The government is set to introduce tough new laws as part of its clampdown on asylum seekers, the prime minister said yesterday.

Tony Blair pledged new action to tackle the problems of groundless asylum decision appeals, the destruction of documents to make fraudulent claims and abuses of legal aid.

His pledge came following a declaration that Britain had now "turned the corner" on the asylum crisis.

Data released by the Home Office revealed that in the first quarter of 2003 there were 16,000 asylum applications, down on the 23,385 recorded for the final quarter of last year.

David Blunkett said the new restrictions were needed because "we still have a mountain to climb".

But the Conservatives questioned whether the improvement in the statistics had been the result of manipulation.

"I seriously doubt that the measures taken could have had such a rapid effect on the figures," said shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin.

The home secretary is also set to back ID or "entitlement" cards for all adults as part of a package of measures to tackle illegal working by migrants.