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Asylum: Somalia

Answer

[holding answer 2 July 2008]: The latest available information requested is shown in the following tables. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. Removals do not necessarily relate to refused applications decided in the same period. Destination data for persons removed from the UK have only been collated since 2004, so this information is not available for earlier years. Removal figures only relate to those removed to Somalia and not to other destinations. Leave to enter the UK data is not yet available for 2007.Information on immigration control is published annually and asylum information is published annually and quarterly. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:"http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html."

Total Somalia nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom, 2002 to 2006¹
	Number of journeys
2002	10,200
2003	7,460
2004	5,330
2005	5,610
2006	3,540
¹ Provisional figures. Rounded to three significant figures.

Asylum applications¹ received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions² on applications, 2003 to 2007, nationals of Somalia. Principal applicants
	Applications
	Total	Port	In country
2003	5,090	660	4,430
2004	2,585	305	2,280
2005	1,760	250	1,510
2006³	1,845	245	1,600
2007³	1,620	265	1,350

	Decisions
	Total decisions	Grants of asylum	Grants of ELR4	Grants of HP4	Grants of DL4	Total refusals	Certified refusals	Other refusals	3rd ctry refusals5	Non-compliance refusals6
2003	6,050	1,665	160	5	390	3,835	140	3,140	90	465
2004	3,275	455	n/a	10	455	2,355	7—	1,930	235	190
2005	1,850	660	n/a	5	190	1,000	0	830	100	70
2006³	1,725	655	n/a	5	160	905	7—	695	160	50
2007³	1,615	795	n/a	5	105	710	5	595	80	35
¹ Figures rounded to nearest 5.
² Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
³ Provisional figures.
4 Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003.
5 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
6 Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview.
7 1 or 2.
Note:
n/a = not applicable.
Source:
Immigration Research and Statistics

Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns¹, ² of Somali asylum applicants, excluding dependants removed to Somalia, 2004 to 2007³
Number of removals
	Somali asylum applicants removed to Somalia
2004	25
2005	15
20064	40
20074	35
¹ Includes persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration.
² Removals since 2005 include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.
³ Persons who had sought asylum at some stage.
4 Provisional figures.
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

214618; 478 c1238-40W

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Asylum Somalia

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk