Asylum backlog sparks row

Some say illegal asylum seekers need tougher action

The government has come in for renewed criticism over its handling of asylum cases.

Refugee groups have challenged Home Office claims that it has made a record number of asylum decisions due to increased efficiency and more staff.

The Conservatives have urged tighter controls, pledging to detain all asylum seekers if they return to power.

My first priority would be to detain all new asylum seekers, that is the only way we are going to send out a deterrent message

Ann Widdecombe

But Immigration Minister Barbara Roche defended the government's record on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

She said the reduced backlog of cases was a "remarkable achievement" and insisted the figures compared favourably to other European Union countries.

More than 11,500 cases awaiting decision have been processed this year alone.

But the British Refugee Council (BRC) and other interest groups say many of these have been dismissed without even being considered, because complex forms have not been returned in time.

Record yearly total

Home Office figures show that asylum applications last month rose to 7,250 applications, the highest for any month this year.

This means the total for the year is certain to surpass 1999's record total of just over 71,000.

Until now the Home Office has been able to claim some success against the backlog of cases awaiting decision, processing more than 11,500 applications this year.

But the BRC, along with several other charities, said this has been mainly achieved by dismissing many applications for what is known as "non-compliance".

This, they say, often means simply failing to return a complicated form, in English, within 14 days.

Barbara Roche praised immigration staff for their work

The BRC says this means many asylum applicants are not even having the merits of their case considered.

The Immigration Service Union has warned that it may take industrial action in protest at what it sees as the failure of Britain's deportation system.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said by detaining all applicants a future Conservative-led government would deter those without a genuine claim.

"My first priority would be to detain all new asylum seekers, that is the only way we are going to send out a deterrent message," she said.

Penalty criticised

"The only way to deter abuse, which is also the best way of helping the genuine asylum seeker, is to send out the message that if you come to Britain with an unfounded application, you won't just be allowed to wander around free and stay and resist removal, you will be detained, you will be dealt with speedily, and you will be removed.

"But if you come to Britain with a genuine application, you will be welcomed," she told the Today programme.

Miss Widdecombe criticised penalties for lorry drivers found to have illegal immigrants stowed on their vehicles, introduced by the government.

She said drivers now had "a very strong deterrent" contacting the authorities if they believed they were carrying illegal entrants.

But Barbara Roche hailed the reduction in the backlog of cases, saying it was a "remarkable achievement" by staff.

Record recruitment

The minister conceded the total was still up on the 50,000 figure inherited from the previous Conservative government but went on: "If you look at the overall increases our increases are actually less when compared to many other EU countries."

"What is actually happening is the measures we introduced and the legislation which started to unroll from April onwards is really starting to come into effect."

More immigration officers were needed, she said, but a record number were now being recruited.

Ms Roche defended the lorry drivers' penalty, saying adequate defences existed for those facing fines and the scheme had forced ferry companies and others to be more responsible.