screening to French and Belgian ports;

· a new shared EU database of fingerprints so that we know if someone has already claimed asylum in another EU country;

· ID cards for asylum seekers with a secure fingerprint chip; and

· introducing reporting restrictions for asylum seekers at 11 centres around the country to keep track of people as they go through the system.

Control of Immigration Statistics 2002 shows that the UK continues to be a major hub for international travel, trade and tourism with almost 90 million people passing through the UK last year. There were also increases in the number of people entering the UK on work permits and as students as the Government seeks to attract talent and innovation to the UK as a vital part of our buoyant economy.

Persons Granted British Citizenship UK 2002 shows that more people who chose to live permanently in the UK are becoming British citizens with applications up six per cent last year and grants up 33 per cent on 2001. Fifty six per cent of foreign-born people who have been in the UK for six years or more are British citizens. The Government is encouraging this trend by introducing new citizenship ceremonies to recognise its significance with requirements for new citizens to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of English and life in the UK.

Mr Blunkett added:

“Legal, managed migration is vital for the continued growth and success of the UK's economy. The comprehensive migration policy I first set out in the White Paper eighteen months ago is helping to fill vital labour shortages and attract the top talent to the UK. I am also taking steps to build social cohesion within our diverse society with plans to enhance the significance of becoming a British citizen which I will announce shortly.”

Department for Constitutional Affairs Minister, David Lammy, said:

"The number of appeals determined in this quarter was 25 per cent higher than for the same period last year. I am pleased that the Immigration Appellate Authority has managed to process so many appeals in such a timely and efficient manner. It is important that appellants find out the result of their appeals as swiftly as possible."

Notes for editors:

1.Asylum Statistics, Quarter 2 2003; Asylum Statistics 2002; Control of Immigration Statistics 2002; and Persons Granted British Citizenship, 2002 are all published on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

2.The Government aims to reduce the number of asylum applications by half by September 2003 compared with a baseline of October 2002. The final number of asylum applications in October 2002 is 8,770. This was provisionally 8,900.

3.The number of work permits issued in each quarter from Quarter 2 2002 was:

April to June 34,353;

July to September 37,402;

October to December 31,961

2003:

January to March 33,772; and

April to June 34,558