HC Deb 10 July 1987 vol 119 cc297-8W
Ms. Ruddock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have applied for visas to enter the United Kingdom from Sri Lanka in each of the last three years; how many were (a)refugees and asylum seekers, (b)for settlement and (c)as visitors; and how many applications in each category have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) are still being considered.

Mr. Renton

The information requested which is available centrally is given in the following table.

Number of persons
Applications
Newly received1 Granted2 Refused initially
Total
1985 June 3 to December 6.480 5,560 570
1986 8,490 7,820 660
1987 January to March 1,500 1,050 130
Of which, visitors
1985 June3 to December .. 4,190 260
1986 .. 5,770 370
1987 January to March .. 710 90
.. Not available.
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
2 Including applications granted on appeal.
3 Including 30 May, when the visa requirement for Sri Lankans was introduced, and 31 May.

Ms. Ruddock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan citizens have applied for visas to enter the United Kingdom from third world countries in each of the last three years; how many were (a) refugees and asylum seekers, (b) for settlement and (c) as visitors; and how many applications in each category have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) are still being considered.

Mr. Renton

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Ms. Ruddock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have applied for (a) single and (h) multiple entry visas to visit the United Kingdom from (i) Ghana, (ii) Nigeria, (iii) Bangladesh, (iv) India and (v) Pakistan since visas were introduced for those countries; and how many applications (1) have been refused and (2) are still being considered.

Mr. Renton

The information requested which is available centrally is given in the following table.

Applications for visit visas to the United Kingdom
Applications
Newly received1 Refused initially Awaiting a decision at end of period
Bangladesh
1986 4th quarter2 2,320 600 100
1987 1st quarter 1,600 370 160
April 960 180 210
India
1986 4th quarter2 17,940 480 660
1987 1st quarter 15,840 750 1,500
April 13,460 380 1,600
Pakistan
1986 4th quarter2 10,750 730 310
1987 1st quarter 10,200 990 560
April 5,570 560 740
Ghana
1986 4th quarter3 3,300 430 ..
1987 1st quarter 2,620 740 ..
April 780 180 ..
Nigeria4
1987 February/March 7,900 250 ..
April 6,300 350 ..
..Not available.
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
2 Including applications for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October.
3 Including applications for entry clearance in the period 1 to 22 October.
4 Data are provisional.