§ 1. Mr. Keith Vaz (Leicester, East)If he will make a statement on the issuing of visitors' visas in Bombay. [54285]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Derek Fatchett)In 1997, the visa section in the British deputy high commission in Bombay issued 43,318 visit visas. Up to 15 October this year, the visa section had issued 45,339 visit visas. Ninety-two per cent. of the straightforward visit visa applications are being issued within 24 hours. Currently, applicants are receiving their visas within two hours of presenting their application.
§ Mr. VazWill the Minister pass on hon. Members' thanks to Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean for the changes that she introduced to the visa system to make it more efficient? However, as he must be aware, a large proportion of applications made in Bombay come from people who live in the Gujarat. Will he meet me and other interested colleagues to see whether visa facilities might be made available in Ahmadabad? Such facilities would greatly improve the position, lessening the pressure on Bombay and making the process much easier and much cheaper for applicants.
§ Mr. FatchettI shall certainly convey my hon. Friend's best wishes to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary. She will be delighted to hear those words from my hon. Friend. I know that he keeps her busy on immigration and visa matters, so his words of support will be well received.
On the second point that my hon. Friend raised, I would be happy to meet him and his colleagues, although he must realise that, even to such a distinguished Member as himself, I cannot make a commitment at the Dispatch Box.
§ Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)If a visa application were made in Bombay by, let us say, a former dictator or former terrorist, would such an application be 136 sympathetically considered by the Minister, and if it were granted, would it carry with it any immunity from rogue applications for extradition from this country?
§ Mr. FatchettAny visa application made at the deputy high commission in Bombay will be dealt with according to the immigration rules.