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Asylum: Zimbabwe

Answer

[holding answer 2 July 2008]: The following tables show Zimbabwean principal asylum applications, initial decisions and removals, 2003-07, where available. 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 Zimbabwe and not to other destinations.Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Copies of asylum 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"

Asylum applications¹ received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions² on applications, 2003 to 2007, nationals of Zimbabwe
Principal applicants
	2003	2004	2005	2006³	2007³
Applications
Total	3,295	2,065	1,075	1,650	1,755
Port	715	395	165	165	265
In country	2,580	1,665	910	1,480	1,490
Decisions
Total decisions	4,190	2,560	1,040	1,680	1,425
Grants of asylum	875	220	80	140	250
Grants of ELR4	10	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Grants of HP4	5	*	*	*	*
Grants of DL4	20	25	15	30	20
Total refusals	3,285	2,310	945	1,510	1,155
Certified refusals	45	*	5	5	10
Other refusals	2,810	2,130	870	1,430	1,125
Third country refusals5	10	10	5	—	*
Non-compliance refusals6	420	165	70	70	20
n/a = Not applicable.
¹ Figures rounded to nearest 5, ('—' = 0, * = 1 or 2).
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.
Source:
Immigration Research and Statistics

Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns¹,² of Zimbabwean asylum applicants, excluding dependants removed to Zimbabwe, 2004-07³
Zimbabwean asylum applicants removed to Zimbabwe	Number of removals
2004	100
2005	245
20064	215
20074	165
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

479 c2253-5W; 214619

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Asylum Zimbabwe

Link

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