asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of initial decisions on asylum applications in 2006 were made (a) in the detained fast track, and (b) outside the detained fast track; and what was the average time taken to make an initial decision in each category. [HL2545]

Total initial decisions made on asylum applications are published every quarter and relate to decisions in that quarter but may relate to applications made in previous periods. Detained fast-track decisions are published every quarter and relate only to applications made in that quarter.

Comparable data are not available for initial decisions made outside the detained fast-track process. It is not possible to give an answer based on two non-comparable sets of data.

The two separate sets of data, on total initial decisions and detained fast-track cases, are published quarterly and annually. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html