§ Mr. Oramasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have so far been received at the embassy in Islamabad during 1973 for entry certificates for wives or other dependants to join British subjects already living in the United Kingdom; how many have been granted and how many refused; and how many proved to be ill founded because they were based either on false information or on ignorance of the necessary qualifications.
§ Lord BalnielThe embassy in Islamabad has so far this year received 6,017 new applications for entry clearances as308W dependants. The numbers relate to passport holders and therefore take no account of those minor children who do not have separate passports. All the sponsors in the United Kingdom were British subjects until the entry into force of the Pakistan Act on 1st September 1973.
Four thousand and two such entry clearances have been issued and 594 refused—the greater part of these, in view of the long waiting list, relate to applications made before 1973.
The vast majority of the 594 applications were refused because they were found to be based on false information; few were refused because of ignorance of the necessary qualifications.
§ Mr. Oramasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in respect of how many applications received so far at the embassy in Islamabad during 1973 for entry certificates for wives or other dependants to join British subjects already living in the United Kingdom the interview was carried out within six months of the date of application; and in how many cases this interval was longer than 12 months.
§ Lord BalnielThere was an interview delay exceeding six months for all applications received at Islamabad during 1973 other than those accorded exceptional treatment on extreme compassionate grounds. The interview delay has lengthened and 3,343 applicants have been allotted interviews with a delay in excess of 12 months.
§ Mr. Oramasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are now employed at the embassy in Islamabad in preparing for or conducting interviews in respect of applications for entry certificates for wives or other dependants to join British subjects already living in the United Kingdom; and how this figure compares with the position a year ago.
§ Lord BalnielThe present immigration establishment at Islamabad—bracketed figures relate to 1972—is 47 (36) of whom 3 (1) are supervisory officers and 14 (12) are interviewing officers who are assisted by 13 (9) interpreters and 17 (14) others in a variety of supporting rôles.