§ Mr. MudieTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of refusals for overseas visitors visas have been overturned by appeal by post since October 2000. [30834]
§ Mr. BradshawWe do not maintain information centrally on the number of family visit applications refused entry clearance, which are subsequently overturned on appeal.
We do record the number of family visit appeals dispatched for those posts which complete a monthly statistical return. These posts generate 98 per cent. of total applications (110 posts in 2001).
Between October 2000 and December 2001 4,564 family visit appeals were dispatched by entry clearance managers.
The Lord Chancellor's Department has provided the following details of appeals upheld in cases for which they hold data.
From 1 October 2000 to 31 December 2001, the number of successful visit visa appeals decided on the papers alone was:
- 904 appeals allowed by adjudicators, and
- 86 appeals allowed by Tribunals.
In the same period, the number of successful visit visa appeals decided at an oral hearing was:
804W
- 1,424 appeals upheld by adjudicators, and
- five appeals upheld by Tribunals.
Based on these figures 53 per cent. of appeals were in favour of the applicant. But there is no automatic correlation between the number of appeals dispatched and the number of appeals upheld. The time difference between appeals being dispatched and hearings held makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Neither do we have information on appeals withdrawn after dispatch.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints have been received regarding applications for student visas by students from(a) China, (b) Russia,(c) Turkey, (d) Korea and (e) Latin American countries since 1997; how many applications from these countries have been turned down in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [31613]
§ Mr. BradshawI regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not available; complaints are not recorded by subject matter.
The statistics for the number of student applications refused are as follows:
Number of applications Refusal rate (percentage) China 1997 1,380 41 1998 1,782 24 1999 2,561 21 2000 4,484 23 20011 1,063 29 Russia 1997 1,360 15 1998 847 8 1999 65 2 2000 448 9 20011 43 9 Turkey 1997 567 4 1998 679 5 1999 527 6 2000 608 9 20011 147 16 Korea 1997 5 17 1998 6 21 1999 2 10 2000 6 15 20011 0 0 Latin America 1997 49 4 1998 113 8 1999 383 9 2000 1,490 16 20011 224 18 1 The figures for 2001 are for January to March 2001. We collect these statistics only on an annual basis.
§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons from(a) the Czech Republic and (b) Turkey have been refused entry to the United Kingdom at ports of entry in each month since 1 January 2000. [31578]
§ Angela EagleI have been asked to reply.
805WStatistics on nationals of the Czech Republic and Turkey refused entry to the United Kingdom and removed in each month during 2000 are given in the table. This is the latest available information. Data for 2001 are due to be published in the summer this year.
Passengers refused leave to enter and removed, by selected nationality, January to December 2000 Czech Republic1 Turkey January 127 29 February 147 35 March 103 27 April 206 24 May 265 11 June 267 15 July 337 37 August 349 37 September 326 19 October 170 23 November 223 20 December 263 22 Total 2,783 299 1 Include Czechoslovak passport holders