HC Deb 08 June 2000 vol 351 c371W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has investigated the leaks in the press on 12 May, which stated that Mike Tyson would be granted his visa. [124655]

Mr. Straw

No. Although the press reported that Mike Tyson would be granted an entry clearance, a decision on Mr. Tyson's application had not been made by 12 May (indeed, the application itself was only made in the United States of America on that day). The media reports were, therefore, entirely speculative.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of the arguments in relation to creating a precedent at the time of his authorisation of Mike Tyson's visit to the UK in January. [124740]

Mr. Straw

It was clearly indicated in January that there were exceptional circumstances in granting Mike Tyson entry on that occasion. In communicating my decision to him, it was made clear that this decision in no way set a precedent for any future applications he might make to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor or in any other capacity. Any such application would be considered under the Immigration Rules taking all relevant circumstances into account.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with whom he consulted between 3 and 17 May on Mike Tyson's visa application. [124654]

Mr. Straw

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 24 May 2000,Official Report, columns 493–96W.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he took to inform himself of reasons why Mike Tyson should not be granted a visa. [124656]

Mr. Straw

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Ms Ward) on 18 May 2000,Official Report, columns 209–10W, where I stated clearly that I weighed up both the factors against granting Mr. Tyson entry clearance and those for.

Ms Jenny Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he met regarding Mike Tyson's recent application to enter the United Kingdom; and on what dates. [124461]

Mr. Straw

As stated in the reply I gave the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 24 May 2000,Official Report, column 495W, I met my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Ballieston (Mr. Wray) and his delegation, which included my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mrs. Golding), Lord Brooks of Tremorfa and Stephen Davies, on 3 May. In addition, the Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), also met my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones), together with my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 17 May.