§ Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for further leave to remain have been(a) made in the prescribed form and (b) treated as invalid because they were not made in the prescribed form for each quarter since prescribed forms were introduced. [70729]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienSince 25 November 1996, it has been obligatory for persons wishing to make an application to vary the duration and/or conditions of their leave in the United Kingdom to use the application forms prescribed for this purpose. Statistical information on the total number of applications received was recorded from February 1997 onwards, but this did not record individual categories. Information on the total number of applications received and the number of applications deemed invalid is given in the table. It is not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown between the different types of application forms received.
Valid applications Invalid applications 1997 Ql 18,639 13,264 Q2 20,395 11,059 Q3 23,162 9,309 Q4 29,628 8,180 1998 Ql 27,115 6,822 Q2 26,858 5,711 Q3 27,563 4,625 Q4 22,904 3,754 1 Counting during Quarter 1 did not begin until part way through the quarter The figures recorded relate to postal applications only.
§ Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on granting family reunion to persons with 655W exceptional leave to remain for less than four years in the United Kingdom where they are unable to maintain and accommodate family members. [70734]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienPeople with less than four years' exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom, whether or not they are able to satisfy the maintenance and accommodation requirements of the Immigration Rules, are not normally allowed to be joined by their pre-existing spouse or minor dependent children under the terms of the family reunion concession.
§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain for an indefinite period on the grounds of marriage to a British or settled spouse from(a) women and (b) men were (i) granted and (ii) refused in (x) 1996, (y) 1997 and (z) 1998 to the latest convenient date; and of those refused, for each year, how many were refused because his Department was not satisfied (1) that the couple intended to stay together permanently as husband and wife, (2) that there was adequate accommodation available, (3) that there was adequate maintenance available and (4) other grounds; and of those refused for reason (1), in how many cases domestic violence was alleged. [70710]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe available information is given in the table. Allegations of domestic violence are not separately recorded.
Grants and refusals of applications for indefinite leave to remain on the grounds of marriage 1996–98 1996 1997 19981 Women Grants 17,570 16,160 18,300 Refusals: No intention to live together 380 250 160 Other reasons 10 10 20 Men Grants 11,900 10,700 12,900 Refusals: No intention to live together 430 190 160 Other reasons 20 20 10 1 Provisional