HC Deb 14 November 2000 vol 356 cc646-7W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average timescale is for dealing with family reunion cases referred to the Home Office by the High Commission in Nairobi. [137988]

Mrs. Roche

This information is not available. A number of new initiatives have been put in place to clear all backlogs of entry clearance applications and to provide a faster turnround time for new applications in the future.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be made in the case of RHJ (reference AS31747) whose case was referred to the Home Office from the High Commission in Addis Ababa on 14 September. [137902]

Mrs. Roche

The case will be considered urgently and a decision will be made as soon as possible. I am sorry that one has not been made before now.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances is(a) exceptional leave and (b) indefinite leave granted to applicants seeking leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [137989]

Mrs. Roche

Indefinite leave to remain is granted to qualifying applicants in accordance with the criteria set out under a number of categories in the Immigration Rules (HC 395, as amended). Grants of exceptional leave to remain outside the Immigration Rules will be based on the particular circumstances of individual cases. More detailed information may be obtained from the published version of the Immigration Directorate's Instructions which is available on the Home Office website.