42,000 asylum seekers win right to stay

A record 42,000 asylum-seekers won the right to stay in Britain last year despite Government attempt to limit their numbers.

Ministers said the increase, in Home Office figures released last night, was due in part to a speedingup of the system to process asylum claims. More refugees won appeals against initial rejection.

The rise in accepted claims will put pressure on Home Secretary David Blunkett, who is already spending more than £1 billion a year on asylum-seekers.

He will announce tomorrow whether he plans to press ahead with the building of three accommodation centres for new arrivals, in the face of protests from nearby residents.

The number of refugees claiming asylum in Britain fell to 92,000 last year from 99,000 the previous year, reflecting a trend across Europe.

Britain was the most popular European Union destination, with Germany in second place - although smaller countries like Austria and Ireland took in more refugees per head of population.

The final tally for refugees arriving in 2001 updates provisional figures released in February.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Decisions are being taken more quickly. We made a record number of decisions last year.

"The backlog of asylum claims continues to fall and the number of appeals reached record levels."

Mr Blunkett has scrapped initiatives introduced by his predecessor Jack Straw including food and clothing vouchers for asylum seekers, and a target for deporting 30,000 failed asylum-seekers a year.

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