NEARLY all Gwent's asylum-seekers are concentrated in Newport, and Hamid Biak is among around 300 who are awaiting a Home Office verdict on whether they can stay in the UK indefinitely.

The issue of asylum, which has been high on the political agenda for the past few years, was stoked up again last week by Tory leader Michael Howard.

He declared the migrant population of Britain will rise by five million over the next 30 years, and vowed to set a quota on the numbers of asylum-seekers.

Other parties and refugee agencies have already attacked Tory plans for annual limits on numbers.

Many disputed cases will be heard at the controversial new hearing centre of the Immigration Appellate Authority, at Langstone - the subject of bitter protests from residents last year.

But for the asylum-seekers and Gwent organisations trying to help them the laws are already tough enough.

David Farnsworth, chief executive of the Welsh Refugee Council, said: "The UK's asylum system is very tough. It is strictly controlled and very complex.

"Home Office decision-making remains poor. While nine of ten applications for asylum are refused, 20 per cent of cases that go to appeal are successful.

"People need to look beyond the hype and the stereotype of the bogus asylum- seeker.

"The number of asylum-seekers in Newport is low in comparison to other cities. In November 2004, Cardiff had 990 asylum-seekers, Swansea, 905, and Wrexham, 55."

Mr Biak, who fled Iran after becoming a Christian, broke his hunger strike after six days. He said he has found the asylum applications process bewildering and frustrating.

He said: "I have photographic proof that I am a Christian. I would rather die here than go back to Iran. Why do they not believe me?"

His appeal against Home Office refusal failed and he now has a fresh application in the pipeline, but has heard nothing for months.

Like many asylum-seekers he stayed in a Newport house run by Clearsprings - a private company contracted by the Home Office to provide accommodation in Newport.

The terrace house is warm, spacious and clean, with a TV and well-equipped kitchen. Upstairs Abbass Dodangeh, 45, from Tehran, was anxiously awaiting a verdict. He said he was forced to leave Iran over his involvement with the adult entertainment industry.

An asylum-seeker can be awarded refugee status, and a refugee is a person who has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.

In Newport the top countries of origin are Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan.

Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire councils all have no direct involvement with asylum-seekers.

Conservative councillor Matthew Evans said: "A few years ago Newport council wanted to be the leading authority in Wales on looking after asylum-seekers.

"As a city it's probably a more attractive environment for them than many places in Gwent.

"It's a sensitive subject and a fine balance between giving them essential support or giving them living conditions and help of a standard that will cause resentment among locals.

"In Newport 300 doesn't sound like a lot. But it gets mixed up against a background of illegal immigrants and those failed asylum applications that don't get evicted."

But for those who are successful, Newport becomes more than a place of nervous waiting.

Mr Farnsworth said: "It is difficult to give estimates, but the evidence that we have indicates that a very high percentage of refugees stay in Wales and Newport.

"This is a result of the positive welcome that refugees have received and the comparatively lower levels of racial harassment.

"Our experience has been that often refugees that have relocated outside Wales will return."