§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls are operated over foreign nationals coming to Britain to receive military or military-related training from private companies; what records are kept of such applications; and on what occasions since 1980 visas for such persons have been refused.
§ Mr. RentonThe general position is that, under the immigration rules, any overseas national who can satisfy the immigration officer that he is genuinely seeking entry for only a limited period, and that he can maintain and accommodate himself during his stay, may be admitted for a temporary period unless in the circumstances of a particular case there are grounds for his exclusion. In addition certain overseas military personnel may be exempt from immigration control under the provisions of the 1971 Act relating to members of visiting forces. No separate records are kept of numbers of individuals seeking admission for the purposes described.