Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 5 December 1997. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Friday, 5 December 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers from (a) the Czech Republic and (b) the Slovak Republic have arrived (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) at the port of Dover in each month since 1st May. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from (a) the Czech Republic and (b) the Slovak Republic have arrived (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) at the port of Dover in each month since 1 May. [17137] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested is given in the table. Overall data for the month of November are not yet available, but provisional figures indicate that only five Czechs/Slovaks applied for asylum on arrival at Dover during November. Applications{1} for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, from nationals of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, May to October 1997 Number of principal applicants _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Applications for asylum Port of whom: applied at In-country Total Dover Czech Republic May 1997 5 5 * 5 June 1997 15 10 -- 15 July 1997 30 30 5 30 August 1997 25 20 10 30 September 1997 15 10 * 15 October 1997 85 70 * 85 Total 170 145 15 190 Slovakia May 1997 {2}15 15 * {2}15 June 1997 25 15 -- 25 July 1997 20 15 * 20 August 1997 35 35 10 50 September 1997 55 55 * 55 October 1997 85 65 -- 85 Total 235 195 15 255 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Figures rounded to the nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2. {2} Revised.

Secondary information