§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applicants for immigration from non-EC Europe, north America, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh were refused entry into the United Kingdom since January 1990 under primary purpose rules; and what factors account for the differences in the percentages.
§ Mr. Peter LloydInformation on applicants for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom from spouses and fiancé(e)s in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh in the first three quarters of 1990 is given in the table. Corresponding information for other countries is not available centrally. The variation in refusal rates is thought to reflect differing patterns of applications and circumstances between the three countries.
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Spouses and finance(e)s refused entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom, January to September 1990 Proportion1 of spouses and financeé(e)s refused initially2 Country Solely on primary purpose grounds (Per cent.) Partly on primary purpose grounds (Per cent.) Bangladesh 12 4 India 18 2 Pakistan 13 21 1 Applications refused initially as a percentage of applications decided. 2Some applications are subsequently granted after an appeal.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the expected time it takes for a sponsor interview for entry clearance applications to be completed.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt remains our objective to carry out interviews within three months of receipt of papers in the United Kingdom.