§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long an inquiry office will be maintained in High Holborn following the 79W transfer of the Immigration and Nationality Department from High Holborn to Croydon; and how many persons will be engaged in answering inquiries there.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are engaged at the Public Inquiry Office at Holborn and Tolworth, respectively, who are directly involved in answering inquiries by Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals.
Mr. SharpiesAbout 65 at Holborn. There is no inquiry office at Tolworth: staff are assigned as necessary to deal with callers.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Public Inquiry Office of his Department is to be moved from Holborn to Croydon.
§ Mr. SharplesThe present accommodation is inadequate ; it is difficult to recruit and keep sufficient staff ; and it is hoped that the move to larger and more modern premises in Croydon will enable the Department to provide a better service.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps were taken to obtain accommodation for the Public Inquiry Office within five miles of Central London ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SharplesIt would not be practicable to separate the Public Inquiry Office from the rest of the Immigration and Nationality Department. Croydon was the most suitable place for the department to go to, and there was no point in looking elsewhere for accommodation for the Inquiry Office.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquiries were received at the public inquiry offices at Holborn and Tolworth, respectively, in respect of questions relating to Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals respectively during the years 1969 and 1970 and up to the present time in 1971.
Mr. SharpiesThe figures for Holborn are as follows:—80W
Commom-wealth citizens Foreign nationals Total 1969 51,985 118,713 170,698 1970 61,900 142,372 204,272 1971 (up to 29th October) 62,371 123,730 186,101 There is no public inquiry office at Tolworth. The figures for the callers there cannot be divided between Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals. They were as follows:—
1969 1,421 1970 1,772 1971 (up to 31 October) 3,444