Identity Cards

HC Deb 18 May 2004 vol 421 cc857-8W

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Office of Government Commerce has carried out of the identity card

Decisions on applications for an extension of leave to remain1 in the United Kingdom and Settlement2, by category, excluding EEA nationals, 1997—2002
	Number of decisions
Category	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
All decisions	166,580	160,080	178,810	249,920	277,375	337,650
Visitors	9,590	10,000	9,085	12,990	14,695	15,355
Working holidaymakers	340	360	270	300	1,340	2,700
Students	54,450	46,500	52,495	74,205	90,115	128,400
Trainees	8,810	8,360	8,230	8,825	8,270	7,960
Au Pairs	910	810	495	435	495	360
Work permit holders	10,950	12,605	14,555	27,040	44,025	54,865
Permit free employment3	5,080	4,470	4,155	5,680	6,015	7,415
Independent means	50	50	25	40	35	10
Business4	320	420	310	1,835	5,580	10,715
Fiancé(e)s	80	40	45	95	85	100
Spouse (probationary year applications.)5	17,200	16,720	16,555	27,645	24,910	19,235
Other limited leave	16,030	7,900	6,600	7,655	6,915	10,470
Settlement	42,760	51,835	65,995	83,165	74,900	78,935
Category unknown	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	1,140

	Percentage granted
Category	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
All decisions	95.1	95.9	97.6	95.5	94.4	94.5
Visitors	89.4	91.3	92.9	90.1	88.9	91.6
Working holidaymakers	78.3	77.8	75.0	70.4	93.9	97.4
Students	95.7	97.0	97.5	95.2	92.3	94.7
Trainees	97.7	97.8	97.7	98.1	98.7	99.4
Au Pairs	90.7	89.1	80.4	53.2	64.9	54.6
Work permit holders	94.8	95.5	94.7	96.9	98.2	96.9
Permit free employment3	97.1	96.7	98.5	96.1	97.1	89.3

programme as referred to at paragraph 1.11 of his consultation document, Legislation on Identity Cards (Cm 6178). [170815]

Mr. Browne

The Office of Government Commerce completed a Gateway 0 Review in January 2004 and assessed the programme as being ready to go forward to its next phase.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what date it will no longer be possible to obtain(a) a passport and (b) a driving licence which is not designated as an identity card under the proposals in the draft Identity Card Bill. [172300]

Mr. Browne

No date has yet been set for when any specific document will be designated as an ID card and therefore from when that document must be issued with, or as part of, an ID card.