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See other news storiesAsylum figures lowest in 14 years
26 February 2008
Asylum applications in 2007 were at their lowest level for 14 years, according to statistics released this week.
In 2007 there were 23,430 principal asylum applications lodged - the fewest annual applications since 1993.
Principal applications are now at a quarter of the level received in 2002.
Today’s figures show that between October and December 2007, there were 6,910 principal asylum applications.
One person deported every eight minutes
The numbers show that 12,525 failed asylum seekers, excluding dependents, were removed from the United Kingdom in 2007.
Overall the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) removed 63,140 people from the UK – the equivalent of one person deported every eight minutes.
Decisions on immigration cases are also being decided faster than ever before.
By the end of last year the government was beating its target to have 40% of new asylum cases decided within six months. By the end of 2008, BIA is likely to reach the point where 60% of cases are resolved in six months or less.
Strong controls are working
Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, said the numbers prove that the stronger border controls implemented by the government are working.
'We've deported the highest ever number of foreign lawbreakers - up by a huge 80% - and we attacked illegal working much harder because it undercuts British wages,' he said. 'That helped us boost removals of non-asylum seekers to almost 50,000 – that’s 9% up on the year before.'
Mr Byrne pointed out that BIA conducted 40% more illegal working operations in 2007 than in the previous year, and removed a record 4,200 foreign criminals, surpassing the Prime Minister’s target for 2007.
Between October and December 1,125 foreign national prisoners were removed – the seventh consecutive quarterly increase.
Totals for Bulgarian and Romanian migration
Figures for the number of Bulgarians and Romanians registering to work in the UK have also been released. These show that 30,570 applications were granted in 2007, and an additional 7,295 people were issued cards through the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.
Mr Byrne said, 'It's too soon to evaluate the full impact of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, which is why we decided to maintain restrictions for at least another year. Indications are that the policy of restricting access to the UK's labour market is helping to ensure that only those who have something to offer the UK are allowed to work here.'
The government will continue to monitor restrictions, he said, adding, 'that's why we are creating an independent Migration Advisory Committee to look at how migration can sensibly fill skills shortages and, alongside it, the Migration Impacts Forum, which started work in June to monitor the wider social impacts of immigration.'
Accession monitoring figures showing migration information for the eight Eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004, show a fall in the number of people applying to work under the worker registration scheme.
Between October and December 2007, 50,000 applications were received - a 23% decrease from the 65,000 who applied in the same period in 2006.
The total applications for the worker registration scheme for 2007 was 214,510 - down from 234,725 in 2006.
Learn more
Download the fourth quarter asylum statistics on the Home Office statistics website.
