HC Deb 30 November 1979 vol 974 cc812-4W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the normal process for seeking out and apprehending overstayers; how soon after a breach of entitlement to stay measures are put into effect; for what percentage of cases they are put into effect at this stage; and if he is satisfied with the arrangements.

Mr. Raison

The detention and apprehension of overstayers depends on a combination of processes, some of which are initiated by the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office, including the immigration service, and others by the police. Selective checks on people who do not appear to have embarked are made by the Home Office, normally within two months of the expiry of a leave to enter. The nature of the checks made does not enable the number of cases followed up to be expressed as a percentage of the number of overstayers. The present arrangements for checking on overstaying give no cause for complacency. Efforts will continue to be made to get the best possible results from the resources available.

Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to restrict the rights of immigration of wives and dependants of those male immigrants who arrived before 1 January 1973 or who have a job in a special selected category.

Mr. Raison

We have no plans at present to restrict the immigration of wives other than polygamously married women whose marriages are not valid under the law of any part of the United Kingdom. We shall, however, keep the situation under review. The White Paper which my right hon. Friend presented to Parliament on 14 November entitled "Proposals for revision of the Immigration Rules"—Cmnd. 7750—contained proposals for restricting the entry of children over 18 and parents and grandparents of men who arrived here at any date.

Mr. Hawksley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to set up a register of Commonwealth wives and children entitled to entry for settlement under the Immigration Act 1971; and when he hopes to establish such a register.

Mr. Raison

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) on 13 November and to questions following my right hon. Friend's statement the following day.—[Vol. 973, c. 510 and 1334.]

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received legal advice about the extent to which his proposals in the White Paper on immigration may conflict with the European convention on human rights and whether he will publish that advice.

Mr. Raison

The implications of the European convention on human rights in relation to the White Paper on proposals for revision of the immigration rules have been fully considered by the Government.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men are waiting for their applications to enter Great Britain for marriage to be considered at Islamabad, Dacca, Delhi and Bombay.

Mr. Raison

At the end of September 1979, 1,547 fiancés were waiting decisions on their applications for an entry clearance at Islamabad, 21 at Dacca, 2,719 at Delhi and 765 at Bombay.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) parents, (b) grandparents, (c) children aged between 18 to 21 years old and (d) distant relatives were admitted from (i) the New Commonwealth and Pakistan and (ii) the rest of the world in 1978.

Mr. Raison

The information requested is not recorded for all persons admitted to the United Kingdom. The information which is available is published an- nually in the Command Paper—"Control of Immigration Statistics"—tables 1 and 3 of the issue for 1978. Cmnd. 7565.