Report claims asylum removals fall short of targets

A new report claims that asylum removals are falling short of proposed targets, with as many as 280,000 illegal immigrants still resident in Britain, despite increased funding being given to the authorities responsible for removing them.

The report, published by the National Audit Office (NAO), has highlighted the divide between the number of failed asylum applications and the number of illegal immigrants returned to their point of origin. The report alleges that according to the database of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), between 1994 and May 2004, 363,000 asylum applications were rejected but only 79,500 people were removed – leaving an outstanding figure of 283,500 individuals, who are thought to be still resident in Britain.

Responding to the figures, Edward Leigh, Conservative MP and Chair of the Commons public accounts committee for which the NAO reports, stated: “It is shocking that IND cannot give a solid estimate of how many failed applicants are still in the UK.”

However, Immigration Minister Tony McNulty said that the Government remained committed to its target of removing more people per month than incoming unfounded claims. He added: "In 1996, the number of removals was equivalent to only 20% of predicted unfounded claims - now that proportion is around 50%."

In a separate announcement, four areas of the UK are to commence a trial of a new scheme which is aimed at aiding asylum seekers whose applications as refugees have been accepted. The Sunrise project will provide expert guidance how to rebuild their lives in British society, with pilot schemes set to take place in Glasgow, Leeds, West London and Manchester.

(CL/SP)