Asylum claims up by 6p.c.

NEW claims for asylum rose six per cent in May, according to official figures today.

But Labour's massive investment in the immigration system is still delivering results as the backlog of unresolved old cases dropped for the 16th successive month.

A surge in arrivals from Afghanistan prompted the increase from 5,000 applications in April to 5,290 in May, but fresh claims are still significantly down on any other month in the past two years.

Immigration officials are confident that tough penalties for lorry drivers smuggling people into Britain and improved Channel ports security have had a long-term effect in deterring stowaways.

Applications from Afghan nationals have doubled in a year to 900 per month as the ruling Taliban has taken increasingly oppressive action against Hindus, women and intellectuals.

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