Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time is for asylum applications in South Belfast constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Whilst we hold data on the current addresses of asylum claimants, the Home Office are unable to state how many asylum claims have been outstanding for eight weeks or longer, or what the processing time is for asylum applications in South Belfast constituency as this information is not published.

However, the Home Office does publish data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision by duration, for main applicants only. This data can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2021/list-of-tables#asylum-and-resettlement

The Home Office are committed to ensuring asylum claims are considered without unnecessary delay, individuals who need protection are granted asylum as soon as possible and can start to integrate and rebuild their lives, including those granted at appeal.