Visas (Hansard, 15 February 1993)

§ Mr. Madden
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer at 5 February,Official Report, column 394, concerning the children Shenaz Begum, Afsar Khan and Shaira Begum, what account was taken of doubts about their mother's relationship with their father when the mother, Mrs. Zartaj Begum, was issued with a visa to enter the United Kingdom; when the British High Commission in Islamabad requested the Home Office to make inquiries of her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Ms. Martaj Bibi (Begum) applied for entry clearance at the British High Commission in Islamabad on 7 October 1991, accompanied by her daughters Bibi Nargas and Rehana Begum, on the basis of her marriage in Pakistan to Mr. Mohammed Gham Gharti on 18 April 1969.
Once the entry clearance officer (ECO) was satisfied that the relationships were as claimed, and that there was adequate support and accommodation available for the family in the United Kingdom without recourse to public funds, the ECO issued visas to Zartaj Bibi and Bibi Nargas, and a certificate of entitlement to Rehana Begum on 1 October 1992.
I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive notification from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth office of the date on which the high commission in Islamabad requested the Home Office to make inquiries of Ms Bibi's husband in the United Kingdom. This information is not currently available.

§ Mr. Gapes
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new practice has been followed by the visa section of the British embassy in Belgium in scrutinising applications for visit visas by non-EC nationals living in Belgium in 1992 and 1993; what is the reason for the new procedure; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
No new practice has been followed by the British embassy in Belgium.
All applications for visit visas by non-EC nationals are scrutinised as the entry clearance officer is obliged to be satisfied that applications meet the requirements of the immigration rules before visas may be granted.