Only 1% of asylum applications decided by Home Office in the past year

Only 1% of asylum applications by small-boat migrants have been decided by the Home Office in the past year, figures show

• Data showed there were 44,797 migrants to the UK in the 12 months to March
• But only 504 cases have led to an ‘initial decision’ by government caseworkers

Only one per cent of asylum applications made by small boat migrants in the last year have been decided by the Home Office.

Data showed there were 44,797 migrants who arrived across the Channel in the 12 months to March – but only 504 cases have led to an ‘initial decision’ by government caseworkers.

The asylum backlog – which PM Rishi Sunak has vowed to slash – jumped to 172,758 by the end of March, including dependents, from less than 115,000 a year earlier.

Mr Sunak pledged in December that 92,000 ‘legacy’ applications, lodged before July last year, would be ‘abolished’ by the end of this year.

However, with 78,954 legacy cases in the system at the end of March, asylum caseworkers will have to get through about 9,000 claims a month between April and December to ensure the pledge is fulfilled.

Only one per cent of asylum applications made by small boat migrants in the last year have been decided by the Home Office

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged in December that 92,000 ‘legacy’ applications, lodged before July last year, would be ‘abolished’ by the end of this year

Further new data showed a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of asylum applications to 75,492 in the 12 months to March.

It covered 91,047 people including dependants.

The same period saw 45,000 migrants reach Britain by small boat, of whom 87 per cent were male.

Albanians made up the largest nationality at 28 per cent, followed by Afghans at 20 per cent.

However, the Home Office data showed the number of Albanian arrivals dropped off significantly over winter, making up just one per cent of small boat arrivals in the first three months of the year.

At the end of March there were 112,294 asylum seekers receiving taxpayer-funded support, including many who get free accommodation.

It was up from 85,007 a year earlier.

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