§ LORD AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many staff were employed in the British Embassy at Islamabad and at the British High Commission in Canberra respectively to deal with applications for entry certificates and to interview prospective applicants on January 1, 1973, and January 1, 1974; how many applications were processed at each location during the year 1973, and how many applications were under consideration or awaiting consideration at each location at the latest convenient date.
§ LORD GORONWY-ROBERTSOn January 1, 1973, 45 staff were employed at the British Embassy at Islamabad to deal with applications for entry clearances and to interview prospective applicants. On January 1, 1974, the staff totalled 55 (inclusive of 5 temporary reinforcements).
The total numbers of applications received, entry clearances issued and applications refused during 1973 are given below. (The figures in brackets relate to dependants seeking to join heads of household already settled in the United Kingdom.)
Applications received
8,069 (6,207).
Entry Clearances issued
5,674 (4,238).
Applications refused
986 (643).
In 1973 interviews were conducted with 11,657 applicants of whom 9,176 were seeking entry clearances as dependants. Because of the waiting period for interviews and other factors, many of the persons interviewed would have applied prior to 1973.
On February 28, 1974 (the latest convenient date for which figures are available), 4,956 dependant applications awaited consideration (i.e. interview). Figures for applications still under consideration on that date (e.g. pending outcome of inquiries or determination of appeal) are not readily available.
The number of staff employed at the British High Commission at Canberra 1359WA to deal with applications for entry clearances and to interview prospective applicants was: January 1, 1973–5, January 1, 1974–5. In the figures given below those in brackets relate to dependants seeking to join heads of household settled in the United Kingdom. In 1973 over 4,300 applications for entry clearance were received at Canberra 4,290 (158) entry certificates were issued. In the same period, 42 (5) applications were refused at Canberra of which a number were in respect of applications referred to them by subordinate posts in Australia. 90 applications were under consideration or awaiting consideration at Canberra on March 31, 1974, the latest convenient date for which records are available.