An expensive and persistent political dilemma

How big is the problem?

Home Office figures indicate that 85,865 asylum-seekers and 24,835 dependants – a total of 110,700 people – claimed refuge last year. That is a rise of 20 per cent on 2001 and a record high.

Why is Britain so attractive?

The Government's critics argue that it is because the country is seen as a "soft touch", a charge denied by ministers. Britain appeals to many because English is spoken and because of historical ties with Africa and Asia. Existing immigrant communities are also an attraction.

How seriously is the Government taking it?

It is at the top of Tony Blair's domestic agenda, the only issue demanding, in Whitehall-speak, a "high-intensity drive" from the Prime Minister himself. He has recently pledged that numbers of asylum-seekers will be halved by September and threatened to review the UK's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Why are alarm bells ringing?

As well as the practical and financial challenges in coping with such an influx, the Government is facing political problems. Ministers and other MPs, particularly those in urban, largely white seats in the Midlands and the North, report a backlash over immigration policy among core voters. Some fear it will help the far-right British National Party.

How has the Government attempted to get on top of the problem?

For the second time since coming to power in 1997, it has overhauled the asylum system. Mr Blunkett is placing heavier emphasis than his predecessor, Jack Straw, on preventing refugees reaching the country in the first place.

What measures have been taken for sealing entry points at Channel ports and how effective have they been?

The closure of the Red Cross camp at Sangatte, near Calais – through which nearly 70,000 mainly Iraqi Kurds and Afghans had passed – has been trumpeted by the Government. Extra security at the Frethun freight terminal and Eurotunnel's Coquelles terminal, including double fences and closed-circuit television, have also had an effect. The suspicion remains that human traffickers are switching their attention to Belgium and the Netherlands. Extra detection equipment has now been installed in the Belgian ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend, and talks with the Dutch on tighter security are under way.

Have the controls on asylum-seekers who reach Britain been tightened?

All claimants are now fingerprinted. A fast-track application and removal system for applicants from "safe" countries has been introduced, while the "safe list" has recently been extended, resulting in an immediate fall in applications from countries including Poland and the Czech Republic. Migrants have lost the right to benefits if they fail to claim asylum at the first opportunity. But this decision has been overturned in the courts, a ruling the Government is appealing against.

What other initiatives could be taken?

The Government is keen to develop the idea of "safe areas" protected by the United Nations to which asylum-seekers could be returned. That will be discussed by EU ministers this month, but if approved would have no immediate impact because it could take years to develop.

Will the Government hit Mr Blair's target?

Probably, because the base line is last October's historically high total of nearly 9,000 arrivals. The numbers are already falling. Much could hinge on the unknown factor of war in Iraq. Some experts believe 100,000 Iraqis could flee once a war begins, with many heading for Britain.