HC Deb 31 January 1985 vol 72 c238W
22. Mr. James Lamond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the last 12 months, what percentage of refusals of entry clearance through the operation of the primary purpose rule was accounted for by men from the Indian subcontinent.

Mr. Waddington

This information is not available because the collection of the necessary data is confined to the Indian subcontinent.

32. Mr. Bevan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to hear (a) an appeal from abroad against refusal of an entry clearance and (b) an appeal by a person in the United Kingdom against refusal to vary leave to remain; and what were the comparable waiting times in 1979.

Mr. Waddington

I understand from the appellate authorities that appeals from abroad against refusal of an entry clearance can be heard by an adjudicator by between three and nine months from the date on which the appellant's representative in the United Kingdom signifies his readiness to proceed with the appeal, depending on the centre at which the appeal is heard. Appeals against refusal of variation of leave to remain are heard on average between two to three months from the date on which the appeal is received by the appellate authorities.

During 1979 the average delay for all appeals was 14 months.

36. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for settlement on behalf of children were refused in the latest 12-month period because entry certificates had not been obtained prior to arrival in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Waddington

According to the readily available information, during the 12 months ending September 1984, a total of about 190 persons claiming to be dependants, including about 110 from the Commonwealth, were refused admission to the United Kingdom at ports of entry when seeking to enter for settlement without the entry clearance required by the immigration rules. To identify the number of children within these totals would involve disproportionate cost and it is not possible to say how many of the persons concerned would have qualified for and been granted entry certificates had they applied.

71. Mr. Terry Davis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received about the operation of the primary purpose rule in relation to applications for entry clearance by husbands of British citizens.

Mr. Waddington

During the last 12 months representations have been received from several sources, including right hon. and hon. Members, most of whom were writing on behalf of constituents. It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to give precise figures.