Britain is to refuse to accept asylum seekers from an additional seven countries, the government announced yesterday.

The immigration minister, Beverley Hughes, said the countries involved were regarded as "generally safe".

Asylum seekers from these countries have their applications dealt with within 10 days and have no right of appeal while they remain in Britain.

The seven new countries are Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.

The shadow home secretary said yesterday that under the Conservatives a quota on asylum entrants would restrict arrivals to 20,000 per year.