§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from hon. Members during(a) the first quarter of 1991 and (b) the first quarter of 1992 to delay the removal of passengers refused entry at British ports of entry; and for both periods, how many representations resulted in (i) the delay of the passenger's removal for up to a week, (ii) the delay of the passenger's removal for more than a week and (iii) reversal of the immigration officer's decision.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe information requested is not available centrally.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many wives and dependent children applying for entry clearance in the Indian sub-continent in each quarter since January 1991 were refused(a) on first application and (b) on second or subsequent application.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe information requested is given in the table. Separate information on first-time applicants and re-applicants is not available centrally.
Wives and children applying for entry clearance in the United Kingdom1 Post Newly received2 Granted3 Applications Refused initially4 Withdrawn or lapsed4 Awaiting first interview at end of quarter Dhaka—1991 1st quarter 640 940 220 50 1,300 2nd quarter 920 730 120 80 1,400 3rd quarter 920 830 130 60 1,500 4th quarter 830 300 100 50 1,500 1992 1st quarter 680 610 180 30 1,300 Islamabad—1991 1st quarter 980 1,240 160 60 1,300 2nd quarter 810 870 70 40 940 3rd quarter 940 970 210 70 500 4th quarter 990 1,030 170 50 1,200 1992 1st quarter 1,020 1,060 130 70 660 1 Including all persons applying for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the United Kingdom. 2 Data include some double counting in respect of applications recorded initially for entry clearance and then subsequently for a certificate of entitlement. 3 Granted initially or on appeal. 4 Since about the end of 1989, settlement applications have been refused in the circumstances where previously they would have been lapsed. Note: Data on deferrals was discounted from May 1990.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by his Department to investigate cases referred from overseas posts in order to assess whether the maintenance and accommodation requirements of the immigration rules have been met.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe information requested is not available. Staff are, however, instructed to give priority to cases referred by overseas posts for decision or for enquiries to be made. If the hon. Member is concerned about the time taken to deal with any particular case, I should be happy to look into it.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from over-age738W
Wives and children refused1 entry clearance in the Indian sub-continent Number of persons Refused Wives Children 1991 1st quarter 170 170 2nd quarter 110 90 3rd quarter 200 170 4th quarter 180 160 1992 1st quarter 220 160 1 These refusals are by an entry clearance officer. Some of these will be overturned on appeal.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for settlement by wives and children in(a) Dhaka and (b) Islamabad were (i) received, (ii) granted, (iii) refused, (iv) deferred at first interview, (v) lapsed and (vi) outstanding and awaiting first interview for each quarter since the beginning of 1991.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe information requested is given in the table. Data on deferrals was discontinued from May 1990.
reapplicants from the Indian sub-continent seeking to join a sponsor settled in the United Kingdom have been (a) made, (b) deferred, (c) refused and (d) granted in each year since 1986, to the first quarter of 1992; and how many such reapplicants in each category had undergone successful DNA tests.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe available information is that a total of 701 applications from over-age reapplicants in the Indian sub-continent to join parents in the United Kingdom have been decided under the terms of the concession announced by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary on 14 June 1989 at columns461–62. All of these cases involved over-age reapplicants who had established relationships by means of deoxyribonucleic 739W acid (DNA) evidence but did not quality for admission under the immigration rules. Entry clearance has been authorised in 126 of these cases and refused in 575.