To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iraqi locally-employed staff were granted asylum in 2007; and how many he expects to be granted asylum in 2008. (185043)

[holding answer 5 February 2008]: I have been asked to reply.

The information on how many Iraqi locally employed staff were granted asylum in 2007 is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

It would not possible to speculate how many Iraqi locally engaged staff may be granted asylum in 2008 as every asylum application is considered on its individual merits in accordance with the criteria defined in the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of refugees.