The number of failed asylum seekers removed from the UK has fallen again, according to new statistics.
The figures published by the Home Office show 3,120 asylum seekers and their dependants were removed in the three month period from July to September.
This is 18% less than in the same period last year and 5% less than in the previous three month period, from April to June.
The research shows the five nationalities accounting for the most removals were Turkish, Afghan, Serbian, Pakistani and Indian.
The third quarter statistics also show a jump in the number of new asylum applicants.
There was a 19% increase in applications from the April to June period to the July to September period. But the increase was less than 1% when the third quarter 2007 figures are compared with the same period in 2006.
According to the report, the increase in applications at this time of year has happened in each of the last 13 years and may be due to seasonal effects.
But Borders and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said the cumulative figure for asylum applications so far this year showed levels at their lowest for 15 years.
These figures show a 7% fall when the total for January to September is compared with the same period last year. The Home Office said this was the lowest number of applications since 1992.
Mr Byrne also pointed to figures from the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) which showed it had overseen a 15% increase in all enforced removals and voluntary returns in the July to September period.
