Government fails to meet asylum target
The Home Office will not meet its self-imposed target on deporting failed asylum seekers, it was admitted today.
The goal of deporting more failed asylum seekers than non-genuine claimants arriving will instead be met by February 2006, the Home Office predicts.
It was the prime minister who last year introduced the 2005 target for deportations, amid political pressure to take a harder line on false claimants.
Statistics released by the Home Office today show the number of asylum seekers deported from Britain rose to 3,460 while the number arriving stood at 5,460.
But immigration minister Tony McNulty insisted the figures “illustrate the progress” the government was making on the issue.
“The UK has a long tradition of offering refuge to those who need it most, but those without a valid claim for asylum must recognise they have no legal right to remain here,” he said.
“We are continuing to work towards our target of removing more failed asylum seekers on a monthly basis than there are unfounded claims.
“We recognise this is a tough target and more still needs to be done, but we will continue to work towards this goal and expect to meet it in February 2006.”
Today’s statistics also reveal that the number of people claiming asylum in the UK rose to 6,315, a two per cent increase on the previous quarter.
However, in line with international trends, the number of asylum seekers continues to fall. Latest figures show 27 per cent fewer applicants than in 2004 and a 72 per cent decrease from its peak in 2002 when 85,000 applied.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the latest asylum statistics showed the government’s asylum policy was not working.
“Despite the government’s repeated promises that they would sort out the asylum shambles, these figures show they are not delivering,” he said.
“It is clear they are set to miss their central asylum target. As a result, after eight years in office, the number of people living here illegally is still growing.”
“This is not the ‘firm and fair control over immigration’ that Mr Blair promised back in 1997.”
