[holding answer 16 September 2009]: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by undertaking a search of individual case records.
[holding answer 16 September 2009]: The information requested is not reported on by the Case Resolution Directorate and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case files.
The number of applications awaiting conclusion are:
(1) 3,136 for those with 10 years continuous lawful residence;
(2) 6,900 for those with either 14 years continued residence, lawful or unlawful.
UKBA Management Information records applications from those with over 14 years continuous residence and does not differentiate between residence applications from lawful and unlawful applicants. To ascertain the number would therefore require examination of each application at disproportionate expense.
I have been asked to reply.
This information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked them to reply.
Letter from Jil Matheson, dated September 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning how many people have immigrated to the UK who were not British citizens or citizens of another EU member state in each year since 1989. (291837)
Table 1, attached, gives estimates of international immigration of those who were not British citizens or citizens of another EU member state between 1989 and 2007. The estimates for 1989 and 1990 are derived from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) only. The estimates for 1991 to 2007 are IPS-based but have also been adjusted to account for asylum seekers, people migrating to and from the Republic of Ireland, and people whose intended length of stay has changed from their original intentions. The information required to make these adjustments is not available prior to 1991. Estimates of the number of immigrants by citizenship are published and can be found on the ONS website at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=507
Thousand 1989 114 19901 124 19912 167 1992 131 1993 135 1994 156 1995 167 1996 152 1997 166 1998 206 1999 272 2000 316 2001 313 2002 357 2003 344 2004 370 2005 317 2006 343 2007 305 1 Estimates from 1989 and 1990 are based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS) only. 2 Estimates from 1991 to 2007 are based on the IPS and adjusted for asylum seekers, people migrating to and from the Republic of Ireland, and people whose intended length of stay has changed from their original intentions
The latest quarterly figures were published in table 14 in the “Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom—Second Quarter 2009”. A copy of the table is as follows. Data for quarter three are scheduled for publication on 26 November 2009.
Home Office statistical publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
The latest annual figures from 1997 are given in table 1. It is not possible to provide information in the format requested prior to 1997 as this would incur disproportionate cost.
Number of persons Broad category of grant 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Employment7 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 2,840 3,150 3,280 4,445 4,335 5,845 Spouses and dependants 3,565 3,790 3,580 5,140 5,045 6,835 Permit-free employment, businessman, persons of independent means 975 1,060 835 1,685 1,050 1,095 Spouses and dependants 1,195 1,190 1,005 1,115 845 680 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 1,110 1,675 2,240 2,580 3,255 4,060 Spouses and dependants 225 365 540 640 725 1,290 Total employment-related grants 9,910 11,230 11,480 15,610 15,255 19,800 Asylum8 Refugees9 and persons given exceptional leave to remain 4,830 6,680 22,505 25,355 17,965 18,235 Spouses and dependants 6,950 5,955 16,155 20,600 10,555 11,705 Total asylum-related grants 11,780 12,630 38,660 45,950 28,520 29,940 Family formation and reunion10 Husbands11 10,715 13,020 14,580 14,495 16,915 15,520 Wives11 16,310 18,515 20,095 24,265 26,835 25,120 Children 3,830 3,865 4,340 6,870 6,795 6,355 Parents and grandparents 1,185 1,335 1,080 2,435 1,760 1,750 Other and unspecified dependants 945 288 2,065 5,000 4,570 4,015 Total family grants 32,985 39,615 42,155 53,065 56,875 52,760 Other grants on a discretionary basis12 4,050 6,305 4,820 11,320 7,760 10,980 Category unknown n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2,490 Grand total 58,725 69,790 97,115 125,945 108,410 115,965
Broad category of grant 20033 20044, 5 20054 20064 20074, 6 20084, 6 * Employment7 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 9,190 16,205 25,470 11,270 15,165 23,275 Spouses and dependants 10,620 17,050 27,340 12,340 18,065 30,580 Permit-free employment, businessman, persons of independent means 1,550 1,545 1,945 3,265 865 2,065 Spouses and dependants 1,050 1,020 1,570 2,315 700 1,790 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 5,275 4,755 4,795 1,900 1,675 2,090 Spouses and dependants 1,945 1,680 1,895 740 730 970 Total employment-related grants 29,635 42,260 63,015 31,830 37,210 60,770 Asylum8 Refugees9 and persons given exceptional leave to remain 12,185 19,025 33,850 19,075 10,250 2,965 Spouses and dependants 9,915 33,525 33,960 11,580 3,940 755 Total asylum-related grants 22,105 52,555 67,810 30,655 14,190 3,720 Family formation and reunion10 Husbands11 17,370 8,185 8,710 15,520 13,810 15,985 Wives11 30,790 12,920 15,585 27,200 23,175 25,335 Children 8,950 5,850 6,715 9,290 8,495 8,250 Parents and grandparents 3,090 1,985 1,450 1,470 1,000 970 Other and unspecified dependants 5,000 4,300 4,880 6,325 4,345 4,780 Total family grants 65,200 33,240 37,335 59,800 50,820 55,325 Other grants on a discretionary basis12 16,160 6,715 6,400 7,720 18,750 28,030 Category unknown 6,175 4,440 4,565 4,440 3,880 900 Grand total 139,280 139,210 179,120 134,445 124,855 148,740 * = Provisional n/a = Not applicable 1 Nationals of EU accession countries are included or excluded according to their accession date. 2 Data from 2003 exclude dependants of EEA and Swiss nationals in confirmed relationships granted permanent residence. 3 Excludes reconsideration cases. 4 May include a small number of cases in which a decision is recorded twice, where an individual has dual nationality. 5 Includes nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. 6 Excludes Bulgaria and Romania. 7 In 2006 the qualifying period for settlement in all employment-related categories changed from four to five years. 8 Includes grants under the Family ILR exercise. 9 Excludes reconsideration cases and the outcome of appeals. 10 Spouses and dependants joining British citizens or persons previously granted settlement. 11 Includes civil and unmarried partners. 12 Data for 2007 and 2008 include persons granted indefinite leave outside the immigration rules under measures aimed at clearing the backlog of outstanding unresolved cases. Data rounded to the nearest 5.
Number of persons Broad category of grant 2006 2007 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Employment6 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 7,210 2,670 685 710 11,270 1,350 2,880 5,550 5,385 15,165 Spouses and dependants 8,255 2,900 635 550 12,340 1,150 3,470 6,795 6,650 18,065 Permit-free employment, businessman, persons of independent means 705 1,820 620 120 3,265 90 175 340 265 865 Spouses and dependants 530 1,305 400 75 2,315 40 120 305 240 700 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 1,380 390 75 50 1,900 90 400 710 480 1,675 Spouses and dependants 520 160 40 20 740 30 150 325 230 730 Total employment-related grants 18,600 9,245 2,455 1,530 31,830 2,750 7,195 14,020 13,250 37,210 Asylum7 Refugees8 and persons given ELR, HP or DL9 7,460 3,770 2,365 5,480 19,075 4,350 4,630 735 540 10,250 Spouses and dependants 6,315 2,460 1,330 1,480 11,580 1,575 1,390 570 405 3,940 Total asylum-related grants 13,775 6,225 3,695 6,960 30,655 5,920 6,020 1,300 945 14,190 Family formation and reunion10 Husbands11 4,235 3,815 3,995 3,475 15,520 4,340 3,010 3,380 3,080 13,810 Wives11 7,040 6,805 7,290 6,065 27,200 7,215 5,095 5,760 5,100 23,175 Children 2,445 2,375 2,695 1,775 9,290 2,010 2,445 2,305 1,735 8,495 Parents and grandparents 400 355 360 355 1,470 285 280 215 220 1,000 Other and unspecified dependants 1,570 1,655 1,720 1,380 6,325 960 1,075 1,340 970 4,345 Total family grants 15,690 15,010 16,055 13,050 59,800 14,810 11,905 13,000 11,110 50,820 Other grants on a discretionary basis12 1,700 1,810 2,180 2,030 7,720 1,490 985 5,785 10,495 18,750 Category unknown 1,205 1,175 1,045 1,015 4,440 1,165 995 930 795 3,880 All grants of settlement 50,965 33,465 25,430 24,585 134,445 26,130 27,095 35,040 36,590 124,855
2008p, r 2009p Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Q1 Q2 Employment6 Employment with a work permit after 4/5 years 6,210 5,765 5,585 5,715 23,275 6,565 6,565 Spouses and dependants 7,815 7,210 7,360 8,190 30,580 9,185 9,895 1,000 Permit-free employment, businessman, persons of independent means 435 470 605 555 2,065 575 Spouses and dependants 380 400 510 500 1,790 540 1,260 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent 655 610 445 375 2,090 460 705 Spouses and dependants 280 300 225 165 970 225 369 Total employment-related grants 15,775 14,755 14,730 15,505 60,770 17,550 19,815 496 Asylum7 Refugees8 and persons given ELR, HP or DL9 480 535 1,050 900 2,965 535 111 Spouses and dependants 230 115 190 220 755 270 Total asylum-related grants 710 650 1,240 1,115 3,720 805 19,815 Family formation and reunion10 Husbands11 3,995 4,455 4,140 3,395 15,985 6,250 4,521 Wives11 6,185 7,105 6,440 5,605 25,335 10,425 8,420 Children 1,920 2,235 2,245 1,850 8,250 2,250 2,560 Parents and grandparents 240 280 245 210 970 125 Other and unspecified dependants 1,190 1,425 1,220 940 4,780 810 1,210 Total family grants 13,530 15,495 14,290 12,005 55,325 19,860 16,965 Other grants on a discretionary basis12 10,195 5,375 5,455 7,005 28,030 19,860 16,965 Category unknown 375 235 190 100 900 95 8,682 All grants of settlement 40,590 36,510 35,910 35,730 148,740 44,870 46,120 P = Provisional figures. R = revised figures. 1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5 and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. 2 Includes reconsideration cases and the outcome of appeals. 3 May include a small number of cases in which a decision is recorded twice, where an individual has dual nationality. 4 Data exclude dependants of EEA and Swiss nationals in confirmed relationships granted permanent residence. 5 Excludes Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2007. 6 In April 2006, the qualifying period for settlement in all employment-related categories changed from 4 to 5 years delaying grants of settlement that would otherwise have occurred earlier. 7 Asylum-related grants of settlement were at high levels between Q1 2006 and Q2 2007 due to the Family Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) exercise and due to grants to persons given exceptional leave four years previously. 8 Excludes reconsideration cases and the outcome of appeals. 9 Exceptional leave to remain (ELR), Humanitarian Protection (HP), Discretionary Leave (DL). 10 Spouses and dependants joining British citizens or persons previously granted settlement. 11 Includes civil and unmarried partners. 12 Data from Q3 2007 include persons granted indefinite leave outside the immigration rules under measures aimed at clearing the backlog of outstanding unresolved cases.
The Case Resolution Directorate was set up in April 2007 to deal with the backlog of unresolved asylum cases. The Case Resolution Directorate grants both indefinite leave to remain and limited leave depending on the individual circumstances of the case. UKBA does not hold records of the number of individuals granted indefinite leave to remain each year and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Lin Homer, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Border Agency, provides a six-monthly written update to the Home Affairs Select Committee which details the total number of concluded cases, broken down by removals, grants of status and other conclusions. Copies of these letters are available in the House of Commons Library.