§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations on behalf of visitors to the United Kingdom have been made to his 197W office by hon. Members in each year since 1979; and what has been the number of staff employed in the relevant Minister's Office for each of the same years.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe available information relates to the number of immigration files* created following representations by right hon. and hon. Members, and is as follows:
Number 1979 10,395 1980 10,029 1981 8,945 1982 9,931 1983 11,456 1984 13,164 1985 16,024 †1986 4,398 † To 31 March. The figures include representations on all categories of after entry cases as well as those arising at the ports. Not all the representations concerned visitors.
The great majority of representations were handled through my office, and that of my predecessor. The number of staff in post in that office in each year since 1979 was
Number 1979 6 1980–85 7 1986 8 Two additional officers will join the staff of my office very shortly.
* Notes:
1. These figures include a small number of letters dealing with general immigration issues rather than individual cases.
2. Representations made on behalf of a single family may be counted as more than one case where the immigration circumstances of more than one member of the family are under consideration.
3. Further representations made after a reply has been sent are included separately in these figures.
4. Representations received about the same case from more than one right hon. or hon. Member are counted separately.