Asylum applications fell in 2005 to their lowest level since 1994 and the number of removals increased for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to statistics published by the Home Office today. But the number of EU Accession State individuals, like those from many Eastern European Countries, rose to 345,000 including 49,335 who applied to the Worker Registration Scheme between October 2005 and December 2005. The scheme was set up to monitor the impact of workers from the new EU Member States on the UK economy.

Home Office Minisiter Mr McNulty said: "The figures show that workers from the Accession States continue to come to the UK to work, filling important vacancies, supporting the provision of public services in communities across the UK and making a welcome contribution to our economy and society. Research published today by the Department for Work and Pensions shows that there is no discernible statistical evidence to suggest that A8 migration has been a contributor to the rise in claimant unemployment in the UK during 2005. This, and the recent European Commission report on the free movement of workers, vindicates the success of the UK's policy in opening up our labour market."

ASYLUM STATISTICS

Quarterly asylum figures show that asylum applications in the final quarter of 2005 were down two per cent on the previous quarter and 27 per cent on the same period in 2004. Meanwhile, removals increased two per cent on the previous quarter and 20 per cent on the same quarter the year before.

The statistics illustrate the success of the Government's comprehensive reform of the asylum system and in particular policies designed to target and remove those failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK.

Tony McNulty said: "The figures published today show we are continuing to cut the number of asylum applications, now down to their lowest level for more than a decade. Intake is also falling at a faster rate than elsewhere in Europe reflecting the package of measures we have put in place, such as immigration controls at ports across the Channel and legislation to target abuse.

"Removals have also increased but we need to build on this progress - encouraging more people to leave voluntarily and working with source countries to secure more returns. "We have made significant progress towards our target of removing more failed asylum seekers on a monthly basis than there are unfounded claims and I am confident that we are close to achieving it."

The latest asylum figures published today show:

* There were 6,165 applications in Q4 2005, two per cent lower than in Q3 2005 (6,315) and 27 per cent lower than the corresponding quarter in 2004 (8,480);
* The greatest applications were from Iran (820), Eritrea (595) and Afghanistan (510);
* There were 5,645 initial decisions in Q4, 13 per cent lower than in Q3 (6,515) although in 2005 as a whole, 27,495 initial decisions were made, around 2,000 more than the number of applications;
* 80 per cent of new applications in 2004/5 were decided within two months, 88 per cent within four months and 91 per cent within six months; and
* 3,525 principal applicants were removed in Q4, two per cent more than in Q3 (3,460) and 20 per cent more than a year before (2,945 in Q4 2004).

For the first time the quarterly asylum statistics include reasons why individuals have been released from detention and information on the length of time spent by children in detention. There is also updated information on the time taken to process cases up to and including final appeal, which shows that in 2004/2005 67 per cent of cases had a final decision within six months, exceeding the Public Service Agreement target of 65 per cent.

TURKISH NATIONALS

The first figures for the number of applications from Turkish nationals under the European Community Association Agreements (ECAA), which allow workers to set up businesses in the UK, were also published today along with figures for ECAA applications from Romania and Bulgaria. Improved decision making processes were put in place for all ECAA applications following the Sutton report in 2004.

Of a total of 1,030 applications by Turkish nationals, four per cent were granted, 67 per cent were refused and 25 per cent were withdrawn by applicants. Of 6,815 applications considered by Entry Clearance Officers in Sofia and Bucharest between August 2004 and December 2005, 13 per cent were granted, 76 per cent refused and 11 per cent were withdrawn by the applicants.

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