§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have applied to regularise their immigration status; how many such applications were(a) approved and (b) refused; how many are currently awaiting decision in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [14153]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe table gives the readily available information on the numbers of persons accepted for settlement on a discretionary basis in the years 1986 to 1994, after a period of at least 10 years continuous residence in the United Kingdom. The numbers of refusals and the total number of applications made on the basis of long residence are not separately available.
Grants of settlement on the basis of long residence, 1986–94 Number 1986 1,200 1987 1,300 1988 2,300 1989 3,300 1990 2,550 1991 2,200 1992 2,100 1993 2,050 1994 1,950
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances people who have lived in the United Kingdom for(a) 10 years and (b) 14 years are able to apply to regularise their immigration status; what are the grounds on which the time limits of 10 and 14 years have been set; and if he will make a statement. [14121]
§ Mr. KirkhopeUnder the long residence concession, a person who has 10 years or more continuous lawful residence in the United Kingdom, or 14 years continuous residence irrespective of legality, may be granted indefinite leave to remain in the absence of any strong countervailing factors. The grant of indefinite leave to remain under the long residence concession is discretionary and outside the immigration rules.
The long residence concession has its origin in the European convention of establishment, article 3(3) of 313W which provides that nationals of any contracting party who have been lawfully residing for more than 10 years in the territory of another party may be expelled only for reasons relating to public order, public health or morality. In operating the concession, however, we do not distinguish between nationals of the contracting parties and other overseas nationals.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) applied, (b) were granted and (c) were refused applications to regularise their immigration status in (i) 1974 and (ii) 1977. [14122]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe concession offered in 1974 to allow Commonwealth citizens who had entered the United Kingdom illegally before 1973 to regularise their stay attracted 2,430 applications, of which 1,810 were granted. This concession was extended in 1977 following further court judgments which widened the scope of illegal entry. A further 640 applications were dealt with, of which 460 were granted.