The Home Office has been criticised after new figures showed a rise in asylum applications of nearly 10 per cent.

Government statistics released on Tuesday, covering the third quarter of this year, showed an increase of 685 - nine per cent - compared to the previous three months.

However the Home Office said that even with the rise, applications remain 29 per cent lower than the same period in 2003 and 67 per cent lower than at their peak in October 2002.

Immigration minister Des Browne said that year on year the figures are continuing to fall.

He insisted the increase is due to normal seasonal variations and a flurry of applications ahead of tough new legislation coming into force.

In response to the figures the government announced new measures including an end to the temporary blanket suspension of enforced returns of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe.

Browne said: "Experience has taught us to expect seasonal highs during the July to September period - there have been similar rises at this time of year for the past three years, but year on year the figures are continuing to fall - they are 67 per cent down on October 2002's peak and we are confident they are not about to start rising again.

"The statistics confirm that the achievements of the past two years are being sustained - four out of five new claims are now decided in two months rather than the 20 months it took in 1997, the number of claims outstanding is at a 10-year low and numbers receiving NASS support continue to fall.

"We are on track to cut asylum support costs by a third by the end of 2005.

"We are clearly going in the right direction but we are not complacent and, having significantly reduced unfounded asylum applications we are stepping up action on removals."

Removals

The figures also showed removal of failed applicants were down despite government promises to speed up the process.

"Removals have been difficult, not least because of the temporary closure of Harmondsworth removal centre. But with this facility coming back on stream - together with the new secure facility at Colnbrook - removal capacity will soon be three times 1997 levels," said Browne.

"This will help us meet the target we set out in September, to ensure that by the end of 2005 the monthly number of removals exceeds the number of unfounded asylum claims."

Shadow home secretary David Davis said the figures proved the government's asylum policy "is still a shambles".

"The number of failed asylum seekers removed has fallen by nearly 30 per cent compared to the same period last year," he said.

"There are already over 250,000 failed asylum seekers living in Britain - with removal numbers falling this is set to rise even further. Under Labour this chaos will continue."

And Sir Andrew Green, chairman of pressure group Migrationwatch UK, said: "This is bad news for the government.

"Asylum seekers are up by 13 per cent and removals are down for the fourth successive quarter.

"It is increasingly clear that the government’s present policies cannot reduce asylum claims to acceptable levels, especially as 70 per cent are eventually refused permission to stay in Britain.

"Only one in five of those refused is actually removed."