HC Deb 14 May 1987 vol 116 cc276-8W
Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas have been issued in (a) Ghana, (b) Bangladesh, (c) India, (d) Pakistan and (e) Nigeria since the scheme began; and how many of these were issued without an interview.

Mr. Hurd

The information available centrally, which does not include separate figures on those visas granted without interview, is given in the following table:

Applications granted for visas to the United Kingdom1
Number of persons
Ghana
1986 October2 to December 2,890
1987 January, February 1,260
Bangladesh
1986 October3 to December 2,920
1987 January to March 2,610
India
1986 October3 to December 20,130
1987 January to March 16,570
Pakistan
1986 October3 to December 11,540
1987 January to March 10,530
Nigeria
1987 February 42,600
1 For settlement or temporary purposes.
2 Including applications granted for entry clearance in the period 1 to 22 October 1986.
3 Including applications granted for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October 1986.
4 Provisional figure.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the immigration status on arrival in the United Kingdom of all those (a) granted refugee status on asylum and (b) refused it over the latest 12-month period.

Mr. Hurd

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on 16 March, at column360. The hon. Member may like to know that the annual statistical bulletin on refugee statistics for the calendar year 1986 is being published on 19 May.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) visitors and (b) business

Ordinary visitors and business visitors admitted to the United Kingdom between October 1986 and January 1987
Number
Nationality October 1986 November 1986 December 1986 January 1987
Ordinary visitors Business visitors Ordinary visitors Business visitors Ordinary visitors Business visitors Ordinary visitors Business visitors
Bangladesh 850 170 500 150 510 110 400 90
Ghana 1,290 570 810 570 970 370 680 460
India 8,520 2,780 5,450 2,490 4,730 1,480 3,730 1,950
Nigeria 5,670 3,330 3,480 2,820 4,400 1,820 3,500 1,850
Pakistan 4,340 1,050 2,610 930 3,090 690 2,130 780

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) visitors and (ii) business visitors (a) applied for visas, (b) were granted visas, (c) were refused visas and (d) had their applications referred for further consideration at each of the British posts in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana for each month since October 1986.

Mr. Hurd

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 22 April 1987 at columns521–29. Separate information for ordinary visitors and business visitors is not available. The other information requested which is available centrally is given in the following table.

Applications for a visit visa to the United Kingdom
Number of persons
Applications
1Newly received 2Granted Refused initially 3Deferred
Dhaka
1987 March 680 490 160 30
Bombay
1987 March 3,080 2,830 50 20
New Delhi
1987 March 2,730 2,230 210 60
Calcutta
1986 October4 500 500 + 10
November 350 340 + +
December 260 250 - 10
1987 January 270 270 + -
February 290 280 + 20
March 480 470 + 10
Madras
1986 October4 590 580 + 10
November 450 420 10 10
December 320 290 10 +
1987 January 310 300 + +
February 420 380 10 +
March 850 810 20 -
Islamabad
1987 March 2,650 1,980 250 190
Karachi
1987 March 1,870 1,700 180 40

visitors were admitted to the United Kingdom from (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Pakistan, (iv) Ghana and (v) Nigeria in each month since October 1986.

Mr. Hurd

The latest available information is given in the following table:

Applications
1 Newly received 2 Granted Refused initially 3Deferred
Kaduna
1987 March 1,780 1,600 40 ..
Accra
1987 February 880 580 220 ..
..Not available. +5 or fewer.
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
2 Including applications granted on appeal.
3 Including applications referred to the Home Office for decision.
4 Including applications for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October 1986.