§ 59. Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of temporary visa applications are being dealt with on the same day that they are lodged at the United Kingdom's diplomatic posts in the Indian subcontinent.
§ Mr. EggarIn the last month for which complete statistics are available—December 1986—the percentage of short-term visa applications received and determined on the same day was over 97 per cent.
§ 60. Mr. Spencerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent position in the working of the visa system in the Indian subcontinent.
§ Mr. EggarThe visa regime continues to operate smoothly. All personal applicants for short-term visas are being seen on the day they apply and in December 1986 more than 97 per cent. of all applications were being determined on the day of application.
In the small number of cases that require more than a very brief interview, the waiting time is four days in New Delhi and Bombay and three days in Madras. Elsewhere in the subcontinent there are no queues and interviews take place on the day of application.