A number of parliamentary replies yesterday gave information and figures regarding the asylum-seekers in Malta.

In reply to a question by Franco Galea, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg gave a list of asylum-seekers who had come to Malta in recent years. 166 came in 1998, 229 in 1999, 24 in 2000, 57 in 2001, 1,686 in 2002, 502 in 2003 and 1,388 in 2004.

The numbers of people who have been formally acknowledged as refugees by the Commissioner for Refuges (who started his work in January 2002) is: 22 in 2002, 53 in 2003, and 49 in 2004. Other asylum-seekers have been given humanitarian protection.

220 of the 1,388 asylum-seekers who came to Malta last year have been repatriated.

There are 80 people being held at Hal-Far, 360 at Hal-Safi and 180 at Floriana.

Around 30 asylum-seekers held by the Armed Forces ask to be taken to a health centre or a hospital every day, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told Mr Galea.

Last year, 38 asylum-seekers were kept in hospital for some time to receive treatment.

As from 3 November, a government doctor has been placed at the Hal-Safi Barracks for the asylum seekers. Nevertheless, a number of asylum-seekers are still being referred to the government health centre.

Dr Borg told Mr Galea that the asylum-seekers under detention have access to the news through television and newspapers. They can also use a telephone to make or receive as many phone calls as they require, at any time. In addition, the asylum-seekers are visited by a number of voluntary organisations such as the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Peace Lab, the Emigrants Commission and the Red Cross Organisation.

They are also visited by the police and army chaplains and by the Imam.

During these visits, the asylum-seekers are allowed to speak freely to the members of these organisations without any hindrance by the armed forces.