THE NUMBER of asylum seekers housed in Swindon at the expense of the

taxpayer has increased during the last year.

There were 130 asylum seekers in National Asylum Support Service (NASS)

houses, flats and hotel rooms in the town at the end of December 2004 up from 115 in December 2003.

But statistics released yesterday by the Home Office showed that those receiving only financial support for food, clothing and travel dropped from 55 to 20.

And the town's total overall asylum seeker population has fallen by 11 per cent from 170 to 150.

The overall decline in numbers corresponds with Home Office claims that

asylum applications are falling.

National figures revealed that the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain fell by two per cent in the last three months of 2004, although failed asylum seekers were deported at a slower rate.

There were 8,465 new applications, excluding dependants such as children and spouses, between October and December. That was down from 8,605 in the previous three months.

But the number deported fell by six per cent to 2,895.

The closure of Sangatte, the introduction of new detection technology, new visa regimes and legislation have all contributed to the fall in applications and the numbers.