§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which High Commission offices in the Indian subcontinent are operating a priority list system for interviewing applicants for entry permits into the United Kingdom and which are not; and what categories of applicants are qualifying for priority lists in those offices which operate the system.
§ Mr. RowlandsAll these offices accord priority treatment in extreme compassionate cases and to certain other categories in the light of local conditions. They are now preparing to introduce new 855W arrangements including a simplified procedure for the more expeditious processing of applications outstanding from unaccompanied wives and mothers with children under ten.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what increases have been made in the last 12 months in the staff employed at each High Commission office in the Indian subcontinent for the purpose of interviewing applicants for entry permits into the United Kingdom; and what reduction in the waiting time for an interview has resulted at each office.
§ Mr. RowlandsThe number of entry clearance officers now stationed in the subcontinent, with last October's figures in brackets is:
Waiting time in Bangladesh has been reduced from three years to 18 months, but there has been no general reduction, despite a substantial increase in the number of interviews, due mainly to an increase in the number of new applications.
Pakistan 20 (17) India 12 (12) Bangladesh 12 (5)